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Frequently Asked QuestionsQ. Can I buy a boat from the factory? A. If you are located in a geographic region that is reasonably served by a Duroboat dealer we will not ship boats to you. Our dealers provide an important service in matching your boat to your needs and in matching your needs to motors and trailers. We think it is advisable to have a dealer as part of the transaction if it is feasible. Please call your nearest dealer or better yet stop by his showroom. If you are not close to a dealer give us a call at 731 986 2524.. Q. Can I buy parts from Duroboat ? A. Yes, we prefer that you support your local dealer but if they are not that close to you or are out of the part you need we will be happy to support you. See the parts and gear pages of this web site.
Q. Do the letters in the Duroboat Model name mean anything to me? A. Yes, The number in a model name designates the length of the boat in feet. Currently there are 4 possible letters that follow the number. . A D stands for Duralite, simply a word added to call attention to lighter, smaller models typically used for car topping or ultra easy handling on the beach. The 12D model has less freeboard than full size 12 foot boats. S and L mean short or long transoms, (see next question). Many folks think the W in several model names means wide. Actually all Duroboats are fairy wide. The W means Walk Through. Boats with a W have storage boxes in place of the middle seat. W boats also have wider floorboard systems.
Q. How do I know if I need a short S or long L model Boat? A. The boats 12D or smaller are all short transom boats. The 15 and 16 ft boats are all long transoms. If you are choosing a 12 or 14 ft boat you have a decision to make. The Duroboat 12L and 14L transoms are the same. the 12S and 14S transoms are the same. see this picture. If you are trying to match a motor you already own to a new boat your choice is determined by the distance from the mounting surface of the motor to the anti ventilation plate on your motor. The distance will be approximately 15 inches (short) or 20 inches (long). select a motor to match. If your motor is between those dimensions but definitely less than 20 talk to your dealer. Most likely you will get a short. It takes at least a 20 inch motor shaft to perform well on a long transom boat. If you are considering a purchase of boat and a motor as a package, think about this. If you are taking the motor on and off frequently the short motors are a little less awkward and easier to handle. They take up less room in a trunk or pick up bed. If you are going to trailer your boat and leave the motor in place most often you would typically opt for a long transom. it provides a little more protection at the back when in a following sea or if you slow the boat rapidly. It is a little better in big water. If you do not have a strong preference for one or the other it is fine to select a combination that a dealer may have in stock or might offer as a good deal. A Long or short motor will not make the draft of the boat more or less, as the anti ventilation plate will be roughly in line with the keel on both so the same amount of propeller would be in the water either way. That said. A long shaft motor may work on a short transom boat. It probably will plane but possiblly not ride well, certainly less than optimum. Usually a short shaft motor will not work on a long transom boat. It may putter forward but it will not get enough water to the prop when trying to go fast to stay on plane. Q. Can I turn my short transom boat into a long transom boat or vice versa? A. Anything is possible but it takes time and or money or both. Several parts need to change. We have seen a few good jobs done by others. We can do it at the factory and will but we think it is more costly than the benefit allows. It might be better to sell one and get another.
