New Welded Alum. Hull Leaking Badly

[lakeman1999]

Re: New Welded Alum. Hull Leaking Badly

Mine is an alumacraft, it is a goodun, and it is rivited. my last one was a goodun, and it was a riveted one, and if I get another aluminum boat, it for sure will be a "QUALITY" riveted one.

 

[Link]

Re: New Welded Alum. Hull Leaking Badly

Heys guys I think I keep hearing frogs around<br />this thread, rivet..rivet.. see there it is<br />again <br /><br />Link

 

[SeaDawg]

Re: New Welded Alum. Hull Leaking Badly

UpstNYer (and others), I had several riveted aluminum boats over the years, and they all leaked (some a little, some a lot), and every other aluminum riveted boat (all of them no exceptions, and I have probably fished in 50 or so of them - all in saltwater areas). Maybe there are completely dry riveted boats there, I just have not seen one.<br /><br />Sooooo, I chose to get a welded Lowe Roughneck in 1999 (a 2000 model, new), a model 1760MT. It was BONE DRY, every trip, no exceptions for a couple of years, and I did not baby it. I would go fishing 2 - 3 times a week in the DE bay, typically 3 -5 miles out, and occasionaly get caught in seas up to 4 feet with it.<br /><br />Then, it happened, it started leaking so bad one trip, that the 850 GPH bilge pump was just keeping up when I came to the boat ramp. I called my dealer, and he called the Lowes factory, and they called me. They would have replaced the boat on the spot, except that OMC (who owned Lowes) had went bankrupt, and Genmar would not replace my boat. HOWEVER, they said they would reweld the cover on the main keel seam (it was tack welded about every 12 inches originally, and was changed in 2001), then if it leaked, they would replace the boat.<br /><br />Sooooo, I let them reweld it, and (while I DON'T recommend that others do this) I then unloaded the boat with only my gas tank, battery, VHF, my hand held GPS, my commercial vessel flotation devices, and my cell phone, and I told my wife "if I am not back in 4 hours call the coast guard, because I've sunk my boat".<br /><br />I then headed out on a 4 - 6 foot wave height (25-35 knot SE winds) DE bay, and proceeded to pound the heck out of the boat and my self for 2 hours, at sometimes 30 knot speeds. My knees and back hurt for a week after that trip.<br /><br />BUT, the boat bilge was BONE DRY, even with those waves, because I was heading straight into them, and skimming the tops of them (I did not take any water over the sides), and the only thing I destroyed was my battery, I must have turned the plates to mush, because it was stone dead the next day.<br /><br />This was over a year ago, and I've went out close to 50 DE bay fishing trips since then, and the boat is still staying completely dry in the bilge.<br /><br />That's why I am looking to upgrade to another welded (larger) Lowe, the Ultra series.<br /><br />And, my point being, a welded boat should be dry, and it can be properly rewelded, and be better than it was originally. I would not have believed it, if it had not happened to me.<br /><br />My 2 cents worth on this topic......

 

[GodsBeast]

Re: New Welded Alum. Hull Leaking Badly

Just my two cents, UpstNYer, I agree that anybody that purchases a NEW Boat (Welded or Riveted) expects to get a boat that does not leak. Over time maybe, but not when NEW. You've already agreed that Djohns has a point, that you bought an underpowered boat, and you have agreed to assume some of that responsiblity for that decision, and hopefully the dealer will meet you somewhere in the middle, taking in consideration that the saleman (that is no longer there) could have been a little more involved in answering your question of "Is this enough Power?" with "Are you going to pull a skier?" Then selling you a 40hp on a boat rated for a 90hp, less than half of the power rating. <br /> So for the sale of a leaking new hull, I'd expect a new hull. <br /> For the sale of the underpowered motor, You agreed you should have considered or done more research, and I believe that they should assume SOME responsibility for the sale of an underpowered boat and meet you somewhere in the middle. I guess if I were a dealer and someone wanted to purchase a boat with a motor with less than 1/2 of the power rating, I might consider getting them to sign a paper acknowledging that the boat is underpowered, which would at least protect the dealer from liability problems, and they'd have signature proof that the buyer was informed. <br /> Hopefully you and the dealer can come to some agreement! Let us know how this works out. <br /> <br /> Who would buy a new boat that leaks, and be happy? Like buying a new TV with a picture that blinks on an off! <br /> So, hopefully, you and the dealer can come to some agreement to both parties. Good Luck.<br /><br />GodsBeast

 

[k2mtnbiker]

Re: New Welded Alum. Hull Leaking Badly

Don't really have a dog in this race, but just wanted to say, "I have a fully welded Bass Tracker Pro 18" and the only water that ever gets inside it, is when I'm fishing in the rain. We use our Tracker a minimum of 4 times a week as long as 8 hours at a time, and it sits in the water all weekend, either tied at the dock or being fished out of. All welded aluminum boats don't leak.<br />Yes, the tracker is "cheaper than some other boats", but its a good investment, we love ours, and will buy another Tracker if we ever wear this one out. By the way, we run a 50 hp Mercury and it pushes the Tracker (with two adults) at 31 mph, plenty fast enough.<br />Stay with the dealer and try for a replacement on your boat, I had a problem with a 2003 Chevy Silverado and after 6 months and 8000 miles, the dealer replaced it. GM wouldn't try to fix it and even sent me a copy of their memo saying my problem was normal for that vehicle.<br />If the dealer wants to stay in business, he will replace your boat.........Good Luck......

