Hairline Crack in Keel

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Nov 15, 2009
29
Hunter 39 New Castle, NH
We are preparing to purchase a new boat and have discovered a hairline crack on the aft end of the keel. The crack is irregular and about 2 inches long extending on both sides and around the aft end. The dealer believes it is common and may be a result of the keel casting or because of the hull/keel joint flexing during transport. The boat has never been in the water. Should we be concerned? Any suggestions?

The following are links that show pictures of the crack:

http://sdrv.ms/Z0XWrJ
http://sdrv.ms/10JqMdd
http://sdrv.ms/10H4I4y
 
Jun 1, 2009
1,845
Hunter 49 toronto
Cast iron

We are preparing to purchase a new boat and have discovered a hairline crack on the aft end of the keel. The crack is irregular and about 2 inches long extending on both sides and around the aft end. The dealer believes it is common and may be a result of the keel casting or because of the hull/keel joint flexing during transport. The boat has never been in the water. Should we be concerned? Any suggestions?

The following are links that show pictures of the crack:

http://sdrv.ms/Z0XWrJ
http://sdrv.ms/10JqMdd
http://sdrv.ms/10H4I4y
I believe this is a cast iron keel. To my knowledge, these cracks are inconsequential, but having said that:

Get a statement from Hunter.
Bring in a surveyor.
You will then know if it is anything to worry about. Don't guess. It's easy enough to get the right answer.
Good luck
 

Mulf

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Dec 2, 2003
400
Hunter 410 Chester, MD (Kent Island)
I have to wonder why...

this boat has never been in the water? According to the Marlow-Hunter website, the 310 is listed under Previous Models. Although it does not show years made on this model like it does on most, I can see that the 31 came in from 2005 to 2011. That suggests this boat has been sitting 7 years or more? Here's the link http://www.marlow-hunter.com/index.html. Choose the Our Fleet tab and then Previous Models item. Not that this is necessarily bad, but you have to consider the fact that all the mechanical and electrical parts, as well as all the rigging, mast, etc., that have been sitting there doing nothing all that time. Would you buy a 2004 car that had never been driven? Has the engine been sitting untouched for that many years? I would at very least have an independent survey of the entire boat, as well as the particular issue you asked about, and expect a really good deal on price.

Apology to poster per his clarification below: OOPS, I assumed incorrectly from your boat type that you were talking about a 310. My apologies.
 
Last edited:
Nov 15, 2009
29
Hunter 39 New Castle, NH
I should clarify, we are looking to purchase a new 2012 Hunter 39.
 
Apr 11, 2010
979
Hunter 38 Whitehall MI
A few years back Hunter began switching from lead keels to cast iron as a cost cutting move. Pros and cons like everything of course.

Big con is corrosion with cast iron and from your pictures it is clearly evident.
Cracks are not uncommon due to stresses (our previous boat was a Catalina and in that brand they referred to it as the Catalina smile). With a lead keel you might see a crack and it might be of no consequence provided the boat hadn't hit anything.
More than the crack you are seeing, the rust weeping out would concern me.
 
Dec 2, 1999
15,184
Hunter Vision-36 Rio Vista, CA.
1. get a survey
2. have the seller blast and epoxy the keel at their expense as part of the deal.

Does not look like much of anything to me but who knows until they "dig" a little deeper.
 

eianm

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Jul 7, 2010
523
Hunter 42 Sydney
i had a similar crack on my H42, but it is a 1991 model. My crack was straight and i was advised it was the joint between the casting and the hull join and NOTHING to worroy about. When i was slipped the guys used a dremell, ground a little into the crack and filled and faired with a West epoxy (dont know the number) and then painted over it- no sign of it coming back.
 

Mark48

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Mar 1, 2008
166
Hunter 34 Milwaukee
Take a walk around a boat yard, you will see a lot of boats with such cracks, mostly they are related to the joint and not of consequence, a little cleaning out and 5200, prime and bottom coat. But have a competent persone look at it and make repair part of the deal.
 

Ivan

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May 17, 2004
234
Hunter 356 Solomons MD
Insist that it be perfect

In your shoes I would not take delivery of the new boat until the crack is investigated and determined that it is "nothing to worry about", and then faired in and the bottom portion repainted with the same paint and color as the rest of the bottom. If it turns out that it does need more than cosmetic repairs, "do not take delivery until completely repaired" holds in spades.

Your dealer should be absolutely aboveboard on all of this, and make sure that you are completely satisfied. I don't know of any Hunter dealers who are not trustworthy. After all, it's their reputation and future sales on the line. My dealer, Norton Yachts in Deltaville, VA was superb in all my dealings, pre and post-sales. But remember that you will never again have the leverage that you have before delivery.
 
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