Cracks in newer Crestliner welds?

[tony_cliffy]

Just curious if any others have discovered cracks in their Crestliner (or Lowe, same boat) welds, hull or stringers? I have (a lot) and wish to compare notes. My 2004 model 2070 is currently back at the factory for the second attempt at warranty repairs. The cracks were not easy to notice until I had some work done in an area normally hidden from view. Then, once we looked, found them all under the floor. A lot of the welds looked unprofessional according to the welders that saw digital pictures.

 

[Salmonseeker]

Re: Cracks in newer Crestliner welds?

Hey, I don't know if your still checking this post. I have alot of small cracks in my crestliner. It is a 2004 Angler 1600 SC. They are about a 1/4 inch long and began at the ends of the weld.<br /><br />How did the warranty work go? Did they have to take the boat apart and repaint it. <br /><br />I might just try to ignore the cracks unless they get worse. <br /><br />Let me know how the repairs went? Did they cover all the costs?<br /><br />Thanks in advance, Jay

 

[tony_cliffy]

Re: Cracks in newer Crestliner welds?

Jay,

How odd = both boats are 2004. Makes me wonder if they hired someone new, started using a different welding process (like TIG over MIG) or something. Anyway, yes they took the boat back, twice actually. The first time they missed many of the problem areas even though I documented everything with pictures and descriptions. They did not even do the work they said they would, but admitted it after I found the old cracks still existed. The second time they totally stripped the boat down and hopefully did a good job since I can't see 95% of the areas they repaired. Supposedly the cracks on my boat were all the way back and under the floor so i couldn't see the extent. I requested they replace the hull since the hull problems and repairs were so extensive but they quite bluntly said they would not. I am a welder and I can tell you they must have some brand new young people in the shop going through training as many of the repair welds I see are ugly, crooked and don't look as if they fully bonded the two pieces of aluminum. I also am already having rivets from inside the boat (hull is all welded, interior a mixture of weld and pop rivets) start to pop out and they only replaced them a couple months ago. A couple welds have broken, one I noticed before I even put the boat back in the water. I am trying to make the best of my boat but can say I will not buy another Crestliner because of how this was handled. The company was actually appropriately responsive when I previously requested a few replacements for minor things that broke but they seemed unable to execute on the repairs and did not seem to have a quality control inspection at the end of either repair in their facility. They lost their company president right before this happened and it seemed like nobody gave a rip anymore. The surprising thing to me was the quality of the welding - usually welders are exceedingly attentive and one of the more rigorous blue collar trades, at least properly trained welders. I'm thinking they had some shop mechanics hack at this boat and they knew enuogh to turn on the welder and gob some melted aluminum wire on top of my problem areas. There are a couple other dysfunctional things that happened but I'm tired of typing about this.

 

[Salmonseeker]

Re: Cracks in newer Crestliner welds?

Yeah I am a little dissapointed too. I read how great Crestliners are. So I bought one. Now I have cracks too. I personally like the boat. I am just a little dissapointed about the cracks. So far they have not got any larger. I will keep an eye on them.
I am a Tool and Die Maker and have seen many welds before. Some of the welds do not look very good in my opinion. It looks as though the weld is just sitting on top of the metal rather than penetratiing it.

I think I will just try to ignore the cracks unless they get really bad. I don't really want to deal with the hassle of trying to return the boat to the factory.

 

[tony_cliffy]

Re: Cracks in newer Crestliner welds?

looks as though the weld is just sitting on top of the metal rather than penetratiing it.

EXACTLY, thank you! You should see how bad the repair welds are on my boat. It looks like someone took a bead of caulk and sloppily ran it over the weld areas and then painted it the boat color. Obviously the welding was done by someone who knew enough to run a bead but did not understand the basic principles of welding. I even pointed this out on the second return of the boat to the factory and they stilll did the same poor repairs and there appeared to be zero quality control or QA inspection. The lack of penetration makes me feel my repairs will be coming apart soon (well, some already have so I should not be surprised).

