I have a little problem?!?

Captn C · #1 01-20-2004, 02:33 PM

At least I hope it is any way.....25' SeaCraft Open Fisherman. Since I bought the boat 9-2002 (it was built 9-1999) I have been finding shards of plastic in the bilge area. They appear to be pieces of PVC pipe. I took the boat in to BPS this past Saturday and I fished around under the bilge pump mounting plate(I forgot the little bag of pieces I had saved). There were more in there than I expected and this time I actually found one that had the blue writing on it like PVC has. I took the boat in because the top cap has cracked though in all four corners of the little splash well in front of the engines. It leaks a lot of water into the bilges.

I have not heard anything from them yet on what they think it is or where it's coming from.

Any one have any ideas? All the wiring appears to go down the starboard side in a tube that isn't PVC and is sprayed with what ever they cover raw fiberglass.

Thanks....Love the new look too!

barnacle · #2 01-20-2004, 07:42 PM

Sounds to me like it could be the extra material left over from when to boat was built. Most of the times the hull does not get cleaned before the top deck gets put down. After the first few years it travels back to the stern.

Captn C · #3 01-21-2004, 08:31 AM

The shards appear to have been crushed though....most of the pieces are long (3 to 6 inches) and not more than 1/2" wide.

Any one know anything about SeaCrafts hull replacment policy?

Where did they move their operation?

JohnS · #4 01-21-2004, 09:53 AM

SeaCraft relocated to the Carolinas, FYI. You should probably have someone, independant, check the boat over. Pull the inspection plates, possibly even pull any removable panels and take a peek to see what is up. Most likely, it is some stuff that was left in there when it was made and they just left it there, figuring nobody was ever going to see it anyway. I would complain, in a nice way, they will listen to someone who is sincerely concerned [img]/images/graemlins/confused.gif[/img] more than someone who is reaming them a new @$$..... [img]/images/graemlins/mad.gif[/img]

ocuyler · #5 01-21-2004, 10:34 AM

I doesn't sound like a hull integrity issue, but I would agree that the dealer should be alerted.

SeaCraft/Mako moved to Forest City, North Carolina (50 miles west of Charlotte) earlier this year into a renovated former textile plant. I have heard that the move was difficult and the first boats coming off the line there had some quality control issues.

Captn C · #6 01-21-2004, 01:24 PM

I just got off the phone with Bass Pro Shop. The Asst Manager said he stood on the back of the engines and the transom fell back about a 1/4". He's about 5'8" 170lbs.

He is planning to have the outside shop who does their fiberglass repair come look at it before he calls the factory.

Scott · #7 01-21-2004, 01:35 PM

Any of that "stuff" jamming or fouling the impeller on the bilge pumps yet ?? That would be a big concern .... A similar situation happened to a friend last winter .... had work done in the bilge ... tag end of "tie wraps " were clipped off and left .... ended up jamming a pump...He let the marina "know" about it !!!!

Quote:

I doesn't sound like a hull integrity issue, but I would agree that the dealer should be alerted.

SeaCraft/Mako moved to Forest City, North Carolina (50 miles west of Charlotte) earlier this year into a renovated former textile plant. I have heard that the move was difficult and the first boats coming off the line there had some quality control issues.

That being said ....I think I would hesitate purchasing a new hull from them for awhile... Think about it ....new factory .... new unfamiliar equipment .... new employees....got to be a big learning curve

Scott · #8 01-21-2004, 01:41 PM

Quote:

I just got off the phone with Bass Pro Shop. The Asst Manager said he stood on the back of the engines and the transom fell back about a 1/4". He's about 5'8" 170lbs.

He is planning to have the outside shop who does their fiberglass repair come look at it before he calls the factory.

YIKES !!!! Hope things work out for you .... I think I might take a ride over there while this is going on !!!! [img]/images/graemlins/frown.gif[/img]
Think about what the thrust of those engines must do to it when your pushing through some nasty ocean [img]/images/graemlins/shocked.gif[/img]

Captn C · #9 01-21-2004, 02:35 PM

Yes I have had one piece get in it once, but it didn't lock up the pump it was only hitting the impellar. Made plenty of noise though.

Not sure what to do about a possible new hull, what ever they are building now would have to be better than what I got now?!?

FELLOW-SHIP · #10 01-21-2004, 02:49 PM

I almost sunk a 1 month old Hydrasport in 3-5 foot seas 5 miles off shore because they did not get all the small pieces of fiberglass out of the hull and they jammed up the bilge pump. From then on I always have two bilge pumps on separate switches in my boats.
FellowShip