Need advice please! My new boat and possible big issues.

[bear_69cuda]

Hey gang,

I could write a book, but I'm gonna post some pics, and list issues I'm having. Any advice would be appreciated.

Purchased 2008 Hurricane from dealer. They are a Hurricane dealer but bought this boat form a dealer going out of business. So this was a new overstocked boat. I thought I got a great deal....

I've have the boat ~ one month. It spent 2 weeks getting custom cover made.

I've had the boat in the water a total of three times. Never has had any water intrusion. Plug was always in...

Last Saturday I decided to install my Smart Tabs. I was tinkering around in the bilge and noticed some debris by the plug exit and decided to take out the plug and look from outside. This is what I found.

The inside of the hole was not finished and was wet wood. I could scrape out wet wood particles with screwdriver. I about vomited! I called the dealer, took pics, sent them to the dealer. He wanted me to bring the boat in so they could see/fix the issues. But due to some crappy wiring they did, rigging the boat i decided to dry out the hole with heat gun for 4 hours, and repair myself. They assured me they would stand behind me and the boat is under warranty.. Don't worry and go have fun! So I proceeded... After drying with heat gun, the wood seemed very solid, and I could not stick the screwdriver or remove more wood like it was rotted. I proceeded to seal wood with 3M 4200, cut a piece of PVC, inserted into drain plug hole, and sealed it from both ends so water from bilge would not touch the wood, and drain out the plug hole properly.

I'm thinking all is good... The dealer said this was the way Hurricanes are from the factory... I really can't believe a boat of this supposed quality being skimped like this. But I move on...

I decided to install the port side Smart Tab with no issues.

Upon drilling the holes on the starboard side to mount the hinge, on the 4th hole toward port side, water started running out when I removed the drill bit!!!!!!!!!!!!! OMG!!!!!!!!!!!!! I took pictures, my friend is sitting there with me in disbelief....

I called the dealer, and had him come out and see. He basically said it's a boat. It could be condensation. The stringer is holding the water and will not get into the bilge to drain... don't worry about it.... Everything is fiberglassed in, and will not rot... I noticed that there was no wood just fiberglass in this area? He says it's a class 5 hull, and has multiple layers, so this could be a gap that filled with water...

I used compressed air to bow out water, and finished installing the Smart Tab using the sealant tape and 3M 4200 in the holes.

Today I decided to remove a screw and check things out. Sure enough more water came out the flippin hole.

I am sick to my stomach.... I don't know what to do? I'm worried the holes drilled for the smart tabs will void my warranty... What should I do????

Thanks for any advice in advance.

 

[bear_69cuda]

Re: Need advice please! My new boat and possible big issues.

More pics

 

[superpop]

Re: Need advice please! My new boat and possible big issues.

I would guess the boat sat outside for some time and the bilge accumulated water. Are there any water marks or lines in hard to see spots, dealer may have discovered water in the bilge and pulled the plug but at that point it is too late. If you have an unfinished hole like that, and it was submerged for any period of time, you probably have the starting of rot, especially if water made it that high up and out into the transom. Was any of the water colered or was it clear. I would let everything drain for several days in a heated area if you can and then re evaluate. I doubt the dealer or manufacturer will replace the hull but I would go down to the dealer and look at the same boat only new and see if the plug hole on it is unfinished as well. If it is not, you may have a case for a replacement transom, otherwise you may be out of luck.

 

[bear_69cuda]

Re: Need advice please! My new boat and possible big issues.

The water did have some brown color to it...

 

[Capt'n Chris]

Re: Need advice please! My new boat and possible big issues.

It may have been best that you had done nothing at all to repair the issue "which you have assessed as a problem" with your new boat and have allowed (or better yet, insisted) the dealer to intervene. Generally, the act of installation of aftermarket accessories will not void a warranty; however, any damages caused by or resulting from the installation of those accessories after the boat left the manufacturer, would most likely be deemed as not covered. Most all boat warranties have general language ("modification or alteration" etc.) specifically addressing just that. If there is a warranty claim specific to finding water in the hull of your boat, regardless of how or when it entered, it would not be any surprise that the burden of proof would quickly shift to you. So, the question now to you would be; "Can you prove without a doubt that the water in your hull was there prior to drilling those holes below the waterline to mount your aftermarket accessories?" This is purely speculation and since this is a forum of open and candid discussion, we all do our best to relate what we believe is the best information.