 

[Lundman]

Re: Cracks in newer Crestliner welds?

Hearing about all these weld problems is the reason I am looking at the "riveted" XCR series Utility boats,and also makes my understand why Crestliner'sister brand,Lund,uses riveting instead of "all welded" fastening
method. Maybe Crestliner should go to that fastening method Lund uses.
Remember,...I said sister brand,...NOT competitor brand since both boat companies are now owned by Brunswick. I had Lund,too,and they are a
very good boat. I had the A-14 utility-v Lund. (Traded it in for a camper,tried RVing but it is not working out. Wanting to get back on the water,but in a
Crestliner this time.)

 

[rndn]

Re: Cracks in newer Crestliner welds?

My 96 is absolutely perfect. They must have tried someone or something new. I would think Crestliner would stand behind the products.

 

[thingamajigger]

Re: Cracks in newer Crestliner welds?

I just finished reading all these threads and it makes me want to go check my 06 1850 Fish Hawk for cracks. Sounds like you may have pulled floor panels or did you check the hull while it was on the trailer? Did you notice water in the bilge area from the cracks? Any signs of this issue that you could pass on to other Crestliner owners? Thanks and good luck.

 

[Salmonseeker]

Re: Cracks in newer Crestliner welds?

I can tell you that my Crestliner does not have any leaks and the bilge area is always dry.

It seems some of the welds were just not done properly, the exterior hull welds are all perfect and I see no sign of cracking. I have had the boat three years now and have used it regularly in rough conditions on the great lakes smashing against waves and the cracked welds have not got any worse.

When I checked the welds on the stringers I did not remove the floor panels. I looked through the compartments in the boat with a flashlight and inspected the welds through there.

Besides this problem the boat has been great and I have received many compliments on the boat. It is a 2004 Angler 1600SC.

Jay

 

[Boatist]

Re: Cracks in newer Crestliner welds?

I have a 1980 that has seen Seas up to 9 feet every 6 seconds and every year see at least 7 foot seas. I had the floor up to install Trim Tabs with bolts instead of screws and did not notice any bad welds but will admit was not looking for bad welds.

Even after 27 years spent a week at SEA with best conditions of 5 foot seas ever 8 seconds and worst 9 foot ever 8 seconds. Check in the hull and not a single drop of water inside.

I know they made a lot of changes after they were sold and no longer have a boat I would buy, but when My boat was made and welded the chimes were welded inside and out side and for the boat to leak or have any problem the both welds would have to fail and the side or bottom pull out of the chimes. The chimes were made so that when the sides and bottom were pushed in it would not leak. The welds just make it so the sides and bottom can not be pulled out.

It a shame what they have done to Crestliner now with no boats I would feel safe taking to the ocean. They do not even have and boat with a closed bow or self bailing bow. To me just small river and lake Fish and Ski boats now.

 

[Salmonseeker]

Re: Cracks in newer Crestliner welds?

Boatist,

You are nuts, or the older Crestliner's were a lot bigger than they are now. 9 foot seas 6 seconds apart. I know my 16 footer would be in trouble. I am blown off lake Ontario many times a year and the waves are nothing compared to what you face.

What size is your boat?

My next boat will definitely be a bit larger due to the rough conditions I sometimes encounter.(You would call these calm conditions LOL)

Jay

 

[Fish n Geer]

Re: Cracks in newer Crestliner welds?

Guess im lucky mine was made in 1984 and that welder didnt work there then

 

[Boatist]

Re: Cracks in newer Crestliner welds?

I have been very happy with my 1980 Crestliner also. We spend a week at Sea every year. Boat is 21 feet and 94 inches wide. We do not launch if sea are over 8 feet or less than 6 seconds. However we had been out twice when Seas were 9 feet every 6 seconds and winds at 28 knots with gust to 37. Not much fun and we came in an hour early still boat did not have drop of water in it.

