Holes Appearing While Dry?

[MontanaAardvark]

OK, this is puzzling.

I have an '05 Starcraft 16' Custom Deluxe that I use in water that runs from brackish to fully saltwater. I bought it used and it had a few pinholes here and there, which I filled with that white 5200 silicon everyone recommends.

So the boat was last in the water in February. A few weeks later, I came down with a terrible flu, and my wife slightly after me; both of us were hacking and coughing and feeling crappy for two full months. On top of that, we're in the middle of major job on our house, so next thing you know it's now: 3 months later. After using it, I flush the motor, hose the boat down and do my best to get all the saltwater off. She's kept in the garage, where it's air conditioned, so not outdoors in the Florida humidity.

We moved an obstacle that was across the back of the boat while construction guys were working and I see a wide hole in the transom next to the starboard hold down strap. It doesn't look like it was hit or poked, it's just a long slightly curved hole. It's about 3/4" long and 1/4" wide at the wide point. If anything, it looks like the metal is eaten away. I'm 100% positive, given where it is right next to the strap, that I would have noticed it if was there when we last went out. It seems to have formed while the boat was in the garage. But not gotten any bigger.

That makes me think galvanic corrosion, but nothing was there to touch it (that I know of) and the boat is high and dry in a garage. Doesn't galvanic corrosion require both an electrolyte solution and two dissimilar metals?

Patching it doesn't bother me: I think roughing it up and JB Weld will do it. Its' on the transom, but the wood looks and feels dry, and it just doesn't seem like that big a deal, but what could cause holes to appear in the boat when it's out of the water?


Bob in Central Florida
Montana_Aardvark

 

[Watermann]

Bluefin and I have repaired salty boats and I have to think that hole is from corrosion on the inside between the transom wood and the skin. Even if you were able to get a wad of JB to stay in the hole, it would only corrode out around it and be a larger problem down the road. I would suggest a tear down, to clean up and kill the corrosion. Then decide on the best way to make the repair after being able to fully see what it looks like on the inside,

 

[Scott Danforth]

it looks like galvanic corrosion from someone using treated lumber for a transom repair, or salt water got to the transom wood

time to pull the wood

 

[jbcurt00]

What's the white stuff smeared on the other 2 areas of exposed aluminum, they look suspect too:

The white stuff appears to have been over the area that's eaten away as well.

 

[MNhunter1]

Is that where your straps are rubbing, might be some reaction with the buckle/ratchet??

 

[classiccat]

wow, 2 months of flu!!!

+1 on the total tear down.

the transom wood traps/holds water...and in your case saltwater...against the transom skin. It doesn't have to be pressure treated for this to happen.

 

[Krichbourg]

Looks like a poor patch job that has flaked off.

 

[MontanaAardvark]

Thanks everyone. Watermann, BlueFin16 and Scot Danforth - what you're saying is my deepest, darkest fear, and when I first read the replies (at work, over lunch) I almost hurled.

Honestly, tearing the boat down to bear aluminum and rebuilding is too much for me. If that's what it needs. I'll pull everything off it and sell it to someone who wants to do that. I can either spend my few free hours a week fishing or building a boat. I vote for fishing.

A few comments. First off, jbcurt00, that white stuff is the 3M 5200 silicon. I smeared it on there (messy looking, I know) because there were holes there. That was before it got the few scrapes from the strap flapping one day. That bubbling of the paint around the hole is also new, but it appears in other places on the boat. I'm attaching another picture from the port side of the boat, but at about the same level.

See, when I first got the boat, I noticed several little holes, maybe as much as 1/8" diameter, but even up near the bow. Those holes all seem to be right at the deck level, or just below deck. I've patched little holes all over the boat and they all have that bubbling paint look. Now it makes sense.

I read somewhere else that Bass Tracker (BassPro Shops) had built a run of boats with wood that contained copper in the transoms, and the boats were corroding so fast it was like they were almost dissolving. Big stink between buyers and the stores. I thought if something like that had happened to Starcraft, someone here would know. But, to be honest, I don't even know if that really happened. It might just be an Internet Legend.

Aside from tearing it apart and taking out all the wood (and then what?) what are my options? Is there anything else I can do? Or is it really just a matter of time until this one dissolves.


