A crack in my new boat?

[Bill Sieber]

I have just taken delivery of my new 2002 Hunter 240. It is sitting on a parking lot due to dock renovations which are not yet complete. During a check of the boat today after quite a bit of rain, I found water in the aft section by the battery. The cabin and bilge was dry. In looking for the source of the leak, I found a crack in ceiling just behind the through hull for the bilge pump. I did not find anything visible on the outside deck, but the area of the crack is inside the fuel locker near or under the forward wall. Has anyone seen anything like this? Any reason for concern or do you believe this is just cosmetic? It looks like this is just a crack in the gel coat but I just can’t tell for sure.Bill SieberS/V Tsunami

 

[Bill O'Donovan]

Lighten up

The leak could come from a dozen other logical places besides the crack. (I'm an expert on leaks in search of an expert who can trace the damn things.)As to the crack, ask an old salt near your boat to look at it. Chances are it's minor and not likely to spread. Gelcoat cracks. Houses settle. Life goes on. (Easy for me to say, since it's not my new boat.)

 

[BART FORD]

Dry for now

I have a Hunter 240 and shipped a lot of due rough water washing over the transom. When I talked to Hunter, they thought it was coming from one of the motor mounts. Yours may be coming from pan under the gas can. the compartment where the battery sits is not sealed and excessive amounts of water can go forward into the bilge. While you are playing with this, hook up an automatic bilge pump switch, one that will float. the bilge pump switch is manual and if you are alone, you can't hold the switch and look to see if it is pumping. I would rather have a dead battery than 50-60 gal of water

 

[Bill Sieber]

Crack is probably nothing, but...

Bill:Thanks for your response. I only found the crack because I was looking for the leak. I really doubt that the crack was the source of the leak. My concern is the crack. I have had two different local responses so far. An old salt feels as you do, that it is probably nothing, and is going to look at it this weekend. I called the dealer on another issues and mentioned what I had found; he expressed real concern and has asked me to bring the boat over for a look see. That generated my concern more than anything and is the reason for my query to this site. Maybe he is just attempting to be a good dealer and wants to put the new boat owner's mind at ease. Nothing wrong with that, but I expected him to say something like you wrote. I'll keep everyone aware of what happens. At this point I think it is cosmetic, but one never knows and I want to find out before launch!In the mean time, I have a leak to find!Thanks again!

 

[Dan Sheehan AMS]

New Boat

Even if the crack is not structurally significant, you bought a new boat and with it a warranty. Take advantage of it and have the dealer fix it.Dan Sheehan

 

[Frank Sears]

Your new boat...

I bought a new H260 last year. If I found a crack, I'd be on the phone immediately, minor or not. It's a new boat and there should be no cracks in her....

 

[Bill Sieber]

Thanks Everyone

I have sent photo's of the crack in question and will be running the boat back to the dealer before getting it wet. Thanks!