The Boat Shed - Hull cracking on popular brand of aluminum boat

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Hull cracking on popular brand of aluminum boat

Printed From: The Fishing Website
Category: General Forums
Forum Name: The Boat Shed
Forum Description: Discuss all things boating.
URL: https://www.fishing.net.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=69430
Printed Date: 31 May 2026 at 6:12am

Topic: Hull cracking on popular brand of aluminum boat

Posted By: A&E
Subject: Hull cracking on popular brand of aluminum boat
Date Posted: 28 Aug 2011 at 8:46pm

I’ve been having some major issues with my three and a half year old aluminum hard top boat and would appreciate some feedback on what to do.

The boat is built by one of the popular brands, I wont say who, for now, as my intention is to get some useful feedback rather than start a slagging off session. The LOA is 6.65, hull is 5mm 5083 aluminum with a HP rating of 115-200hp. Its powered by a 150Hp Etec.

The issues I’ve had are a crack on the starboard chine, about 1500mm up from the stern. My measurement of the crack was 60mm in length.

About 8 months later a second crack was noticed on the same location but different side of the boat. I didn’t manage to measure this one but apparently it was about 20mm

Both occasions the boat went back to the manufacturer for repair.

I keep the boat in a marina and both cracks have meant that the buoyancy chambers have completely filled with water over time. This resulted in a very dangerous situation when out boating with my wife and infant daughter when we nearly tipped over when we crossed a wake of a launch we were coming up behind.

Obviously I’ve been disappointed about the cracks and dangerous situation they have put us in but what has been more disappointing has been how difficult it’s been dealing with the manufacturer, but that’s a story for another day.

After many attempts to get some documentation to support that the repairs have been done properly so that I can have some confidence in the hull and one day sell the boat with a clear conscience, I finally had to contact the marine industry association of NZ to get things to happen. This resulted in a meeting being set up with a marine surveyor who suggested that the way the repair had been done was sufficient and the manufacturer finally sent me an email to support that.

The manufacturer has made it clear that he believes that it is “not a failure of the boat” and that I should “extrude from that, that its something I’m doing with it”

I’m finding this hard to stomach as I have only used the boat in a manner that everyone I’ve talked to or who has been on the boat with me considers to be easily within the expectations for such a vessel. My work situation allows me a lot of flexibility with work hours so I simply go boating when the weather is nice and avoid poor weather.

From my understanding the manufacturer believes that because they make such strong boats and don’t usually have this sort of problem then it must be something I’ve done that has caused the problems. I find this pig headed but wanted to know if there is there any support for that theory out there?

The manufacturer is out there saying they build one of the strongest boats in the markets and is quite happy to slag off other brands. Many people in the industry who are reading this will already know who I’m talking about I would imagine!

Form my understanding, their position is that they think they have bent over backwards to sort out a problem that I caused where as I feel like I’ve been bent over a barrel instead.

I'd really appreciate some feedback on what to do from here?

Replies:

Posted By: kaveman
Date Posted: 28 Aug 2011 at 8:52pm

this could be interesting Clown

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www.kavemantackle.co.nz

Posted By: Rob Optimist
Date Posted: 28 Aug 2011 at 9:01pm

kaveman wrote:

this could be interesting Clown

Agree

Back to the cracks, not acceptable for a hull to crack and definitely not acceptable to be treated like that by the manufacturer. If they had responded properly to the problem you would not be forced to go online here. Keep at them, squeacky wheel gets the oil.

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"attitude is everything"

Posted By: Moki Marko
Date Posted: 28 Aug 2011 at 9:01pm

Aluminium does crack - sometimes in random places - the boat maker will know this and should have bent over backwards to fix it rather than stick his head in the sand - I think you should name names WTF, you're not slagging anyone off when you tell the truth

Posted By: T_CARP
Date Posted: 28 Aug 2011 at 9:05pm

i have a 533 stabi, it was mint as when i bought it 5 months ago. ive done 200hours in 5 months now and have 2 cracked welds in the same place either side of the hull. the hull is ten years old but had done no work atall before i got it. I rang stabi (not expecting anything) but wanting to know how i can stop this and other similiar things happening in the future. (ive only been using it 5 months!) but got pretty shut down, was told its a first time they have ever heard of it happening (yeah right!) and that was about it... will be interesting to see how it handles the next couple years. and if the repairs can hold out.. many more cracks and ill be looking for a boat that can handle being used- besides that its been fantastic.

