Walk-Thru Transom

Anyone have experience with a walk-thru transom like the one in Nautique's Air 226? I'm thinking it would make manuvering around the boat a lot easier especially for an older dude like myself who's not quite as limber as he used to be. On the other had my wife sees these issues:
~ Cuts into the sunpad.
~ Eliminates a seat.
~ Hard to keep that passageway clean.
Any thoughts on whether the pros outweigh the cons?



(Message edited by blacter on February 26, 2004)

Here's what it looks like...

Barry,

My next door neighbor has the Centurion Avalanche with the same kind of walk-through transom. Personally, I'm not a huge fan.

Pros:
-Somewhere to throw wet life jackets and wetsuits.
-you can walk through to transom.

Cons:
-this may be Centurion specific, but BALLAST. There's nowhere to put it when you have the walk-through...
-you probably won't use the walk-through, because it will always be filled with life jackets.
-it makes the sun deck a lot smaller.
-eliminates a seat, (or adds a very uncomfortable one).

For my purposes, I don't like the walkthrough. I'd rather have the extra surface, seating, and ballast space.

Cal

You need to talk to you neighbor more. The Centurion can have ballst under the walk thru.
The Storm 2 and 3 options both have a ballast sac
under the walk trough

Avalanche owner here. I love the walk through to the transom. As for the ballast Centurion does offer it on there Storm 2 and 3 options like Kevin said. If you really innovative and dont mind putting in your own its not too hard. I did it on mine. I believe that the storm 2 and three have about 250 lbs on each side. I was able to figure out soft tanks that will hold 350 lbs each. If interested on the info let me know.

Yep. My buddy has an Av with the ballast under there.

I don't really like the walk through concept though.. What's the real point to it? So you have to step up an extra 8" and slide across the platform to go ride a wakeboard or ski if that's your thing..... Unless you need a walker I think you're safe without it. Unless you like you like it. Cause it's all about what you want in a boat and whether you like it anyway.

I guess that's why they build the boat both ways. If you don't want the walk thru by the Avalanche C4 full wrap around seating no walk thru....what a concept

Forgot to mention that. We know that it is available, but he voted not to add it since it really wasn't that much weight to add... for a whole lotta cash.

But my point was that after using one with the walkthrough (and I was in the market for one), I would have gone without. But yes, that's why they made it an option. Was a good move on Centurion's part.

I've always wondered if this makes one side of the boat lop sided in terms of weight distribution?

Kev,
I'm not knocking Centurion. I own one. Having a bad day? Sheesh.

Didn't mean to come across that way

I think it is an awesome idea. It looks pretty wicked.