Found a crack :'-(

Good Grief

Good Grief

New Member
Mar 26, 2008
314
Lusby, MD
Boat Info
290 Sundancer 1998
Engines
4.3L V-6's w/ Alpha 1 Gen 2 drives
We've owned our boat for 3 years. Today, while getting ready for our first long (4 day) excursion. I was looking in the forward compartments below the v berth. When you lift up 1/2 of the mattress there is storage for a table and a few deep pockets on either side. What I discoverd in the port storage area after removing the lid was that it has a crack in it. :wow: The compartment is probably 4 feet long or so and the crack is right in the bottom joint towrds the center of the boat, running for and aft. I checked the other side, nothing there. No signs of water anywhere, the boat has always been very dry and I haven't seen any water. I guess I wondering if the boat is safe. I plan on having it looked at but am wondering if any other owners have seen this. Could this be from blocking in the winter? Not having the slings in the correct position? hitting a wave? I just don't know. First boat and I'm worried sick...
 
How wide is the crack and can you tell how deep it is? This is a total guess ...but in this area I don't think this will turn into a big deal (i hope). A picture would help. Ric
 
I would venture a guess that it's just cosmetic. But, as mentioned, please post a pic and we'll be able to help more. Is this area gel-coated? Or is it painted? Could the crack be where some caulking has pulled away?
 
Hmmm. It's not what I was expecting to see. I'm not saying that to alarm you, but it's good you have the surveyor coming over. I would not feel comfortable telling you that that is strictly cosmetic, just based on those pics.
 
Where the hell is Frank W. when you need him? JK. What did you spend 1100.00 on?...oh yeah and I think you should pm frank Webster. (right now)
 
I would think based on the location that something was hit, possibly a log, dock, etc.

Is there damage on the outside in the same area? Has there been a gelcoat repair in the area?

Doug
 
Is there a wooden shelf glassed into that area? I don't think you hull is cored there yet it looks like wood. I'm wondering if something was glassed to the hull and the tab let go and it cracked where the joint meets the hull. I'm with the others about getting a professional opinion. Looks like it would be easy to fix.
 
sbw1 said:
Is there a wooden shelf glassed into that area?
Click to expand...

It almost looks like a false floor was put there to give that cavity a flat bottom? In which case, it would usually be plywood. I mean, there's obviously a cavity in there as that wire must go somewhere. If it is just a false floor, then that would be a very good thing. I'm not totally understanding the orientation of the pics, though.
 
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DSCN3556.jpg


Easy access to the situation.
 
If that wire drops into a cavity below, it may have filled with water at some point. Winter temps may have cracked it wide open.

I second the surveyor....
 
Is that plywood under the crack? I had a 28 footer (not SeaRay before we got a 380 aft cabin) with a similar crack at a stringer in the bow area. I had a boat repair place that does fiberglass repairs. They spent half a day fixing it. Cost was about $700. They said if I had left it it would have got bigger. You could push the hull out in the area before it was fixed, but not after.
 
Looks like it was dropped from the lift or stands. Definitely a hard blow to the keel.
 
Yeah, that's a bummer but you're addressing it and going to repair it properly so I wouldn't lose any sleep over it.
 
The crack runs for to aft. the low numbers on the tape are forward.
 
The boat was just pulled to have the OD's done. I also had the engines checked. While the boat was out I inspected the hull and could find nothing to indicate what I saw inside...
 
If that is so wouldn't I see water somewhere else? The boat is always bone dry in every compartment I can get to.
 
What is the wire running to?

Can someone fix the picture size please, its messing up the page size for me.Thanks!

With such a short distance between the splits, that had to have been a major force.
 
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