Stress Cracks in Fiberglass at Transom Hooks, is this normal?

[RodnRhonda]

We just got our boat back from service and wanted to take it out Saturday to see how it was running. When we got to the lift where we have it picked up off the trailer and lowered into the water the operator noticed the cracks in the fiberglass around the hooks and was so concerned he told us if it was his boat he would not use a lift he would back the trailer in the water to launch. The previous owner told me he and his wife had always used a lift station. I also am including pictures from the bilge area and there appears to be no damage there and the brackets on the inside of the boat do not appear to be corroded or anything. Looking at these images can anyone tell me if these cracks are something I should be very worried about. The boat is a 2000 model.

 

[Madifonzo]

Interesting. Are you saying they were lifting the boat using the bow and stern eyehooks? Something doesn't seem right to me there but I am not experienced lifting boats. I would think the strength in the eye hooks are in and out not up and down.
From the photo the stress crack appears to be on the lower bolt of the eye hook indicating its trying to pull up and out. Those cracks don't look fresh either but as an ongoing issue noting the paint flake on the interior shot. I don't think it's normal but I am sure some who knows more will chime in.

 

[Riptide III]

+1 I have never heard of lifting a boat using the hooks! Always used straps. Might be my imagination but it almost looks like the hooks are pulled up and out in the last two pics. Interested to say what the manufacturer says about using the hooks.

 

[blaster]

You can lift a small whaler that way, but not a 240 sundancer. I can't imagine what the lift operator would do if the backing plates ripped through. Not good. The previous owner did this? What marina would do this to a heavy boat like a 240?

 

[Air O'Nautical]

You'll need to clarify how your lifting the boat.
Seems your suggesting that your lifting the boat by utilizing the bow and stern eyes with hooks and cables?
If yes, you have a problem...normally two straps run under the hull to lift it in and out..

 

[fwebster]



According to Sea Ray, the bow and stern eyes are to be used for loading on a trailer or short term lifting of the boat, but not for storage.....as in on a cable lift hanging from the eyes.

This boat has more than gelcoat stress cracks going on and I'm with the lift operator, but I'd go one step further and have the transom repaired before some serious damage is done from someone else lifting the boat improperly or from water entering the structure.

 

[stephenm27]



According to Sea Ray, the bow and stern eyes are to be used for loading on a trailer or short term lifting of the boat, but not for storage....

My 310 has factory bow and stern eyes and there is no way they are capable of sustaining the point-load of even a short-term lift. Surely, SR qualifies the above statement to a specific model or smaller, I would hope.

 

[Lazy Daze]

A 240DA is still small enough that it's OK to lift it that way to put it in and out of the water. But as Frank said, short term only. I also agree with Frank that the cracks you see may not be only superficial. I'm not worried about the actual cracks, but what's underneath and why they cracked. You can plainly see that the escutcheon plate has pulled away from the transom. Where the stern eyes not resealed after "x" years and did that allow water get into the wood used to reinforce that area... which allowed the wood to get soft, compress and then the through-bolt part contacted the edge of the hole? Or maybe one of the times the boat was lifted, it wasn't done "gently", and that caused it? That part is anyone's guess. But I would suggest AT LEAST removing the stern eyes and doing a thorough check by someone that understands fiberglass construction/work/repair.

The interior backer plate was obviously stressed as the bilge gelcoat has cracked off... but that's not too uncommon as the gelcoat is actually quite brittle. I'm leaning towards thinking that this might not actually be too bad... but it's pretty hard to make a diagnosis over the internet. The only way to know will be to remove the fittings and check it out, along with the surrounding glass area.

 

[Air O'Nautical]

Looking closely at the OP pics tells me...it's not OK to lift this boat in such a manor.
They're pulling out under the stress....

 

[Creekwood]

UPDATED. I now see the OP said this is how the boats are lifted in and out of the water, not for storage. Its still clearly not a good idea for this boat. That is clearly damaging the transom.

 

[Zorba]

I think when they say short term lifting it means lifting a little off the trailer or jacks stands and blocks in order to get straps underneath the hull. It does however sound like it is common practice in the OP's neck of the woods to actually lift the whole boat off the trailer and plunk it in the water.

Like others have said I can see this on a 1000lb whaler with an outboard but a three ton 240 is really pushing the limits of 3 U bolts and 6 nuts.


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