O'Day 31 flexing?

[Mark]

Hello;I'm looking at an O'Day 31 to purchase. However, I found a 14" long crack in the inside hull liner (starboard to port) just above where the ladder to the cabin attaches (near the companionway sill). Also noticed a few more cracks in the ceiling pan, roughly same location. These are not gelcoat cracks, but ones which go completely through the interior hull liner. Maybe the boat flexed a little too much in rough water? Haven't gotten it surveyed yet, am I worrying too much about it?

 

[Paul Mieszczenski]

Common Problem

Mark, This is a common problem on boats like odays that have a finished interior that has to be attatched to the exterior at the companionway. I had it on my O25, and I have it on my O28. There have been a few replies on this site that explained it as the ladder being left attatched to the supports when the boat was hauled and put on the hard. That makes sense in that the hull would flex just a little and all that pressure is placed on an area that is not that well constructed. It is a very difficult place to get to once the hull and deck are joined. Also look at how the sill of the the companionway is just hanging out with little support below it and just repeated use is going to cause some flexing that could lead to this condition. The fix; a thin strip of Teak as a decorative frame that covers the crack, or grind it out and reglass and gel coat which is a pain and expesive. Good luck, PM

 

[james rohr]

doubt its a major problem

I'm not totally familar with the 31 but i have an earlier 79 30 which has also has one piece liner and it also has a couple of similar breaks in it. this liner is only about 1/16" thick and isn't a structure thing. there are certain areas that flex normally but the stress in some of these areas wern't designed correctly to allow for the flex, hense they cracked. usually these are more of an eyesore than anything else.

 

[Mark]

Thanks

Thanks everyone for the input; I'll probably have a 2nd look at it.