Corner brace cracked on a brand new 1442 alumacraft/added pics

[boater1234]

Re: Corner brace cracked on a brand new 1442 alumacraft/added pics

I took it to the dealer yesterday and they said it should be monday or tuesday before it's done.I went over the whole boat with the service guy and even before i got there i noticed 2 more small cracks they will take care of and everything is in writing and warranteed.It comes with a 5yr warranty for the welds and the paint but the paint job is very poor also but will not affect the boat as it will get scratched anyway.

But in all honesty i put some carpet on the boat and covered up the areas were i was spraying the 3m glue i bought with tape and newspaper.Just some regular masking tape and i couldn't belive how much paint peeled up when i pulled the tape off.It came off like nothing,is this normal for a jon boat?I know it's not going to be the best paint but it just seemed very cheap to me.I mean the stuff just peels with ease.I don't think ordinary masking tape should be able to peel off paint like that.

Anyone else ever have this problem?

 

[Cannondale]

Re: Corner brace cracked on a brand new 1442 alumacraft/added pics

I don't think ordinary masking tape should be able to peel off paint like that.

Anyone else ever have this problem?

It can and will. Plain masking tape's adhesive is fairly aggressive which is why they make and sell painter's tape specifically for what you're doing. Much less aggressive adhesive and typically won't strip paint when you remove it....at least in my experience using it. (I've used the blue painter's tape, medium adhesion.)

 

[Sixmark]

Re: Corner brace cracked on a brand new 1442 alumacraft/added pics

What you should have done was contact Alumacraft instead of the dealer, you are now stuck with a boat that was rushed off the production line.

Believe it or not, Alumacraft would like to know about these things and have a chance to make them right with their end customer. The dealer has now repaired a structural issue that the manufacturer should have done, therefore the chances of the manufacturer standing behind anyhting else related are now reduced.

Call their customer service department @ 877-314-7756

People need to stop being scared of doing the right thing and calling the right person in the first place.

 

[JimS123]

Re: Corner brace cracked on a brand new 1442 alumacraft/added pics

Whenever I paint I always use blue painter's tape. It's not that I am worried about the paint pulling up, but rather to eliminate the need to clean all the glue off that is usually left behind with cheep brown tape. PLus, you get a better paint edge when the tape is removed.

I bought a Starcraft utility last year and did some extensive customizing. I drilled holes everywhere to mount seats, rod holders, etc. and put on a lot of masking tape to mark positions. I just used the cheep tape since all the spots were to be covered up anyway. Now, this is a budget priced utility and the paint job is not stellar, but it is certainly functional. No where did any tape pull off paint.

You know from your motor painting experiences that the aluminum was not properly prepared before painting. I would guess that the first time you get the boat wet and attempt to wash worm goo or fish blood off it the paint will wash right off.

To say the boat was rushed off the prodction line is an understatement. As others have said, don't let the dealer touch it - have the factory inspect it first. One issue can be overlooked, but there are just too many problems here to ignore.

 

[Cannondale]

Re: Corner brace cracked on a brand new 1442 alumacraft/added pics

To say the boat was rushed off the prodction line is an understatement. As others have said, don't let the dealer touch it - have the factory inspect it first. One issue can be overlooked, but there are just too many problems here to ignore.

Amen to that! You're finding too many problems with the boat's assembly. I wouldn't be comfortable knowing at least three cracks had appeared on a brand new boat to keep it...not to mention the crappy paint.

That boat would be taken right back and either my money would be returned or another boat would be substituted in its place.

Consider....if you bought a new truck and discovered a few small cracks in the frame a day later, would you keep it? Essentially that's what's happening.....the hull is the equivalent of the truck's frame. Wouldn't keep that POS.

In fact, I'd not even trust that brand at all. If Alumacraft's quality control passed your boat through with all its problems quite evident, how can you trust them to get the transom welded up correctly?

That boat would have been returned for another brand the day the cracks were found. My money, my safety.

 

[fishrdan]

Re: Corner brace cracked on a brand new 1442 alumacraft/added pics

i couldn't belive how much paint peeled up when i pulled the tape off.