Posted By: TJH
Date Posted: 28 Aug 2011 at 9:12pm

pics?

Posted By: T_CARP
Date Posted: 28 Aug 2011 at 9:20pm

will take sum

Posted By: strx7
Date Posted: 28 Aug 2011 at 9:20pm

you say you keep it in a marina, as in in the water or on a dry dock/hard park type situation?

Posted By: RC1
Date Posted: 28 Aug 2011 at 9:57pm

With the boat being in a marina have you had the hull checked by a marine electrician to make sure it is wired correctly and it has the right amount of anodes to control the stray current corrosion?

Posted By: Mark Mac
Date Posted: 28 Aug 2011 at 10:44pm

I googled the info you gave and got only one hit. I hope I was wrong. Ive got the same brand of boat.

Did you buy the boat new?

What kind of hull warranty were you given?

Good luck

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Time spent on the water doesn't come off your life

Posted By: back2black
Date Posted: 29 Aug 2011 at 8:50am

Wonder if it is a Factory Weld fault or just a one off! They are meant to be Extremely Well built craft and the quality of their work looks really good from what I have seen.....Would be interesting to find out from others who own similar boats and see if they have had any similar issues.

normally a local company would surely bend over backwards to get it right without asking any questions as far as safety is concerned and I would expect a lot more from these guys as its their great reputation they have built in the industry!

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Auckland Blasting Services Ltd
Multi Media Blasting - Automotive/Marine/industrial/Residential
Ph: 0225278968 ( 02BLASTYOU )

Posted By: Mark Mac
Date Posted: 29 Aug 2011 at 9:12am

WTF. Does your boat sit on a cradle and is lifted into the water when you need to use it? If so, could this contribute to the cracking, as the cradle could be pressure pointing the hull.

Are you dealing with the owner of the company and not the salesman?

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Time spent on the water doesn't come off your life

Posted By: A&E
Date Posted: 29 Aug 2011 at 9:21am

Boat sits in the marina, always in the water and not on a cradle. Its been lifted out of the water by travel lift about 4 times.

Have been dealing with the owner.

Posted By: Tagit
Date Posted: 29 Aug 2011 at 9:31am

What is it that the manufacturer is telling you that you are doing to cause the cracks? Are the cracks in the middle of a panel or on a weld?

Posted By: A&E
Date Posted: 29 Aug 2011 at 9:49am

Rob Optimist wrote:

kaveman wrote:

this could be interesting http://www.fishing.net.nz/asp_forums/smileys/smiley8.gif -

Moki Marko wrote:

Aluminium does crack - sometimes in random places - the boat maker will know this and should have bent over backwards to fix it rather than stick his head in the sand - I think you should name names WTF, you're not slagging anyone off when you tell the truth

Mark Mac wrote:

I googled the info you gave and got only one hit. I hope I was wrong. Ive got the same brand of boat.

Death to Below wrote:

i have a 533 stabi, it was mint as when i bought it 5 months ago. ive done 200hours in 5 months now and have 2 cracked welds in the same place either side of the hull. the hull is ten years old but had done no work atall before i got it. I rang stabi (not expecting anything) but wanting to know how i can stop this and other similiar things happening in the future. (ive only been using it 5 months!) but got pretty shut down, was told its a first time they have ever heard of it happening (yeah right!) and that was about it... will be interesting to see how it handles the next couple years. and if the repairs can hold out.. many more cracks and ill be looking for a boat that can handle being used- besides that its been fantastic.

RC1 wrote:

With the boat being in a marina have you had the hull checked by a marine electrician to make sure it is wired correctly and it has the right amount of anodes to control the stray current corrosion?

Tagit wrote:

What is it that the manufacturer is telling you that you are doing to cause the cracks? Are the cracks in the middle of a panel or on a weld?

