odd crack in a 25 Seafari

cdavisdb · #1 06-28-2010, 07:53 PM

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 · #2 06-28-2010, 08:04 PM

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.

strick · #3 06-29-2010, 02:56 AM

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 · #4 06-29-2010, 09:00 PM

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 · #5 06-30-2010, 09:27 AM

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 · #6 06-30-2010, 11:29 AM

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 · #7 06-30-2010, 01:21 PM

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

Entourage · #8 06-30-2010, 03:38 PM

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.

cdavisdb · #9 06-30-2010, 05:14 PM

The really strange part is stringer placement. I can see the other side of the boat and it is the usual massive seacraft construction. The stringer goes well past where the crack is and there doesn't seem to be anything around that would create a hard spot or anything else that could provide the opportunity for such a crack. I guess I'll just have to wait until I can get the bottom out of the storage compartent and see exactly what the crack looks like from the inside.

For sure, there was no sign of any crack when I bought the boat 9 months ago.

Entourage, were your cracks right on the stringer?

Blue_Heron · #10 06-30-2010, 05:49 PM

Connor,
To me, it looks like the hull flexed and put the chine/strake in compression causing it to buckle in the area of the crack. I took a look under the deck of my 25 yesterday afternoon. The stringer runs along the step in the hull and goes well forward of the location of your crack. The stringers are vertical, but because of the deep vee, the force acting on the hull will have a pronounced lateral component that the stringer may not support. The stringer is not in contact with the cabin liner, and there's no bulkhead between the cabin bulkhead and the anchor locker, so it has no lateral support that might help it resist the lateral component of slamming loads where the crack occurred. I'll check again, but I don't think the stringers in my 25 are foam filled. I think they would be considerably stiffer if they are foam filled. I'll try to post pics, but my DSL is down at home and I may not have internet access there for a couple days. strick will probably have his pics up first.
Dave