I had the same problem with my Tracker, so that's not an Alumacraft only problem. It's the nature of the beast with a inexpensive jon boat, they built it, squirt it with some color and ship it off. If they sanded, primed and painted the boat to get a good paint job, it would jack up the price of the boat and nobody would buy one as it's not a budget boat anymore.

I learned to lightly touch down blue painters tape, but that still peeled the paint a bit in places. If you look at the areas where the paint peeled, it's probably slick fresh aluminum, with no primer on the peeled off paint.

 

[boater1234]

Re: Corner brace cracked on a brand new 1442 alumacraft/added pics

I will call the alumacraft service department today and leave a message for them to call me back monday.The problem is i already put carpet on the boat,will this hurt in any way of getting a new one.I discoverd the cracks after i put the carpet on as i was not looking for cracks in a new hull.As i was laying the carpet down in the corner on the transom it just caught my eye because it just doesn't stick out like a sore thumb.One of the cracks actually go into the top of the gunnel,it's a pretty good size crack as the other one is around an 1/8 of an inch on the triangle corner brace,and on the other side of the same brace there is a very small crack starting.

I will still call the department today and leave a message to get things right and request a new boat since he has 2 more there at the marina.I don't see it being an issue on swaping them out as long as alumacraft says it's ok.Thanks for the info.The boat was in really crappy shape when i bought it but almost 95% of jon boats i have seen new are scratched,dinged or have some sort of peeling paint because the lay them on top of eachother and they get bumps and bruises which is fine by me but cracks are def unexceptable to me.It had peeling paint,quite a few minor dings from like little things hitting it,3 cracks i could def see,Other then that she was in good shape,lol.

 

[Sixmark]

Re: Corner brace cracked on a brand new 1442 alumacraft/added pics

I hope the dealer didn't pass a scratch and dent model off on you as new, because I have seen dealers do that quite a bit, as for putting carpet in it, it doesn't affect the structural integrity so they shouldn't have an issue with it.

Before anyone wants to go blasting Alumacraft over this I can promise you that no boat leaves the manufacturer 100% perfect, this is why quality dealers have a new boat get ready department that does final rigging, minor hull repair and yes even touching up paint, it happens with every manufacturer.

I pick up boats all the time from the factories and deliver them nationwide to dealers so I see the process over and over, I also return warranty boats as well.

No single manufacturer is exempt from mistakes, and boats that were assembled toward the end of a shift tend to have more things wrong becasue the worker is focusing on getting out of there for the day instead of their job....it's human nature for many.

Scarab, Grady White, anything from GenMar, Brunswick Boat Group, etc. all have factory defects that you may never know about unless you tear down the boat.

 

[mitchp]

Re: corner brace cracked on a new 1442 alumacraft jon boat/need help

Re: corner brace cracked on a new 1442 alumacraft jon boat/need help

The braces on my current 14' tinny are all solid as a rock, though its not an Alumacraft.

Cracks on a brand new boat should not be there. Take it back to the dealer and tell him you want the boat replaced. That'll stir things up....LOL. If they all are like that, or the Dealer says its a common occurrence, time to think about it real hard. Common "problems" and common "occurrences" are sometimes one in the same.

My old 14' tinny had numerous cracks start in some of the ribs and braces. After a few years, they all cracked thru completely. Of course, that boat was 35 years old and saw heavy service.

I am a born communicator. If it were my boat, I would be on the phone talking with Alumacraft's Vice President of Customer Service to get his input.

I am new to this site, but for sure i agree with Jim. Make a phone call. As with motorcycles, dont boats come at least with a warrenty?

 

[boater1234]

Re: Corner brace cracked on a brand new 1442 alumacraft/added pics

Hey sixmark i would never knock alumacraft as i think they are one of the best built boats out there.The boat they sold me was a 2011 model they just got a week prior to me buying it so i don't think it was intentional on their part.Like i said in my other posts it's a jon boat and some scratches and paint problems are gonna happen and even some small dents or nicks,but cracks are 100%unexceptable for me.Also i have seen tons of these riveted alumacrafts from the 1036 all the way up to the 1648's with the same cracks in the same spots,in the corner braces.I bet i have seen over 100 riveted jon boats from alumacraft and i bet 30%of them had the same cracks in the braces so i think it's a common thing.All these boats i have seen the cracks on are also brand spanking new boats.

