Hull Markings Indicating Work Boat or Bass Boat Hull Laminate

[jimh]

In a post that was later deleted by the originating author, the existence of two categories of increased laminate strength in a hull was proposed, citing remarks from an unspecified Boston Whaler dealer as the source. One category was to be the well-known work boat option for added laminate layers which in a SUPER SPORT 17 was declared to result in an increase in hull weight of 150-lbs. A second proposed option was to be a "bass boat" option in which the hull weigh increase was declared to be only 75-lbs, and this was declared to be marked by a GREEN DOT as opposed to the usual RED DOT or BLACK DOT marking of the work boat hull. The proposed reason for this variation was dclared to be that the increased laminate in the work boat option was throughout the boat, while in the bass boat option the increase laminate was to be only in the hull. I composed this reply:

That the increase in laminate would only be in the "hull" and not in the rest of the boat in a bass boat option sounds a bit odd to me. The "hull" of a Boston Whaler boat is its Unibond hull, which consists of two laminated structures, the hull bottom and the hull liner. Other than those two laminated components, there is not much else on a SUPER SPORT 17 that would be laminated, unless perhaps the interior of the boat was not made of wood but used fiberglass laminated seats and helm console.

Increasing the strength of the deck (the hull liner molded element) on a boat intended as a work boat would make sense.

The option for a "bass boat" configuration was generally in reference to the arrangement of the interior of the boat. A BASS BOAT model typically would have a swivel seat mounted near the bow. The fitting for the support tube of the swivel seat would be fastened to the aft bulkhead of the bow locker. A BASS BOAT could also have a swivel seat fitted in the aft part of the cockpit. There could also be laminated casting decks included fore and aft. The additional of these added components could have easily added 75-lbs to the weight of the boat.

[jimh]

This now-altered thread still presents the question:

Q1: was there ever an option for additional laminate strength in a 17-foot hull known as the bass boat option (instead of the work boat option) and was this to be indicated by a green dot?