Hole in 336 hull- final update

[Bob]

Below is note I just sent to Hunter Customer Service concerning this issue. Bob Pilgrim======================================Hi Greg,I spoke with you a few weeks ago about the hole in my 1995 336's hull.It has taken awhile but I finally have the opinion from the fiberglass repair shop that hole was caused by screw working its way through hull from the inside. This was my opinion also, to me, the most likely cause. This is the forward, right side screw that secures the small piece of teak to the underlying pan at base of bow berth (one of five screws in this panel). There is some hull flexing at this location and with the screw being much longer than necessary, the hole resulted.Can you tell me what length screw would have been used, or should have been used, by the factory when the boat was built (hull # 51).The culprit screw is 1.5 inches as are all the crews used on all the sole wooden panels. It is possible that the previous owner changed screws but all screws holding down all the panels are exactly the same; he would have had to exchange them all which is unlikely.When we spoke about this, you thought this scenario, inside screw making the hole, was unlikely but possible. If factory has been using 1.5 inch screws, it seems like I would not be only owner with this problem. Fiberglass guy doesn't see signs of any previous repair work on the hull that possibly resulted in more flex than is normal. I am fairly careful with my boat and avoid heavy banging of the hull. Do you have any more thoughts on his?Repair guy plans to plug the hole and put a few layers of fiberglass backing on the inside of the hull. I will not put a screw back in that particular hole and will use shorter screws elsewhere where proximity to hull is questionable.thank you,Bob

 

[John Nantz]

Well Written Letter

Bob - that's a really well thought out and well written letter. By the way, for what it's worth, I've noticed that Hunter tends to use the same size screw just about everywhere.