I have seen over 100 lowe jon boats to and they seem to never have that problem or their paint holds up better and don't know why.Never the less it's a jon boat and it will get hammered from rocks on the bottom from the shallow water i go in as well as sand and oysters.Like i said the aluminum will be ok no matter what it's the cracks i'm worried about.When i brought it in to the seperate service dept even the guy said that was not right and he has the same boat for 4yrs now with no cracks in the same spots.I called the dealer and we will see what happens monday morning.Like i said if worse comes to worse they will weld it.It comes with a 5yr warranty against welds and rivets leaking,plus paint.Like you said sixmark it's a jon boat and made for abuse and thats what i like about aluminum over fiberglass.Fiberglass boats crack almost all the time even know it's in the gel coat but an aluminum boat you take her out spray her down with freshwater and she's done for the day.

 

[5150abf]

Re: Corner brace cracked on a brand new 1442 alumacraft/added pics

Was the aluminum under the tape a weird greenish yellow by chance, I would geuss not.

It sounds like they just painted it and didn't use the correct primer, with aluminum you HAVE to use etching primer or the paint will literally just fall off the boat as you found and no masking tape or any other tape for that matter should take paint off.

I painted my aluminum boat and you can put whatever kind of tape you like on it and the paint will not come off and yes you will tear it up a bit but that doesn't excuse the paint falling off a brand new boat.

If more than 1-2 have the same problem it is a design flaw and should be corected at the factory, I would be pretty suprised if the factory didn't know this is an ongoing problem adn cracks in the transom may be common but it isn't normal and shouldn't happen.

As far as going to the dealer instead of the factory, the dealer represents the factory adn almost all probelms should be handled at the dealer level with the factory only getting involved if the dealer can't or won't get the problem resolved.

An email to the factory would be a good idea and let them know that the dealer so far is doing a good job resolving your problem and you just wanted to make them aware of it.

I agree with Sixmark that no boat is perfect no matter how hard you try something will always get out the door but to have several welds cracking in the first weeks of ownership doesn't fall under that catagory, that is just shoddy workmanship, if you have a cracked weld on a new never seen water boat there are some pretty big probelms at the factory.

Being a welder and a supervisor I fight this all the time, guys want to get it done and get home but you have to really ride them and let everybody know if they don't do it right the first time they will do it again, it usually doesn't take long till everyone is on board or out the door.

Quality has to be a corprate philosopy that is hammered on constantly, when a dealer sends me something like this, and they have, I go to the guys that did it right then and let them see the problem and tell them how to fix it.

I don't mean to rant but if one of my boats came back with multiple cracked welds I would be extremely POed, that is just not how we do things.

I really hope you get this resolved and remember it is a brand new boat so it should look like a brand new boat when you get it back.

 

[GLENN M]

Re: Corner brace cracked on a brand new 1442 alumacraft/added pics

sounds like no primer was used,and its a no brainer brand new boat falling apart before it hits the water.get your money back unless you paid with counterfiet or canadien money

 

[boater1234]

Re: Corner brace cracked on a brand new 1442 alumacraft/added pics

Oh yea there is def no primer on the boat.I just couldn't belive how easy the paint was coming up as i have never seen that before on any jon boat.Not as easy as it was coming up.The whole boat was in great shape to the eye until i took it home and starting finding all these things like the cracks.I mean i would just put down some reg blue painters tape and man it would just peel up the paint like nothing and i have never had that problem before with any jon boat.

If they give me the option of getting a new boat then that is what i will do if not then they better fix it right.But 3 cracks before i get it in the water or for that matter even put a motor on it is very scary.It's not like there huge cracks or something it's just the point of having cracks before i even used it.I will see what alumacraft says monday.If they say i can get my money back then i will go ahead and buy the 1440 lowe jon boat which was my second choice after this one.I like the way lowe builds there boats very tough.The 1436 heavyweight i bought from a dealer was strong as can be and the paint did not peel like this one.Alumacraft makes great boats i just got a bad one and it happens.

 

[Sixmark]

Re: Corner brace cracked on a brand new 1442 alumacraft/added pics

Let me clarify this guys, I am in NO WAY making excuses for the manufacturers in these cases, I was just telling it like it is, and no it's not acceptable.