The day they sold I was excited that they may make a lot of new models but soon relized the oppsite was true. Today they make no boat made for big water and do not even sell a single I/O model, What a shame.

 

[rndn]

Re: Cracks in newer Crestliner welds?

You go out in those seas with a 21 footer? I hope you have a good life insurance policy.

 

[Boatist]

Re: Cracks in newer Crestliner welds?

Actually we are one of the most causious and do not take any chances. Out here all summer about the best Seas you see is 5 feet every 10. Wind blows allmost every afternoon in in the 20 to 30 knot range.

If when we head out find a confused Sea we will not go out but very rare here. Every day the wind and seas is between 310 to 320 dergees. I would much rather go in the fall Oct and Nov when the seas are very flat, sometimes 2 feet every 20 seconds unless there is a storm offshore. Problem is Wife has to be at school those months.

Good thing is we have a Noaa weather Buoy 12 miles off shore so always have a good idea what to expect before heading out.
Today looks to be a pretty rough day for this time of year. Big swells but at 11 seconds apart Swells not very steep.
7.5 feet every 11 seconds


Wind Direction (WDIR): NNW ( 330 deg true )
Wind Speed (WSPD): 17.5 kts
Wind Gust (GST): 21.4 kts
Wave Height (WVHT): 7.5 ft
Dominant Wave Period (DPD): 11 sec
Average Period (APD): 5.6 sec
Mean Wave Direction (MWD): NW ( 308 deg true )
Atmospheric Pressure (PRES): 30.17 in
Pressure Tendency (PTDY): +0.01 in ( Steady )
Air Temperature (ATMP): 52.0 ?F
Water Temperature (WTMP): 51.6 ?F
Salinity (SAL): 33.26 psu
Wind Chill (CHILL): 46.2 ?F
Combined plot of Wind Speed, Gust, and Air Pressure
Continuous Winds TIME
(PDT) WDIR WSPD
11:50 pm NNW ( 329 deg ) 18.3 kts
11:40 pm NNW ( 328 deg ) 18.1 kts
11:30 pm NNW ( 328 deg ) 17.5 kts
11:20 pm NNW ( 329 deg ) 18.1 kts
11:10 pm NW ( 325 deg ) 18.1 kts
11:00 pm NW ( 322 deg ) 18.8 kts

------------------------------------------------------------

 

[techie89]

Re: Cracks in newer Crestliner welds?

I have a 2005 model 1950 sportfish with paint problems resulting from bad surface preparation and coating. After I read this thread I had a look at the welds in my boat and I have attached a photo as an example of what I found. The welds are not professionally done and I expect problems in the future. There is no penetration in many areas.

I am in a struggle with Crestliner over the paint job, but am happy to hear that they are attempting to repair your welds, although the repair quality also sounds inferior. Has anybody sought legal advice, as there must be manufacturing and safety standards that they must adhere too. These are truely manufacturing defects that are not acceptable.

 

[rndn]

Re: Cracks in newer Crestliner welds?

The picture is worth a thousand words. My 96 is perfect. They really made some changes.

 

[boatbuilder]

Re: Cracks in newer Crestliner welds?

I work for Lowe boats which is owned by Brunswick as well as Crestliner and lund. We are now ISO certified. I'm a welder, and we are currently tested every six months for re-certification. Im not sure where that weld was located at, but hopefully not a structure component. It is not a "good" weld by any means. I would consider a warranty claim. We cuurently have a strict quality inspection by multi people in our plant. Our VP is now also the VP at Crestliner/Lund facility as of 3/08 to improve quality at there location. If I was to purchase a new boat, I would take it to the limit under warranty to discover any problems before it is too late. INSPECT EVERYTHING. Misstakes do happen everyday. Last year we tried some JAP aluminum (because it was cheaper), but that didn't last very long. We are a Brunswick company, and they have a reputation to uphold, so things are a changin'