 

[JaSla74]

Re: Need advice please! My new boat and possible big issues.

Shazbot!

 

[lprizman]

Re: Need advice please! My new boat and possible big issues.

not here or anywhere on the net,,,get a lawyer
there is recourse

try to delete all this

 

[thedukeryan]

Re: Need advice please! My new boat and possible big issues.

Sorry but you probably screwed your self trying to fix any issues. I would of paid the dealer to install the smart tabs and insisted that they fix the plug. I would be fing pissed if I dropped that much coin and got that service/support.

 

[tinkeringwackyone]

Re: Need advice please! My new boat and possible big issues.

reminds me of the thread started by baineyg about his new boat with the stringers pushing through his hull. If baineyg sees this he may have a direction to go with this. If I remember right the thread was "Stingers pushing through the hull" or something of that nature. keep us informed and good luck

 

[Pez Vela]

Re: Need advice please! My new boat and possible big issues.

I was tinkering around in the bilge and noticed some debris by the plug exit and decided to take out the plug and look from outside.

That doesn't pass the smell test ... removing a factory installed thru-hull fitting on a brand new boat because you noticed some debris in the bilge.

I'm with Capt'n Chris on this one.

 

[Stachi]

Re: Need advice please! My new boat and possible big issues.

wow, looks like you bought a boat load of trouble....as soon as I saw what you originally found , I would have brought it back to the dealer...if thats what the transom looked like , what would make you think the rest of the hull would be any better...live and learn I guess...let this be a lesson for all... good luck fighting them now...

 

[bear_69cuda]

Re: Need advice please! My new boat and possible big issues.

It may have been best that you had done nothing at all to repair the issue "which you have assessed as a problem" with your new boat and have allowed (or better yet, insisted) the dealer to intervene. Generally, the act of installation of aftermarket accessories will not void a warranty; however, any damages caused by or resulting from the installation of those accessories after the boat left the manufacturer, would most likely be deemed as not covered. Most all boat warranties have general language ("modification or alteration" etc.) specifically addressing just that. If there is a warranty claim specific to finding water in the hull of your boat, regardless of how or when it entered, it would not be any surprise that the burden of proof would quickly shift to you. So, the question now to you would be; "Can you prove without a doubt that the water in your hull was there prior to drilling those holes below the waterline to mount your aftermarket accessories?" This is purely speculation and since this is a forum of open and candid discussion, we all do our best to relate what we believe is the best information.

I realize that I should not have repaired the issue with the bilge drain. The dealer did say they would just dry out and seal with 3M as well... So I just did it myself, not knowing the other issue would appear while installing the Smart Tabs. The only proof I have about drilling the holes was my buddy was hanging out watching me do this. And that I had my sales person come over to my house 1/2 hour after drilling, to see personally what I was talking about.

 

[bear_69cuda]

Re: Need advice please! My new boat and possible big issues.

I would guess the boat sat outside for some time and the bilge accumulated water. Are there any water marks or lines in hard to see spots, dealer may have discovered water in the bilge and pulled the plug but at that point it is too late. If you have an unfinished hole like that, and it was submerged for any period of time, you probably have the starting of rot, especially if water made it that high up and out into the transom. Was any of the water colered or was it clear. I would let everything drain for several days in a heated area if you can and then re evaluate. I doubt the dealer or manufacturer will replace the hull but I would go down to the dealer and look at the same boat only new and see if the plug hole on it is unfinished as well. If it is not, you may have a case for a replacement transom, otherwise you may be out of luck.

Thanks Superpop,

I don't notice any water marks or lines in the bilge. The stringer going forward on the starboard side seems to have the water trapped from entering the bilge. I'm taking the boat to the dealer this weekend. I'm going to say please figure this out. It would be impossible for transom rot to occur from the shot time I've had the boat. Always inside or fully covered... I've only had possession of it for two weeks. The other two weeks it was inside at the cover shop.

