Stress Cracks - 99 Stratos 201 ProElite

[ROOD]

Considering to purchase a 99 Stratos 201 ProElite. Had a look at it the other day and was quite happy with the overall condition. Not being familiar with this boat, I have a number of questions that I'm hoping people on BBC would be able to answer.

Here they are:

I noticed that the top cap had a number of small stress cracks on the drivers side just behind the seat. When looking at the top cap length wise from the back of the boat, it also appeared to be somewhat wavey or distorted. Is this something to be concerned about?

A small section of the top cap (18 inches or so) had an orange peel look and feel. Is this a sign of gel coat blistering???

Did Stratos use cavity fill floatation in the construction of the boat in 99?

How does this boat compare to a Ranger 488VS - in terms of handling and rough water performance?

Hull has a 10 year warranty. Do you know if this is transferrable?

Boat is being purchased w/o motor. What kind of performance can I expect with a 200 Rude Ficht? What is the best prop for this boat/motor combination?

Anything else I should be concerned about?

Thanks

[dj in az]

Iv'e got a 1999 21' extreem and it has stress cracks in the same places. I don't worry about them. The hull is 100% composite and I was told it the stress cracks)was from the boat flexing at times. There are only cosmetic so I wouldn't about them.
Iv'e got a 225 fitch on mine and it will keep up with traffic!! No complaints.
I think the stratros's are one of the better if not the best boats in rough water.

[stratosfied]

You better check out the warranty, I think Genmar decided no warranty on boats older than 2000 and only 5 years on newer non-Genmar hulls. I may be wrong.

[ROOD]

Thanks for the info. I will contact Genmar to see if the original warranty still applies.

What is the best prop for this setup - Raker or Renegade?

[ChadASX]

I prefer the raker props on the Stratos boats. I know a few guys that have the renegades on them but several of them switched to raker's after trying one out. They say there are some Merc props that work even better but I havn't got into trying any of those. I would like to though, just don't know where to start when dealing with the Merc props.

I used to run a Ranger, and as for the ride, waves that would be beating you to death in the ranger won't even slow a Stratos down. The Stratos will ride better than a Ranger by far.

[ROOD]

Contacted Stratos (Genmar) and you are correct - Warrantly no longer applies. I also confirmed that the boat is filled with foam floatation.

thank for all the comments!!

[bobb803]

I have a 2005 201pro xl and the stress cracks are everywhere, I have over 35 on the boat with only 100 hours on it. I am waiting for Stratos to figure out what they are going to do about it. I took it to the gel-coat shop they sent me too and the guy said it was only cosmetic. Thats BS! do you know what that does to the resale value? This is the first Stratos i have owned and I love the way it rides and handles, but when this is settled I will never buy another one. The gel coat shop said he has NEVER repaired a stress crack in a Ranger

[bobb803]

I also forgot to mention almost everywhere there is a rivit there is also a crack all around where rhe carpet meets the gunnel. The shop told me it was because the holes that were drilled for the rivits were not counter sunk. this is just POOR workman ship. and a bad way to do business, I think it;s a piece of JUNK

[Todd Morgan]

Sounds like abuse to me.

You're fortunate in the fact that you can post all the blather you like and not have to substantiate anything you say.

I promise I have a much larger glass repair business than the guy you're speaking of and I've repaired tons of Rangers as well as every other brand you can mention.

The only rivets on a Stratos are on carpet trim.

I've never seen Stratos turn down or not repair a legitimate claim. I have also never seen them repair a boat that's been obviously abused. Sounds like you need to be calling your insurance company to me.

[bobb803]

That where the rivits are and thats where the cracks are comming from as far as abuse, your way off, I wash and wax my boat after almost every tournament, I always use dock bouys and have never beat the boat and only been in ruff water once,
Also there are cracks completly around the cleat and other cracks underboth concoles. So if you are in the business how excatly do you abuse a boat by fishing? I am sure you have seen it but in this case your way off.
I hope Stratos does the right thing and repairs it but the shop said ther was no guarentee thay would not return. and this is the shop the Stratos rep sent me too.

[JohnM]

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by bobb803 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I have a 2005 201pro xl and the stress cracks are everywhere, I have over 35 on the boat with only 100 hours on it. I am waiting for Stratos to figure out what they are going to do about it. I took it to the gel-coat shop they sent me too and the guy said it was only cosmetic. Thats BS! do you know what that does to the resale value? This is the first Stratos i have owned and I love the way it rides and handles, but when this is settled I will never buy another one. The gel coat shop said he has NEVER repaired a stress crack in a Ranger </TD></TR></TABLE>

I have a good friend that sold his 97 201 Stratos last year due to the motor being blown (again at least three times). YES the top cap had gel stress cracks in it, YES they were fixed under warranty at one time, heck back then Stratos even recarpeted the entire boat for free.

