Yikes - Hull oil canning

Apr 30, 2013
36
Hunter 35 Michigan
So, I went to get the boat ready yesterday for a launch next Saturday. Was inspecting below the boat stripe, I needed to do some bottom painting and inspect rudder, prop, cutlass, etc. Saw just in front of the aft starboard cradle pad that there was a hairline crack (and later found another just above the pad), and realized that where that pad was had pushed in a section probably close to 2x2 into the hull. Quick inspection from in and out shows that the hull looks to have flexed in about and inch or two, just aft of the wall separating the aft cabin from the engine. There is no structural support in that section. Upon further inspection, I found that the port cradle pads were loose (as much as 1/2 an inch between boat and pad). So it looks like maybe cradle settled to starboard in the ground (or boat settled to starboard in cradle), putting much more load in a spot that shouldn't have gotten it.

All of that said, yard/service wasn't around yesterday but I left them a message. Called first thing this morning, and they had already looked at it and were working on a plan to rectify. They indicated that they would get it in the lift, see if it pops out on its own or if they have to give it a little help, and then look at a bit of grinding/glassing/repainting to address the cracks. I'm not too concerned about the marina stepping up to resolve, I'm just looking for some insight in regards to what other issues I might need to look for. I'm not concerned about meeting a launch date. I'd rather have it fixed properly, just need to know what to look for in regards to proper. Finally, the marina has done right by me before, and I wouldn't take it anywhere else for a repair, but also trying to decide whether I ought to get my insurance company and/or incur the expense of a independent surveyor.

Attached a couple of pics - one of the cracks, and another shot that tries to show the indentation - it's kind of hard to see.
 

Attachments

Jan 12, 2011
930
Hunter 410 full time cruiser
I think I would be talking to my insurance company. If your yard placed the stands in the wrong spot why would you believe in their stepping up to correct (sounds their plan is to cover it up). It may be worth it to get a surveyor to look at it before the yard moves anything!
 

azguy

.
Aug 23, 2012
337
Catalina 22 Lake Pleasant
To me, and I know nothing, that looks more serious than you think....
 
Apr 30, 2013
36
Hunter 35 Michigan
It's a 92 35.5 Legend. I did not hear back from the marina today, going to call them in the AM and see what they found today. If the boat wasn't an hour and a half away, I'd run back up.
 
Apr 30, 2013
36
Hunter 35 Michigan
Well, we are repaired and went in the water on Saturday as scheduled. After communications back and forth with the marina, once the boat was lifted the "dent" popped right back and there was no longer a visible crack. It appears as if it was just the gelcoat. They still cleaned it up, ground it back just a bit, reglassed, faired it out, and reapplied bottom paint. Looks as good as new from the outside and nothing visible from the inside. And they took care of the whole thing.

I've read some of the horror stories of boatyards, and while the initial incident was unfortunate, I don't really feel it was necessary negligence. I think it was just one of those things that can happen. And they stepped up and made a customer happy. I'll continue to store with them and keep them as my go to for Hunter service.

Ready for summer now!
 

richk

.
Jan 24, 2007
495
Marlow-Hunter 37 Deep Creek off the Magothy River off ChesBay
Whew!

Well, we are repaired and went in the water on Saturday as scheduled. After communications back and forth with the marina, once the boat was lifted the "dent" popped right back and there was no longer a visible crack. It appears as if it was just the gelcoat. They still cleaned it up, ground it back just a bit, reglassed, faired it out, and reapplied bottom paint. Looks as good as new from the outside and nothing visible from the inside. And they took care of the whole thing.

I've read some of the horror stories of boatyards, and while the initial incident was unfortunate, I don't really feel it was necessary negligence. I think it was just one of those things that can happen. And they stepped up and made a customer happy. I'll continue to store with them and keep them as my go to for Hunter service.

Ready for summer now!
Good to hear! We had our 35 for 16 years and were fortunate to never have the same symptom. However, we hauled at only two different places and new the yard people quite well, so they knew where to put the slings and stands. We had sixteen glorious years with our 35 and it's time for a new chapter with a new boat.
Rich