odd crack in a 25 Seafari

[cdavisdb]

Just returned from a 8 day Bahama trip(I'll post a trip description as soon as I get the pics from my diving buddy). On the way back (I think) the hull developed an odd crack (pics below). Conditions were 15-20 knots of wind behind us, seas 3-4 to sometimes 5 at the center of the Stream, running 23 knots. We slammed a few (very few) times launching off waves and coming down not quite on the keel, but it was nothing that any good hull would not tolerate just fine. The crack is short, but appears to be deep, with wispy glass fiber ends coming out. It does not look like an impact to me (other opinions?) and I wasn't aware of hitting anything. There is very little stress cracking around it and it seems to be right under one of the main stringers, a very strong part of the boat. There is no sign in the surrounding gelcoat that would indicate a previous repair. I can cut the bottom out of a storage compartment and get to the inside of the hull right at the crack, but haven't gotten that far yet.

Anybody seen anything like this? Any ideas as what caused it, what I may find when I open up the inside, or what is the best way to fix it? For sure, I'll have this professionally done, but would like to have a good background before I take it in.

Otherwise the 25 seafari is near flawless, truly a great Bahama cruiser.

Connor

[Entourage]

I've had those cracks on all the sceptres ive had. I'm not sure as to why they happen it must be the way the inner hull meets the outer somewhere inside the cuddy. Even if you glassed the outside i don't think it would last long unless you got it from the inside as well.

[bigeasy1]

Originally Posted by Entourage

I've had those cracks on all the sceptres ive had. I'm not sure as to why they happen it must be the way the inner hull meets the outer somewhere inside the cuddy. Even if you glassed the outside i don't think it would last long unless you got it from the inside as well.

**On every! Sceptre?,please tell me it wasn't several.**

Please excuse me for straying a bit on this thread,but after reading about connors dilemma and the issues with some others 23's,I'm starting to worry about my Tsunami. I'm realizing that I never really gave a lot of close inspections to the bulkheads.
It sounds stupid now that I didn't.
Just as bad is my inspection of the outer hull bottom.I checked it over pretty well a few years ago,but have to admit that other than a glance when it's on the trailer, I haven't paid a lot of attention to it.There are several layers of bottom paint on it so any minor crack might not show at a glance.

If the boat wasn't six and a half hours away,and not shrink wrapped I'd be checking it out now.Instead I guess I'll have to spend the next few months lying awake at night thinking about it.
As you can see in the pictures,I cut out the floor in the compartment forward of the fuel tank,so that I could access the inner hull bottom to clean out the 40 years of gook.After doing That, I figured why not just make a removable bottom in case I ever need to access the area again.
I made the cross members you see in the picture to give a bit of strength to that part of the liner,and to support the removable floor.They work fine to support the new plywood floor,but I'm not sure if they really are strong enough to give enough rigidity to the complete area.I can stand on it,but rarely do,the compartment is only used to store rods and reels.

It's a long compartment as the fuel tank is only 52 gallons.

From what you see,do you think it would be a good idea to glass in a couple bulkhead type crossmembers and then to permanantely glass in a new floor? or am I worrying too much?.

[Blue_Heron]

Originally Posted by bigeasy1

...or am I worrying too much?.

I think you're worrying too much. I don't believe the bulkheads in the Sceptres are structural like they are in the 25 Seafari, and the unsupported panel width between keel and stringer is less. The box stringers in the 23s seem to do fine.
Dave

[strick]

Ouch. Now I see what you were talking about. Since my boat is already tore apart I'll see if I can get a good look in that area and shoot you a couple pictures. Looks like a bad stress crack for sure. Looking at the running shot of your boat that crack is directly above where the V meets the water when underway.

strick

[cdavisdb]

My glass guy is swamped, so it will be awhile before this gets fixed.

Thanks for the replys.

I can't tell exactly, but much of the crack seems to be directly below one of the main stringers and definately not connected in any way to the inner hull liner. Can't quite envision how a crack shaped like this could develop.

Entourage, did the cracks you have seen occur right on a stringer? Where they short and vertical like this one?

[Islandtrader]

Just guessing here. Stringer end and hull in contact as to create a hard spot at just the right point? A couple of hard bounces and crack. Or just the opposite...stringer should of been just a little bit longer to take the flex out.

Just bring it down to the island and we can cut it open and fix her up

[FELLOW-SHIP]

It looks like a hard spot to me as well but I don’t see how a foam filled stringer could do that. Perhaps the support of the cuddy pressing down on the hull close to that location could do it.
You need to open up the boat just above the crack for a good look and repair access. Start repair from the inside first, then you can go from the outside of the hull up to finish up the repair.


FellowShip

………………………….

Just for the Grins

Official 23’ SF Antique Classic SeaCraft Owner

[seabob4]

I'm betting the forward end of a stringer and possibly a b/head thrown in the mix...

[Entourage]

Yes they were vertical cracks. Exactly like the picture of yours shown. Had 3 sceptres and all three in the exact same spot on both sides. Not as bad as yours but i guess if left untouched long enough they would get that way.