This crack goes all the way through to the bilge and leaks water. On the hard, before getting the boat put in this spring, the crack was not there. I'm 100% sure because I put on a coat of VC17 on that very spot two days before they put my boat in. The crack happened while the marina was putting my boat in the water and the leak was immediate upon plashing the boat. (I was not there when they moved my boat and splashed it). Should I blame my marina? Did they drop the boat on the keel? I'm not so sure how else to explain how this happened. Any thoughts you have would be appreciated. Also, ideas on a repair would be great.
Keel/Hull Crack on Splash
- Thread starter BTC1984
- Start date
If they dropped the boat, there will be impact evidence on the bottom of the keel - look it over carefully. It's possible it was damaged previously and repaired.
The bottom of the keel looks fine which obviates the dropped explanation. I doubt the worst possible position of a sling could do that either. Plus it would seem impossible for the operator or the attendant to not see that crack as they were lifting the boat. Assuming it’s a bolt-on keel, what is the condition of the aft bolt(s)?
That looks like the turn in the hull where the hull meets the fiberglass keel stub, not the keel itself
Is what I’ve circled in green a separate crack where the hull meets the keel?
If so I wonder if the two may have been caused at the same time? In any case I think the repair in the area you’ve circled will be pretty significant effort.
Is what I’ve circled in green a separate crack where the hull meets the keel?
If so I wonder if the two may have been caused at the same time? In any case I think the repair in the area you’ve circled will be pretty significant effort.
Exactly. It not the keel it’s the keel stub. The part you circled seems to be more superficial than it looks and I think it was there prior. I’ll look again. The repair estimate is $1500-$2000. He starts Monday. Should impost photos of the repair ?
Given the circumstances as you described, I would assume it was something the lift operators did. The damage appears to be quite new. Now, that's not to say that they are at fault. If the keel was improperly attached or there was some other structural damage previously unknown to you, then it simply might have cracked under the pressure of a normal splash operation. But, that said, I have heard so many horror stories about boat mishandling that I have come to realize that it is much more common than I would expect. And, I personally know people who have had their boats dropped and the boatyard did not tell them. (Had to find out from witnesses.) I never allow my boat to be moved if I'm not present, for this reason.
Doesn't help you, at this point.
What you can do is lift up the floor board and inspect around the keel bolts. This could give you some clues. I would not expect to see further damage on the bottom of the keel because this does not look like damage from being dropped on the keel. It looks more like the hull aft of the keel flexing upward and/or the keel flexing forward. The former could happen if the boat lacked structural integrity to resist sagging in the sling. I do not know enough to know if this could be caused by improper sling placement. The latter would imply gross mishandling - like allowing the boat's stern to slide down, supported by the aft edge of the keel against the sling. (Inspect the area carefully with a magnifying glass for evidence of abrasion from a sling. If found, photograph.)
Both are difficult to prove since you weren't there.
If you inspect those keel bolts and the surrounding area and, for example see missing or loose bolts ... well, there's your problem.
As for repair, this is quite serious. I would not take advice on the forum about that. You will get good advice, but this damage is too serious to entrust to people you don't know and who aren't accountable. I can say that, unless the lift operator (marina?) pays for the repair, or unless you are very handy and can (and want to) do the repair yourself, it is probably cheaper to replace the boat. I have what I would describe as a "medium" level of experience with fiberglass and a medium-high level of tolerance for risk of failure, and I would not attempt this repair myself.
What I can tell you is that, if you know it was the operator, but can't prove it, your best strategy is that if the operator believes you have a high capacity to pursue this. So, make sure your early communications with them leaves you with this card to play, should you later need to (after ensuring that it was their fault). Avoid comments like, "I don't have the money to repair this" as this tells them, "I don't have the money to pursue this." After inspecting the boat as thoroughly as I could, myself, my first conversation with the operator would be to the effect of, "The boat was damaged between the last time I visited it and the time it was put in the water. I have not found evidence of any manufacturing faults so I am having an expert come inspect the damage and help identify the cause." And, of course, document everything.
Doesn't help you, at this point.
What you can do is lift up the floor board and inspect around the keel bolts. This could give you some clues. I would not expect to see further damage on the bottom of the keel because this does not look like damage from being dropped on the keel. It looks more like the hull aft of the keel flexing upward and/or the keel flexing forward. The former could happen if the boat lacked structural integrity to resist sagging in the sling. I do not know enough to know if this could be caused by improper sling placement. The latter would imply gross mishandling - like allowing the boat's stern to slide down, supported by the aft edge of the keel against the sling. (Inspect the area carefully with a magnifying glass for evidence of abrasion from a sling. If found, photograph.)
Both are difficult to prove since you weren't there.
If you inspect those keel bolts and the surrounding area and, for example see missing or loose bolts ... well, there's your problem.
As for repair, this is quite serious. I would not take advice on the forum about that. You will get good advice, but this damage is too serious to entrust to people you don't know and who aren't accountable. I can say that, unless the lift operator (marina?) pays for the repair, or unless you are very handy and can (and want to) do the repair yourself, it is probably cheaper to replace the boat. I have what I would describe as a "medium" level of experience with fiberglass and a medium-high level of tolerance for risk of failure, and I would not attempt this repair myself.
What I can tell you is that, if you know it was the operator, but can't prove it, your best strategy is that if the operator believes you have a high capacity to pursue this. So, make sure your early communications with them leaves you with this card to play, should you later need to (after ensuring that it was their fault). Avoid comments like, "I don't have the money to repair this" as this tells them, "I don't have the money to pursue this." After inspecting the boat as thoroughly as I could, myself, my first conversation with the operator would be to the effect of, "The boat was damaged between the last time I visited it and the time it was put in the water. I have not found evidence of any manufacturing faults so I am having an expert come inspect the damage and help identify the cause." And, of course, document everything.
That is a suspicously low number unless the exact damage is known. Also, if you get the repair done, it will be difficult to get the marina to pay for it, if it is determined they are at fault, since you will have erased the evidence. (Though, a proper repair might expose some additional evidence.)
I am always present during haulout and return to water. I placed lables "LIFT" to make sure they place the straps on the correct location as specified by the boat manufacturer. They were very happy that they did not need to guess the placement.
If they dropped the boat onto sand/dirt/grass there may not be evidence on the bottom of the keel. I could see how dropping could caused that failure. When lifted the crack expands and looks like it pulled away.
Unless the marina fesses up, the only way to find out is a professional accident inspector.
Unless the marina fesses up, the only way to find out is a professional accident inspector.