I was merely pointing out some of the behind the scenes things so people have a better understanding of what happens and what causes it.......bottom line is that quality control has to be first and foremost.

Unfortunately when a company keeps getting larger, it then becomes harder to babysit every employee that isn't doing their job.

 

[mercury713]

Re: Corner brace cracked on a brand new 1442 alumacraft/added pics

Its brand new ok.

Ask for another one... They should be able to send to company unless there scared of shipping.

 

[jeeperman]

Re: Corner brace cracked on a brand new 1442 alumacraft/added pics

Let me clarify this guys, I am in NO WAY making excuses for the manufacturers in these cases, I was just telling it like it is, and no it's not acceptable.

I was merely pointing out some of the behind the scenes things so people have a better understanding of what happens and what causes it.......bottom line is that quality control has to be first and foremost.

Unfortunately when a company keeps getting larger, it then becomes harder to babysit every employee that isn't doing their job.

They do not have too if the Quality Control people are doing their job.

If I were doing the weld repair, there would be a circular, slotted washer type disc of aluminum sheet of the same thickness as the mother metal at the end of the original welds/cracks being repaired. All 100% tig welded.

It appears that the boat builder cheaped out by using the same material as the hull. To avoid buying thicker stock or using a casting. In doing so they had to make that corner brace humongous in order to do the job intended.
But then the welding procedure/specs were not done properly.

 

[Sixmark]

Re: Corner brace cracked on a brand new 1442 alumacraft/added pics

They do not have too if the Quality Control people are doing their job.

If I were doing the weld repair, there would be a circular, slotted washer type disc of aluminum sheet of the same thickness as the mother metal at the end of the original welds/cracks being repaired. All 100% tig welded.

It appears that the boat builder cheaped out by using the same material as the hull. To avoid buying thicker stock or using a casting. In doing so they had to make that corner brace humongous in order to do the job intended.
But then the welding procedure/specs were not done properly.

Yeah and when you have too many people doing QC that is what happens, that was the point, you try to share information and you get chastised for it, my mistake, I guess I should sit back and criticize every manufaturer.......tell me do you know of any that are perfect? Think over your answer carefully. I also included information on how to get the problem resolved as well. Quite frankly I don't care if people never buy another Alumacraft boat , it's not going to affect me in the slightest. You can be reasonable and approach things with that mentality or you can go gonzo.......I know, maybe we should take up a petition to have them put out of business.

 

[boater1234]

Re: Corner brace cracked on a brand new 1442 alumacraft/added pics

I'm not sure if this is a good thing or bad thing that i started this thread as i feel like some people are getting testy with eachother and i don't want that to be the case.

Is eveyone on my side that i should get a either new boat or money back or should they just fix it.I have a feeling they will fight me on this tomorrow about getting a new boat but i get what some of you are saying.As in if it has 3 cracks now what will happen in the future with the boat.Also with the paint peeling off like paper that is probally not normal.

Well i will find out tomorrow what my fate is.

 

[Triton II]

Re: Corner brace cracked on a brand new 1442 alumacraft/added pics

Well i will find out tomorrow what my fate is.

Good luck!

TII

 

[JimS123]

Re: Corner brace cracked on a brand new 1442 alumacraft/added pics

I'm not sure if this is a good thing or bad thing that i started this thread as i feel like some people are getting testy with eachother and i don't want that to be the case.

Is eveyone on my side that i should get a either new boat or money back or should they just fix it.I have a feeling they will fight me on this tomorrow about getting a new boat but i get what some of you are saying.As in if it has 3 cracks now what will happen in the future with the boat.Also with the paint peeling off like paper that is probally not normal.

Well i will find out tomorrow what my fate is.

Everything you buy comes with some sort of warranty, and the specifics are always spelled out, including the fine print. But companies also advertise and send out catalogs and have web sites that tell everybody how good their stuff is. Along with all that fluff comes an inplied warranty that if yiu buy something new from them it won't be crap.

I don't know a thing about Alumacraft, so my comments are neither positive or negative. How well they treat you will tell us all a lot.

My motto is once burned, twice cautious. If it were me, I'd insist on a refund and I'd go out and buy a Starcraft. I never liked them myself, but ended up buying one because of all the good things I heard about them on IBoats.