was this boat based on a mid 80's mc

[rodltg2]

http://sacramento.craigslist.org/boa/127906764.html

it also looks like it could be a bu hull

[jeverett]

Actually I think they splashed a mold from an 88 bu. SeaSwirl knocked off the tristar in the late 80's early 90's identicle hull with a way cheap interior.

[6ballsisall]

Thats a Bu

[Ryan]

I've wondered the same thing about these Marlin and Magnum Skiers. They are at least using the same windshield from what I can tell (certainly no expert). It seems like the keel line on a MC goes a little deaper a little sooner in the grade from bow to the center of the boat. I hope that made sense.

But, I had someone tell me that they bought the mold from MC. Just a lame rumor.

[LakePirate]

I remember seeing somewhere that MC only usees a mold a couple of times then they busted it up and build a new one. They claim that repeated use will cause it to warp and they lose quality control.

[lakes Rick]

Originally Posted by jeverett

Actually I think they splashed a mold from an 88 bu. SeaSwirl knocked off the tristar in the late 80's early 90's identicle hull with a way cheap interior.

I test drove and almost bought one of these from a guy in Portland OR. before I bought my TriStar in 91.. REAL plain inside.. Imagine one of those dashes used in seaswirls for 20 years behind your steering wheel.. Not a bad boat, well, for a tristar..... Local dealer told me they spotted the Tristar at SeaSwirls plant ( that the mold was made from) and put a stop to em after just a few were made....

To this day I can't believe they picked a TriStar to copy??????

[Ryan]

Originally Posted by lakes Rick

I test drove and almost bought one of these from a guy in Portland OR. before I bought my TriStar in 91.. REAL plain inside.. Imagine one of those dashes used in seaswirls for 20 years behind your steering wheel.. Not a bad boat, well, for a tristar..... Local dealer told me they spotted the Tristar at SeaSwirls plant ( that the mold was made from) and put a stop to em after just a few were made....

To this day I can't believe they picked a TriStar to copy??????

Does anyone know what model SeaSwirl this was? I'd like to find a picture.

It wasn't until 1997 that "Hull Splashing" was stopped. That is, any manufacturer could take a boat, make a plug and a mold and be in business on someone elses design work.

"Boat manufacturers and boat hull design firms need Congressional help to stop the increasingly common practice of having their boat hull designs copied from a fully constructed boat. The practice of copying a particular boat hull design is commonly referred to as the "direct molding process" or "hull splashing"."

http://judiciary.house.gov/legacy/41114.htm

[Ryan]

Ok, a little more homework shows splashing didn't stop in '97. Here is a recent article from Dec 5 2005.

"Genmar is one of the world's largest builders of recreational boats. Every year, the company fires off "cease and desist" letters to manufacturers that are copying its hull designs.

"They generally pull back and stop, once they know we are aware of it," Jacobs said. "But we have also taken some people to the mat over this," including suing them for copyright infringement.

The federal law protecting hull designs isn't strong enough and is cumbersome for manufacturers to use, said David Marlow, a director of product integrity with Brunswick Corp., a Lake Forest, Ill., conglomerate that makes Sea Ray, Boston Whaler, Crestliner and other popular boat brands.

"It's hard to say how many of our hull designs have been splashed in the past," Marlow said. "But we have seen examples of it, and I suspect it's a fairly widespread practice" that chases the top-selling designs." http://www.jsonline.com/bym/news/dec05/375571.asp

[BrianM]

That is really interesting. Didn't realize that this was such a problem. Crazy that patent rights don't really apply to a hull design.

[rodltg2]

dont tell me this hull wasn't splashed.