The cracks eventually came back, the boat was still a tank when he sold it 11 years later, the 201 Stratos is time proven. I assure you this guy USED this 201, stored outside, used it used it used it!!! I'd be more worried about the transom, floors, stringers, than the stupid gel cracks. If it all checks out and can be had for a good price, jump on it! IMHO a 200 on that boat is a tad weak. it'll get the job done but she'll always want a 225.

"Never repaired a Ranger crack" I'd love to put them in touch with T&K marine here in Nashville back when I had my 95 Ranger. No gel cracks, but the top cap came loose from the hull, front and back, (at different times of course) I could go on and on about that stupid boat. I still look at Ranger when shopping, they make a great boat, but don't get sucked into the "Ranger perfect boat" kool aid. On my recent boat search I pointed a quarter sized gel imperfection on a brand new Ranger sitting in showroom out to a Ranger Rep. "that's under the rod box lid" excuse did not cut it for me when spending R boat prices.

[bobb803]

I am sure every boat made has it's problems, I have owned 3 Rangers and never seemed to have a problem. I actually sold ma Ranger 481V to one of my best friends and fishing partners and he still never had a problem with stress cracks, and it's a 93 and since my boat is newer, we ALWAYS take his boat to places where we are not sure what we are going to get into. Dont get me wrong I really like the way my boat handles and rides and the way it's laid out but I am concerned with the quality of it. a new bass boat is a major investment, and I hate to take a beating after only a year

[JohnM]

Hey Bob, I see Todd is online. He knows the guy in this true story.

It may make you feel better about choosing a Stratos

So back in the early 90's I was wading so far in that "Koolaide" you could not make me even THINK about another brand of boat. I happened to get a bad one but they kept fixing her so I kept on braggin and fishin. I had this problem with water getting into my rear storage areas. They said "impossible" I kept saying impossible my arse everything back here gets wet. So one lazy afternoon a good friend of mine (and Todd's) takes off for a lazy float trip down the Cumberland River. Of course discussion turned into the Navy vs the Air Force, my boat brand is better than your boat brand, my johnson is of course bigger than yours by time we get good and into the day.

Ole Boy is sitting on the back deck of my purty boat, (mind you I am sooo proud of this boat I've been told it can't sink, crack, etc. etc..) and he goes to set the hook an a smallmouth. Next thing I know he is hanging onto the side of the boat by his claws, because my rear seat had came unglassed from the top cap!

Once I got done fishing him back in the boat (somehow he managed not to go all the way in?) , of course I had to get in a good about those sea legs.

The moral of my story is any boat can have issues, let Stratos work through this. If you are not comfortable, do like I did, fix it and move it. I STILL look at Ranger today. I KNOW I got a fluke, they fixed problems as they crept up. You can't blanket an entire line on one boat.

Heck as many problems as I had out of that old R boat, I would not trade the memories nor the friendships made while I owned it for a "perfect" anything.

[bobb803]

Well said. and I hope it is a fluke, but I cant just fix it and dump it on someone else either. well just see what they caome up with. I have alot of people in my clubs with Stratos boats and stress cracks seemed to come up alot. maybe it's just me. I just want to get what I paid for, and not get beat for something that is not fault. Thanks for listening to be gripe!
Thanks, Bobby

[mgtl82]

My 97 295PE has cracks all over the top cap and I would not trade it for a 300 or 400 series Ranger without cracks.I ran a 168V/350 for 7yrs. the Stratos is a much better rough water ride.

[bobb803]

I agree 100% This boat rides great, better than any Ranger I have ever owned That's why I bought it. I just hope it all works out in the end. But no matter what happens it will still hurt the resale value in the long run.

[boatmech1]

I worked at a local Stratos dealer when I picked up my 201 PE . I had seen a lot of this series come through the shop and they all had some kind of stress cracks to some extent . All the owners told me it didn't weaken the boat , just took away some of the appeal for them that bought only the shinyest on the lot . When I talked to Jeff Hartung at Stratos on an unrelated issue I brought this subject up and he confirmed what I'd been told by everyone else . When the boat I'd been eyeing up finally came in on trade , I snatched it up , paid book without complaining , and yea I towed home a boat with cosmetic stress cracks in the gel coat across my gunnels , But they were on the greatest boat Stratos had ever built and I was , and still am proud to have her . Theres an ass for every seat , and your future buyer is out there . Anyone who'd keep harping on them cracks don't deserve your boat . Look at it this way Bob(?) , If Pammy Anderson came over to your house for a little show and tell , , and when the showin was done you saw she had a birth mark on her stomach(?) , would you send her home ? Definetly not !!! And when you got tired of her and wanted to replace her with a newer model I don't you think you'd have any trouble getting rid of something with a birth mark that didn't appeal to some when she has a reputation that'll take your breath away . Don't sweat the little things dude , saddle up and ride!!! . Take care and have a great season .