Q. What is required to make my tiller steer boat a forward steer boat? A. You will need a console with a steering system. That is a Duroboat item available from Duroboat or from your dealer. See the parts page. You will also need a set of motor controls and cables that are unique to your motor brand. If your motor is not ready to operate with remote control cables you will need a kit to modify it. See a Duroboat dealer who sells your brand of motor. Q. What kind of motor works best with a Duroboat? A. All of them. We have dealers selling almost all brands with their Duroboats. All of their customers seem satisfied. The modern outboard motor works well. All brands have excellent performance and good reliability. The new four strokes and direct injected two strokes are clean and quiet. Carbureted two strokes are reliable and economical but are phasing out and their use in the future may be restricted. If you have a good reliable two stoke, its performance will be optimized if hung on a new Duroboat. If you are buying a new motor we think you will be happiest with a new technology 4 stroke or direct injected two stroke. If you are buying both a new motor and boat, try to buy your motor and boat at the same place. While problems are not anticipated with either it is easier for a Dealer to take responsibility for solving an interface problem if he has sold both halves of the package. Q. How big a truck do I need to tow a Duroboat? A. You likely do not need a truck. A truck is nice but the beauty of a lightweight aluminum skiff is that the smaller ones can be put on top of a car or truck or in the bed of a pickup. There is usually not a need to buy a truck just to pull a Duroboat. Total loads with the largest allowable motors and even with some gear in the trailer can easily be under 1200 lbs and more typically it will be less than 1000 lbs. That is within the tow range of most passenger vehicles. Know the weight of the boat, motor, gear package you will tow and consult your vehicle owners manual for its towing capacities. Follow all recommendations of your vehicle manufacturer. Q. Why would I buy an aluminum boat instead of a fiberglass boat.? A. All boats have benefits. One of the things that frustrates boat builders is that unlike cars almost all boat buyers are different than all other buyers and we could design a different boat for every buyer. For some folks a fiberglass boat might be the best choice. Buyers who choose aluminum typically opt for economy, simplicity of design, ease of customization and rugged construction. Buyers who choose Duroboat can add hull curves and performance similar to glass or wood boats to the list of benefits. Aluminum boats in general and Duroboat in particular are economical to acquire and operate. They are light for their size. That translates to good performance with less horsepower. Aluminum boats are generally less expensive than their fiberglass counterparts. Motors can be smaller and less expensive to get equivalent performance and fuel use is less. The design of aluminum boats is relatively straight forward. Boaters know what they are looking at . Most mechanical accessories are surface mounted easy to see and understand. They are easy to work on. Fishermen and Yachtsmen love to tinker with their boats. Adding and changing accessories on an aluminum boats is generally easier. Larger welded aluminum boats are very tough. In our size categories, we think our Durojoint is the most rugged option.
Q. What about trailers? A. Most companies making small trailers are quite good. These are not high tech items but a brand with a good reputation helps make a safe choice. Don't skimp on a trailer. Your best package price will be on a trailer just big enough for the boat. If , however, you opt for a unit with more carrying capacity than you need you will never regret it. (do make sure it fits in your garage or storage space before selecting a trailer size) Upgrading to larger wheels is nice if you anticipate rugged use. It does not add that much to your cost and boat and trailer will last longer. Add a trailer jack and guide ons to make your life easier. These little things push up the price a little but are oh so worth it. For aluminum boats, bunks are generally better than rollers. Long bunks are better than short. A transom saver to support your motor from the trailer is a great investment. Make sure your trailer is properly adjusted to fit your boat. See the article under Duroboat Experience. Q What Oars should I use? A. See the Duroboat Experience Articles Q. . Do I need to think about Corrosion? A. If you will use your boat in or around salt water please see the Duroboat Experience article on Corrosion. It is useful information for any salt water boat owner. Some freshwater lakes can also be corrosive particularly if you will moor in electrically active marinas. Sacrificial anodes are important protection against corrosion. The zinc and magnesium content of anodes will be different for salt and freshwater. Article. Q. I have an older Duroboat I might want to paint. Can you help me? A. See the Duroboat Experience article on painting. Q. Do You sell boat covers? A. Not Currently, You can usually get, off the shelf, covers from your dealers or a variety of marine retail outlets. It is possible to a get an off the shelf cover with a serviceable fit. The least expensive covers may be for mooring or storage only. If you plan to trailer your boat with a cover make sure it is rated for towing speeds. Some inexpensive covers are for storage or mooring only. If you want a perfect fit you may want to consider a custom cover, bimini top or or other canvas options. Your dealer will likely have a canvas shop he knows and trusts. You may see some custom covers you like in the pages of this web site.
Q. Is Duroboat really a better aluminum boat? A. Yes! We will expand this section as we get questions that may interest a large audience. |
