I've got some bad news. Termites!!!
 

I havent posted up on here for a while but I've been fishing my 81 V20 on an average of once every month since I bought it a few years ago. The floor board and the transom have always been soft due to rot but I never really cared since it always held up and got me where I wanted to fish. Well last week after getting it ready for another trip I noticed the batteries were dead. After opening the compartment I found them on the bottom of the hull turned upside down and shorted out. Looked like the tray they sat on rotted completely out. After a further inspection I found termites everywhere eating up all the wood around the back of the boat. I didnt know that they will eat marine wood but it looks like they love it. Ill be heading down there this weekend to take a closer look but unfortently it looks like I might have to retire her. Dam this is fustrating, I was having so much fun with her and now shes on her death bed. With all the rot I dont have the extra time to fix it all. Has anyone else besides me had a problem with termites?

I noticed some wings and droppings when I pulled up my seat pedestals, but I don't think I have a active infestation. I have had way to much water in my boat from rain for them to live.

I have an 18 Fisherman that was termite ravaged and rotten. Every piece of wood in the boat minus the transom that had been replaced was rotted or eaten up. When I pulled the cap I found a few still alive on the tops of the stringers.

well that sucks!

rkc

I have some ants living in my cuddy somewhere but no termites. Keep your eye out for a hull with blown engine and swap your engine out. If you look long enough I bet you can find one cheap.

I saw ants in my V years ago, I just threw roach bombs in there when I covered for winter, they all dead! I use to put them in every winter after that.

Now you have me thinking, I have never did it to the Ox, but Its not under trees like the V was.I going to do it this year now that you brought it up!

Interesting.

Well Ill be heading down there to see it this weekend to get a better look at the damage. Unfortunately the only place I have to keep it is right under a tree without a cover. Im sure that is how they got in there in the first place. If I think it is to bad, its going up for sale. It will be a good boat for someone with some time to fixer up or part it out since mechanically its fine. I already have another V20 with a better hull but I was saving it for when I can afford a better motor that the little 86 100hp evinrude on the 81. I might just have to compermise though. Ill keep yall updated.

I'd just swap your motor over to the other boat until you find a new motor. Selling the motor on a bad boat will also drop the value of the motor along with the drop in value of the hull.

Wait a minute, Can termites chew through fiberglass? I dont see how, you would think the only termite damage would be wood that is not covered in glass, am I correct?