Though usually not serious, it can indicate that a "hard point" from an internal structure like a bulkhead is pushing from within and can reveal places in the hull or on deck that have weak supports. Gelcoat is a very thin coating over fiberglass (to make it look glossy) and easily cracks wherever excessive flexing occurs, such as on unsupported decks or cabin roofs, or where the boat structure makes a sharp angle - at cockpit corners, for example. Though not the most dire, among the largest shares of complaints received by BoatUS involve crazed and cracked gelcoat. Damage to the rubrail often results in damage to the hull-to-deck joint underneath it. Make a thorough inspection of the joint (where accessible), looking for signs of previous leaks as well as loose rivets and screws. It also appeared that the manufacturer had not used enough - or any - sealant in the joint. At first, the owner couldn't find the location of the leak, but after peering at the inside of the hull at the hull-to-deck joint, he saw daylight through a crack where several rivets had fallen out. Whenever the boat was underway, water leaked in from the hull-to-deck joint. Recently, BoatUS received a complaint about a leaking hull-to-deck joint on a 2004 center console. Regular inspections of transoms, decks, and floors can prevent a small fixable core leak from becoming a major repair. Mushiness and wobbly seats can indicate deteriorated plywood in the floor. Floors often rot around seat bases, where water has leaked past the fittings. Leaking fittings, such as railings and cleats, will cause the deck core, either balsa, wood, or foam, to absorb water and delaminate. The repair is not a job for the average boat owner because it involves removing the affected core from between the fiberglass sandwich.ĭecks and floors can also suffer from water intrusion. If you suspect a problem, contact a professional. Stains around poorly bedded fittings, such as transducers or tie-downs, often indicate water slowly leaking out of the transom, another warning sign. Start at any fitting below the waterline a healthy ring means a solid core, while a dull thud often signals a soft spot. Professionals use the handle of a screwdriver or a small plastic hammer to tap on the transom to listen for signs of softness, which is something you can do as well. Water that gets into the transom, as noted above, can eventually compromise the hull's structural integrity. The most serious structural issues on runabouts and center consoles are soft transom cores. They should be replaced with Marelon or bronze. Plastic thru-hulls get brittle and crack, which can sink a boat. In this article, we'll focus on runabouts, which have their own unique set of problems. Keep in mind that an inspection is no substitute for a marine survey if you're buying a boat, hire a professional after you've conducted your own checkout. Because many of these issues involve rot, corrosion, or manufacturers' defects and are therefore not covered by insurance, finding them early can avoid expensive headaches later. ![]() Once the boat was safely on its trailer, he found the previous owner had plumbed in a live well using a hardware store PVC valve, which had broken and allowed water to overflow into the bilge.Ī proper inspection of a boat - whether it's one you already own or one you're considering buying - is simply a matter of knowing where to look for the most common problems. When the bilge pump came on, the owner wisely donned a life jacket and then headed to the launch ramp. In another claim (#0211546), the owner of a 20-foot center console was out fishing and noticed the boat settling lower into the water. ![]() Sometime later, he learned that the transom's plywood core, which gave the transom its strength to support a heavy engine, had rotted. The boat rolled over but remained afloat, leaving the owner clinging to the overturned hull until help arrived. And it was a problem with the engine - the engine was gone along with the transom. His first reaction was that it was yet another problem with the engine. The owner heard a sickening bang, then the engine stopped. Claim #0037465: An older 22-foot boat with a large 200-hp outboard was negotiating an inlet in Florida when the boat slammed into a large wave.
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