I have discove a small hair line crack running from under the stern ladder. it runs in the middle of what I would call a joint area. this area form the lip that protrudes out from the stern and the bottom of the hull meet, hope that makes some since to you readers.
Any how, when you step on the ladder the crack widens to about 1/8" and it runs about 12 inches on this lip.
I can squeeze it together with my fingers. I don't know if this is a separation of the glass, stress crack, or a manufacture issue !
I had no water in the bilge after sailing Sunday for about 2.5 hrs.
I don't no if this is a simple fix or something I should have done.
Glenn B.
Glenn,
Can yoou post a picture of the crack you describe?
PCB
Winds Aloft
While gel coat cracks ( like spider webs, etc. ) are fairly common, the fact your boat is new and the crack widens to 1/8" leads me to believe this could be a separation issue. The typical gel coat cracks don't spread, even with force applied.
I would get this checked out by your dealer . .. my 2 cents, Gil
Glenn...
How are you making out with the crack problem ? I see only a few hairline like cracks in the gel-coat in this area on my boat. Nothing like a separation of these surfaces. I have one of the oldest Eclipses (hull#2) and have had only one problem, a leak in the centerboard compartment. Com-pac fixed this problem even though the boat was slightly out of warranty.
Hi PCB
I was looking at the crack over the week end and realized I have two such cracks !
I will take a couple of pictures and try to post them here, I'm not very good at this computer stuff bare with me, I might just have to email them to you if you.
you could email me at glenn.basore@medtronic.com and I could send them to you.
but first let me try and post them.
I also want to crawl inside and take a good look in the stern area to see what there is structurally.
While rigging the boat in the parking lot I was boarding the boat using the swim ladder when I heard a load crack sound, but did not see anything. I'm now thinking possibly hair line crack is what I heard.
Although it is on the lip under the step, I have a second crack on the starboard side of the lip as well so now I'm not so sure the ladder has anything to do with the cracks ?
I will try and take some pictures tonight before it gets to dark and post Tuesday morning.
Have you been sailing ?
The support on the hull on the trailer is considerable different than when it is in the water . In the water there is even support on the bottom of the hull. It is quite possible that when you climbed onto the boarding ladder on land you may have created stress in the transom and hull junction that caused the cracking.
Should we consider the weight of the motor and if the boat is trailered with the motor mounted?
You all have good points here, but the most disturbing part of it is, I'm just not sure.
I'm going to crawl back in there and see what I can see, structurally this week end.
When I bought the boat from the previous owner, we just climbed on board using the swim later, the previous owner was about my weight and size.
I have done some fiber glassing and different projects of my own but never any marine experience.
I will try and post pictures Tuesday morning, if not may be I could email the pictures to one of you to post for me if I'm not successful.
I have a boarding ladder on my CP-16 and I don't think I would use it except for boarding while afloat. I use a three step folding ladder from Home Depot for boarding on the hard. My guess is using the boarding ladder overstressed your hull. Good luck with the repair Glenn, once fixed I'd only use it to re-board after a swim. Or as you have no traditional transom discard the ladder and "swim" aboard. I owned a Hunter 212 (open transom) for a few years and no ladder was required for boarding while afloat.
ick
OK all,
I've got some pictures but cant figure out how to post them ?
Insert image doesn't do it ?
load them into the gallery first.
ick
Some how I was able to get two pictures to load on the Gallery but haven't figure out how to get them to here ?
So I guess everyone will have to go to the gallery to view ........
Go back to the gallery, open your image, right-click and select "Properties," copy the address. Then come back here, post a message and use img tag pair with the address in between. There is a designated button "Insert Image that places the img tag pair into the body of the message. This is what you get:
(http://www.com-pacowners.com/gallery2/albums/userpics/12115/cracks_and_wheel_002.jpg)
AT
Thanks, I will try it again.
Picture of crack(http://com-pacowners.com/gallery2/albums/userpics/12115/thumb_cracks_and_wheel_005.jpg)
Well, at least I got it posted !
why didnt it appear larger like yours did ?
You probably provided an address of a thumbnail picture, not a full size picture. Open a full size picture from a gallery (does not have to be from this site, could be hosted somewhere else, such as Flicker) and check its properties.
BTW, I have a similar crack at the transom joint at starboard side. It was there for a while, probably since the boat was new. It does not seem to affect anything.
Glenn,
My 2 cents on your transom crack... Call Com-Pac today and email a picture for their opinion.
I would think that using the ladder would compress not expand the crack.
pcb
Winds Aloft
Two quick comments . . .
1- That appears to be more than a "hairline gel coat crack".
2- The norm is not to tow your boat with an outboard in place. The bouncing it takes out there puts unecessary stress on the transom and motor mount bracket.
I would consult with the factory on the cracks. . . Gil
More than a crack, looks like a separation of the "transom" at the trailing edge. Glen, Has she ever been rocked back while on her trailer? the trailing edge of the hull could strike the ground. It can happen if some one was to step or board aft of the trailer axle while the trailer was not supported aft of the wheels, or not "on the ball". Damage from that sort of accident might look like this. It's the equivalent of being dropped. Prior owner damage? Quick cover up will jellcoat? Most definitely call Com-pac!
(http://www.com-pacowners.com/gallery2/albums/userpics/12115/normal_cracks_and_wheel_005.jpg)
Good news is that it's certinly repairable and I don't think you will need a second mortgage!
ick
Rick,
Not to my knowledge, in fact, I have climbed all over her while she sits on my drive way, all ways feel rock solid. my other boat all ways felt that it would rock back if I was to close to the stern, she never did though.
The previous owners said nothing of any damage to the boat when I was first inquiring about her, only saying there is no damage to the boat and the hull is water tight .
I know the boat was shipped to San Diego to the Com Pac Dealer and picked up by the (then) new owners who towed it to Arizona where I bought it.
The trailer shows no signs of damage nor the underside of the hull or any other surface of the boat.
Hi all,
I received a responce from Gerry (Com PAC) and I thought you might like to read it.
I was pleased very pleased with his response, signs of a good businessman.
Dear Glenn - These are cracks between the hull and deck joint. It is not structural. The seam is glassed together on the inside of the boat. I can understand if it is unsightly to you. It can be gel coated again but it will probably crack again. Now we are actually glassing that seam before gel coating. I do not know where you are but we would do it for you if the boat could be brought to us.
Gerry
Good news!
ick
I appreciated Gerry's offer to do the work how ever, the distance from California and Florida is preventing me from having the repair work done by Com Pac.
Yes but the cracks are only cosmetic. Ask him if there are any special instructions for the repair. Any "Fiberglass" shop should be able to make the repair.
ick
I have a few shops around that I can have look at it, also, I have two club members who are up on repairs / fiberglass work on boats so I have a few options to look at.
Follow up email to Com Pac on use of ladder and towing with out board motor in place.
Gerry says they use the swim ladder every day while working on the Eclipse in their shop.
He also says, the boat can be towed with the motor mounted, just be sure the motor is in the down position and secured in place.
My Hull#4 has a crack also about three inches to the left of where the ladder crosses this area. The crack on my hull is only about one inch at this point. Looks like I will start using the step ladder while the boat is on the trailer instead of the boarding ladder.
Thanks for the heads-up.
Norm
Norm,
there is a product called Captain Tolley's Creeping Crack Cure which can be bought at West Marine. I haven't used this as yet but I have heard good reports from my club members. once I use this I still plan on fiber glassing the lip areas.
I was up and down on my swim ladder all week end, seems fine. a lot easier than using a 6 foot step ladder to board.