 

[UpstNYer]

Re: New Welded Alum. Hull Leaking Badly

So far, both dealer and Fisher have been noncommittal on what they will or won't do. Fisher did contract with a trucking firm to pick up the boat and return it to the factory for evaluation. The dealer was getting it ready to ship back on Thursday. By now it may have left. Dealer said Fisher might try to repair it. <br /><br />SeaDawg's point is one that had occurred to me. A leaking hull that gets some serious attention and determined effort might turn out better than another new one. If they can jig up the hull to keep it from warping during reweld and are willing to repaint it afterward, it may work out OK. However, I'll be suspicious of some kind of 'Bondo fix' if it comes back without being repainted and with no paint damage from welding...if you get my drift.<br /><br />The motor blunder is compounded by a dealer choice blunder (my batting average in the boating world stinks...apparently no mistake was left unmade ). Dealer says they are not a 'loose motor dealer' and they do not deal in motors separate from boats. They sell only boat and motor packages. And, in fact, they do not show up in the dealer listings of any OB manufacturer I've since tried. I can now see why the salesman declined the opportunity to sell a larger engine at time of purchase; and why the boat was a 2002 leftover.<br /><br />I've appealed to Fisher about a larger engine, but gotten no response. It doesn't look promising at this point. The boating season will be pretty much over up here in another 6 or 7 weeks. Hope to get some consideration on an engine upgrade in return for the time lost.<br /><br />k2mtnbiker, sounds like you got a good 'un. Cherish it! Looking at the specs for both Fisher and Tracker in my hull size, I thought they were the same boat with different names. Maybe not.<br />Bob

 

[SeaDawg]

Re: New Welded Alum. Hull Leaking Badly

Yea, it took me beating myself half to death on the bay, after the reweld job, to convince my family to go fishing in it again with me, they were afraid of it until I convinced them it would not leak. And I also put in a second 850 GPH bilge pump, so now both pumps never get used (but it made the wife happy though).<br /><br />And, I must hand it to Lowe, they did back their product, and it was painless. I don't mind a mistake, as long as it is fixed promptly, and on their nickel.<br /><br />And I truly believe if I see another weld break during the 10 year warrenty period, they said will replace the boat. Because I (like them) don't expect it to happen again either. <br /><br />That is why I am seriously looking at a Lowe again, for an upgrade to a larger boat. I'm surprised Fisher is dragging their feet on yours.<br /><br />And the welded versus riveted arguments will be around for as long as the 2-stroke versus 4-stroke arguments, I realise that too. All have their good points, and all have their bad points, depending on what you need and expect.

 

[paulgp6022]

Re: New Welded Alum. Hull Leaking Badly

I have a 2000 Fisher Avenger Sport 16. It too came with the 40hp Mercury 3 cylinder. It was underpowered, so I had a 2003 Mercury 75hp put on it. Now it flies. The maximum rating is 75hp for my boat.

 

[catfish1]

Re: New Welded Alum. Hull Leaking Badly

underpowered it is, but i think that combo(16ft+40hp merc) should do better than 20mph.<br />which makes me ask what was the wot rpm at 20mph?<br />maybe it wasnt proped right.<br /><br />my brother has a 17ft all welded bass tracker with a 35hp merc + tilt trim with a 13pitch prop and his will go 27mph

 

[paulgp6022]

Re: New Welded Alum. Hull Leaking Badly

20mph does sound slow. Mine used to do 28mph on GPS. Now I get 41 on GPS with the 75hp.

 

[UpstNYer]

Re: New Welded Alum. Hull Leaking Badly

Think the best I ever saw was 23mph at 5000 rpm and WOT. That was the last time it was out. Was playing with the pitch trim to see how far I could pitch it out. More common is 19 to 21mph and about 4700rpm...if memory serves.<br /><br />WOT is pretty much a requirement to get up on plane; and even then it struggles. Once on plane you can back it off a few hundred RPM (maybe 400); but more than that and it comes off the step. This 40 is the 2 cylinder 'classic' version.<br /><br />Think I read a Mercury spec. that 40hp and below come with a generic prop. That's probably what's on there. Prop may be intended for a lighter boat and pitched too steep. A prop swap would be a lot cheaper than a new 90...maybe worth a try when it gets back. I don't have to go like a bat, but the big struggle to get up on plane with just 2 aboard is embarrassing.<br /><br />Checked speedo against GPS; it was dead-on.<br /><br />Thanks for the inputs. Having something to compare this thing with, helps alot.<br />Bob

 

[TELMANMN]

Re: New Welded Alum. Hull Leaking Badly

Hope your problem with leaking hull gets corrected. As to the under powered problem, when I bought my first boat I was told to never get a motor less than 2/3 rds. the rated hp of the boat. I went with that and had 20 years plus with no problems but I still wish I would of went to the max. hp. <br /> I have recently upgraded(old riveted sea nymph, still seems sound) to a 50 hp. merc. and it flies. 32+ and seems to be able to throttle down with full load with no problems. I always tell anyone who asks that is buying a new boat go with 2/3rds max hp. but if can afford it go to the Max. as you will not be disappointed. <br /> Again good luck on your boat.