Bob

 

[Watermann]

Sorry to say but your would not like what you see on the inside of that transom, what is a pin hole on the outside is a crater on the inside I have skinned plenty of pitting and corrosion holes with marine tex to know that you would be in for some work repairing the boat correctly. Those holes showing up from one end to the other may very well mean it's time for a new boat if your not wanting to repair her. What happens is when the brine gets inside, underneath and between things it's almost impossible to rinse it out. Before long the corrosion gets a foot hold and then there's no stopping it just by patching from the outside. Sooner or later the structural integrity of the boat will be compromised. What a shame, such a new boat from what we're used to seeing around here.

Here is a shot of one of my salt lick holes that I was faced with repairing, look familiar?

 

[elkhunter338]

this is one reason why I think starcraft boat builders are not the best in the industry. They should have at least primed and painted the bare alum everywhere wood touches it. They should have sealed all the seams along the transom. Mine was rotted because water leaked in the top seam, had they used caulking the water would have never leaked in. Its sealed today with and does not leak anymore.

Yes salt water in between alum corrodes it where it can't get dried out. This will happen where the railing is bolted to the boat or pole holders also. I recently placed thin plastic washers under the bolts on my railing to let me rinse fresh water in there and then it will dry out. This is one reason I am considering building my own plywood/epoxy renn tolman skiff. If I can find a good rebuild able 25 or 26 starcraft I will stick with tin. I sure have a lot more knowledge to rebuild one today than 10 years ago.

 

[MontanaAardvark]

Sorry to say but your would not like what you see on the inside of that transom, what is a pin hole on the outside is a crater on the inside I have skinned plenty of pitting and corrosion holes with marine tex to know that you would be in for some work repairing the boat correctly. Those holes showing up from one end to the other may very well mean it's time for a new boat if your not wanting to repair her. What happens is when the brine gets inside, underneath and between things it's almost impossible to rinse it out. Before long the corrosion gets a foot hold and then there's no stopping it just by patching from the outside. Sooner or later the structural integrity of the boat will be compromised. What a shame, such a new boat from what we're used to seeing around here.

Here is a shot of one of my salt lick holes that I was faced with repairing, look familiar?

Yeah, it sure does look familiar. This explains a lot: I patched some holes along the bow and then I'd see a new one and say, "I'm sure that wasn't there before; when did that happen?" I have an old picture of the stern of the boat and it's pristine compared to now. They all appear to be around the waterline.

Had a talk with my wife and she votes to go get another boat. I'm not sure how/what/where/when and all, but summer is a good time to look around, I guess. I was getting quite fond of the little Starcraft. I suppose she's not likely to fall apart all at once, so maybe patch a few holes and get out a couple of more times.

Thanks, Watermann. Appreciate the time you put into answering.


Bob

 

[MontanaAardvark]

While I realize the rest of the Starmada is likely not as interested in this story as I am, I thought I'd update the topic. Someone might find this useful searching around here for galvanic or electrolytic corrosion.

In the 2 1/2 years since I bought this boat, the little boat lot I bought it from became a Starcraft authorized dealer. Yesterday, I went down there to look at a used fiberglass boat (a Key Largo 16') only to find it sold. While wandering the lot, I stopped and chatted with one of the guys who was aboard a boat and doing some work. I told him about the issue and he advised I call Starcraft. He said it seemed strange to him that a boat so young should have corrosion and maybe they'd do something for me. He also recommended I talk to the manager (owner?) of the dealership, maybe bring it by for him to see.

The manager was busy, so we left at that point. I called later and the manager told me I was pretty much out of luck. Hull warranties don't transfer beyond the original owner, and besides that, if I have corrosion it must be my fault. At least, it's not the boat's fault.

Since the local manager doesn't even want to look at it, I thought I might well call Starcraft and see what they'll say or do. Worst they could say is "no", right? I've documented the state of the various holes I can see, in preparation for sending pictures up to Starcraft, but I don't see a phone number or email address anywhere on the website to contact someone who might do something. Apparently everything goes through the local dealership, the ones who blew me off.

It looks to me like the boat is a write off at this point. I might be able to sell it to someone who likes to restore aluminum boats, but I would not sell it to anyone expecting it to be ready to drop in the water and go fishing.

Between talking with the guy working on boats and talking with the manager, we went to see another boat dealer along the waterfront. He said he'd be more than happy to sell me a factory new boat and transplant everything from the Starcraft onto the new one (at standard labor rates, of course). That's looking like what the rest of the summer will hold for us.


Bob
Melbourne, FL

 

[Watermann]

Well that isn't really a surprise to me with the dealer, their goal is to put you in a boat they really don't care about your old boat so much unless it's a good trade in they can steal from you.

WIsh you all the best with your new boat.