boat risks?

[driver_dav]

I purchased this boat that has not been registered in 9 years, it has fiberglass spider cracking and floor root, what is the risks I have using this boat for a few months then repairing the floor, there is plywood over the floor for the temporary use. So what kind of risks do I have, the hull from the bottom has only a few minor scratches, like a hole blowing through the bottom our something

 

[zool]

Re: boat risks?

Somewhere between enjoying a summer on the water...and sinking....it's hard to say, especially without pics. I would say a good percentage of boats out there probably shouldnt be....but the unknowing user gets by..til something lets go. Is it just you and a bud fishing?..or your wife and children?

There are relatively simple tasks you can perform to get an idea of where you're at..Alot of folks here will help you get a handle on your situation. You cant tell the condition of the boats structural integrity from the outside appearence.

What ya got?, hows it powered?.....how old?....

Plywood over the old deck is not a promising sign....but you never know til you check.

 

[jbcurt00]

Re: boat risks?

^^^ From a fellow iboater that bought what was supposed to be a water ready boat, and it didn't have a coverup layer of plywood masking a soft floor......................

Boat safely..

 

[tazrig]

Re: boat risks?

As stated above there are way too many variables to give you a good answer without more info. Some fiberglass boats have a metal frame under the floor. (deck) The floor is simply laid down on top of the frame and could completely dissolve without having any effect on the structural integrity of the boat. Other boats are manufactured in such a way that the deck is part of the framing of the boat and a rotted deck would effect the overall structural integrity. As far as the spider cracking goes, is it just in the gel coat or is it in the fiberglass itself? Is it just in one spot or all over? On both sides of the boat? Pictures from close up and far away along with the boats specifications such as make, model and year would help out a lot.

 

[tazrig]

Re: boat risks?

^^^ From a fellow iboater that bought what was supposed to be a water ready boat, and it didn't have a coverup layer of plywood masking a soft floor......................

Boat safely..

WOW... that will get your heart beating!:jaw::faint2:

 

[driver_dav]

Re: boat risks?

It is a 1996 Maxum 2100 sr with a 350 5.7l I/O, I believe the spurring is just in the gelcoat from other posts I have had. It would for now be for fishing mainly and just enjoying family time in the water, maybe some tubing if I feel comfortable. The engine mounts appear solid, some dry rot behind the gas tank on vertical plywood, and some other vertical and horizontal around the open now seats, I don't know how soft the floor is or the status of the stringers for now I just want to fish, with my first boat

 

[driver_dav]

Re: boat risks?

^^^ From a fellow iboater that bought what was supposed to be a water ready boat, and it didn't have a coverup layer of plywood masking a soft floor......................

Boat safely..

From the looks of that they tried to back up the the motor down?

 

[zool]

Re: boat risks?

You know, on a 96 theres a fairly good chance its not totally gone. Is there a hatch in the floor where you can feel under the old deck, to see if its moist or wet? You should also drill a test hole with a 1/4 drill but into the transom, down low from the inside, about an inch in...if the shavings arent total rot or dust, Theres a good chance you'll get by for a season or more..You can also check for flex in the transom buy putting pressure on the drive, down, see if the transom flexes at all.

Did you get it running yet?..a 9 year drydock can have many gremlins to keep you at the dock....besides structural.

 

[tazrig]

Re: boat risks?

Did you get it running yet?..a 9 year drydock can have many gremlins to keep you at the dock....besides structural.

To driver_dav when I first read your post I assumed you already had it running. If not you are looking at many hours of inspecting, repairing, and tuning before you even get to the structural end of things. At the very least you will need to replace all fluids and filters. Drain and clean out your gas tank before putting fresh fuel in. Replace the plugs, plug wires, distributor cap and rotor, have the drive serviced or replace the water impeller yourself and pressure test the drive for leaks. The bellows will most likely need replacing along with the upper and lower shift cables and possibly the riser elbows the manifolds. (if used in salt water) Before you even start with any of that, inspect the block for any cracks incase it wasn't winterized correctly, froze up and cracked the block. No point in doing anything until you check that out. Even if you can't see a crack in the block you should pressure test it to be sure. Unfortunately the one big thing boat motors don't like to do is just sit around un-used.

 

[Robert D]

Re: boat risks?

" It would for now be for fishing mainly and just enjoying family time in the water..."

You answered your own question. You and a fishing buddy that is 100% aware of the boat and the risks, okay... you two go for it.

Your wife and kids in the boat? Kids that are not at a legal age to make a decision on risk, as well as a wife that doesn't know starboard from bow to aft? The responsibility falls upon you, 100%, for their safety. This means you do not take them out in the boat until you, or someone with knowledge that you hire, can fully inspect the whole boat, inside and out and certify it as safe. I don't care if it is a 1 month old used boat.....you get it checked out if you don't know boats yourself. If you take out a boat that a prudent person would consider unsafe, and something horrible happens, you can be held personally, criminally responsible.

With that said.....the amount of risk you will take with your family is up to you. There are many variables. If you have 2 kids, and they are both on the high school swim team, your wife is the coach, and you'll be in a lake close to shore....that gives you some leeway.....BUT, you are still obligated to make sure everyone understands every aspect of the boats condition.

I was 14, being pulled on an inner tube at high speed, along with a friend. We saw the boat hit something, go airborne, and nosedive down into the water. The boat was sinking fast, ripped open the keel. Friends parents were in a panic, scrambling for life jackets for the other 3 kids on the boat. My friend and I.....we put our feet down and stood up...the water was only 2 feet deep....boat had hit an old tree stump...and we yelled at them to calm down, ...'look, we're standing!' We all walked the 150 feet to shore. Lesson learned for the future. A: No pulling on tubes. It's dangerous, could have ripped our stomachs open if we hit the tree stump. B: Every boat needs a depth gauge. If I recall correctly, my friends father said something about it costing over $6000 to have the boat removed from the lake.......

Food for thought. Oh, and they were short one life jacket, but by the time they figured that out, the boat was on the bottom and we had already walked up to it.

 

[jigngrub]

Re: boat risks?

Your boat isn't seaworthy (or lake worthy) and since you've posted that you know this on a public forum you could be held liable if you injure someone in or with your boat while using it in disrepair.

 

[driver_dav]

Re: boat risks?

Good news I pulled the plywood off the old floor, the stringers are all solid and only the back of the floor above and around the gas tank and aside other spots are bad, what do you think us the risks now

 

[jigngrub]

Re: boat risks?

The less area that is rotten, the less time and money you'll have to spend on it to repair it.

Do yourself a favor and fix it now, rot spreads like a case of ringworm through a day care center.

 

[driver_dav]

Re: boat risks?

At my local hardware store they have fiberglass cloths, one is nicely weaved, the other is messy mix match at I believe 8 square feet will these suffice and can I use treated plywood for the floor?