 

[bear_69cuda]

Re: Need advice please! My new boat and possible big issues.

Shazbot!

I can think of better words brutha!

 

[bear_69cuda]

Re: Need advice please! My new boat and possible big issues.

not here or anywhere on the net,,,get a lawyer
there is recourse

try to delete all this

Not sure I understand? Delete? Not here or anywhere on the net? I'm kinda naive with legal stuff... My wife's cousin is a trial lawyer...

 

[bear_69cuda]

Re: Need advice please! My new boat and possible big issues.

reminds me of the thread started by baineyg about his new boat with the stringers pushing through his hull. If baineyg sees this he may have a direction to go with this. If I remember right the thread was "Stingers pushing through the hull" or something of that nature. keep us informed and good luck

Thanks I'll check it out...

 

[bear_69cuda]

Re: Need advice please! My new boat and possible big issues.

I was tinkering around in the bilge and noticed some debris by the plug exit and decided to take out the plug and look from outside.

That doesn't pass the smell test ... removing a factory installed thru-hull fitting on a brand new boat because you noticed some debris in the bilge.

I'm with Capt'n Chris on this one.

Well it didn't go through the hull very far... That's why I used the PVC. I didn't understand how the hole for the bilge drain was left unfinished... I'm gonna check other Hurricanes at the dealer today...

What is the smell test?

 

[bear_69cuda]

Re: Need advice please! My new boat and possible big issues.

wow, looks like you bought a boat load of trouble....as soon as I saw what you originally found , I would have brought it back to the dealer...if thats what the transom looked like , what would make you think the rest of the hull would be any better...live and learn I guess...let this be a lesson for all... good luck fighting them now...

I sure hope not. The Hull has a 10 year Warranty so I'm hopeful this can be resolved and not go into a war...

Like I said, after I cleaned up the debris/sawdust crap, the wood didn't seem like rot. I could not stick a screwdriver into it. (it was solid) The drilled holes for the trim tabs had no wood at all. (solid fiberglass) Seems like the transom motor support is a separate piece of wood glassed to the thick fiberglassed hull. The wood doesn't go across the entire stern from port to starboard. Just reinforced in the center of the transom.

 

[Knightgang]

Re: Need advice please! My new boat and possible big issues.

What is the smell test?

Only speculation, but I think he means the story does not pass the smell test, being I smell something fishy about the story...

Now, all of the Shudda/Woulda/Couldas are gone. You have began installing the tabs... The salesperson came over and saw the issues, you also have pictures... And you have only owned the boat for what, about a month...

I think you need to stop all work right now, cover boat for further protection... Sit down and talk to the dealer and ask for his help in getting the MFG involved. Since this boat came from another dealer that is out of business or going out, either way, I think the MFG needs to stand behind their product for the customer and deal with the dealers how they see fit...

If the dealer will not help you do this and stand on your side to get the MFG to do something for your situation, I would get an attorney involved and would ask for all records that each dealer and the MFG have on this boat. When MFG, when sent to first dealer, How stored at each location. How long your dealer had it, how they stored it, etc... Also, I would ask for written documentation (like procedures) on how the dealers receive the boats and what they do to prep them for display (inside or out), etc. If they can not prove that they have a standard procedure for receiveing a boat and checking things like taking plugs out for outside storage, bagging and protecting of weahter sensitive equipment, weekly checks for standing water, etc.... They you may have a claim to the dealer and maybe even back tot he MFG for not properly overseeing the dealer network...

A good attorney will look for this type of documentation. Overall feeling is that if a procedure is not written down, then there is no standard process within a company. If it is written, then you can create a checklist for each boat and that shows standard procedure...

Point is, if they cannot (MFG or Dealers) provide such documents, then it may be in your favor... Again, my opionion from previous jobs that dealth with alot of procedure...

 

[robert graham]

Re: Need advice please! My new boat and possible big issues.

Granted, the bilge drain looks like it was not finished properly, and it looks like you did a nice job fixing it, but are you confident that there is a problem/rot here? Maybe there is no problem. Good Luck!