- http://vimeo.com/28275352

Posted By: family affair
Date Posted: 29 Aug 2011 at 10:02am

dude thats bad man we all know who built the boat buy now mosewell say the name before sombody else does. im sure when i looked at there site it was a 5 yr warranty aswell. all things made have a few probs but it all comes down to how well the builder treats you when it comes to the probs i build motorhomes and we get a few probs but no point blamein the peason who brought it better and faster just to fix the problem and keep a good name unless its there fault but in your video i cant c how thats ur fault thats just poor design i say. NAME AND SHAME IT WORKS MAN

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mv maui

Posted By: letsgetem
Date Posted: 29 Aug 2011 at 10:26am

This is an example of how some businesses seem to be unable to see that their reputation is badly affected by the publicity. The internet is very hard on those. Being charitable, it may be the individual(s) involved, and not the business in general

Posted By: chris1070
Date Posted: 29 Aug 2011 at 11:18am

Try the consumer gaurentees act - as the boat is not fit for purpose AND when they say no - you get to take them to the http://www.consumer.org.nz/reports/disputes-tribunals - Disputes Tribunal for cases up to $15,000 or $20,000 if both parties agree.

Here is an example off the CGA website:

I have now discovered the "spot of rot" extends right throughout the hull. Does this change anything?

Yes. The Act says that in the case of a "failure of substantial character", you (and not the dealer) get to choose what to do. You can demand that the dealer replaces the boat with another of similar age and condition, or refunds your money.

This would apply if: you wouldn't have bought the boat if you'd known about the rot; if the boat is substantially unfit for the purpose for which it was supplied because of the rot; or if the boat is not of acceptable quality because it is unsafe.

And just because the dealer is bust - you can go to the manufacturer. Its cheap / easy and they cannot use laywyers for it.

I have helped people - and would be willing to help you prepare a pack for the 'case' (edit: for free obv)

Posted By: family affair
Date Posted: 29 Aug 2011 at 12:09pm

Warranty: Five years Boat supplied by Extreme Boats,

found that on a dealers listing

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mv maui

Posted By: loryda
Date Posted: 29 Aug 2011 at 1:31pm

If your looking for older versions of websites to clarify try this site:

http://wayback.archive.org/web/ - http://wayback.archive.org/web/

basically an archive of websites and changes over the years.. kinda interesting seeing some very old stuff!

Hope everything gets sorted, im still clueless what make your talking about however have some ideas.. Better to name them than slight everyone i think.

Alex.

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"We all pay for life with death, so everything in between should be free."

-Bill Hicks

Posted By: back2black
Date Posted: 29 Aug 2011 at 1:43pm

Is this for another one of the sponsors of this site! First FF and now its ahhhmm!

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Auckland Blasting Services Ltd
Multi Media Blasting - Automotive/Marine/industrial/Residential
Ph: 0225278968 ( 02BLASTYOU )

Posted By: Tagit
Date Posted: 29 Aug 2011 at 1:43pm

In the video the crack appears to be on a weld. Is this correct, or is the visible 'bump' because the water has lifted the antifoul along the crack? In another shot it also looks as if the crack could be on a lateral support of come sort (bottom of a bulkhead etc). Is it, or is that just how it look sin the photo? Seems like a funny place for a crack. Was the other crack in the same position on the hull?

Posted By: Mark Mac
Date Posted: 29 Aug 2011 at 2:39pm

Please dont think Im having a go at you WTF, but your boat is 3 1/2 years old and when you purchased it, it came with a 2 year hull warranty. At what point is a manufacturer legally and morally able to say they will not fix the problem for free? I would think two years, though the CGA may say otherwise. After that any repairs are goodwill on the part of manufacturer.

These businesses need to make money and cant keep repairing faults for no cost for ever.

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Time spent on the water doesn't come off your life

Posted By: Legacy
Date Posted: 29 Aug 2011 at 2:51pm

Two years is not very long as a warranty on a hull and IMO I wouldn't buy a boat from a firm who would only stand by that hull for 2 years.

Posted By: Grunta
Date Posted: 29 Aug 2011 at 2:54pm

I understand there has been a report from an independant surveyor on this issue and he was totally supportive of the manufacturer. Thread locked until I have bit more info but it appears that we're not hearing the full story.

[Edit: Having reviewed some background information on this and having had discussions with both parties, this topic is now permanently closed - 30/08/11]

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Online...

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