370DA Transom Door will not close

[Jack]

I am cont. to look for a 370/380DA. I recently looked at one where the transom door would not close. It looked like the door was missing closing by about 1/4 to 1/2 inch but being that the door jamb is angled it is hard to tell how far off it is. The owner says it has been like that ever since he had new engines installed in the boat. Any ideas what could be wrong and how to possibly fix it???? Thanks in advance!

 

[Big Al]

Looks like someone hit the transom door during the process of installing the new engines ?

If it is a 370 (1995 to 1998), there is a "chromed pivot" that hold the door. I suggest tp verify if this pivot has been twisted or is not properly aligned.

 

[Jack]

The boat is a 1998 model. It does have a long ss hinge holding the door. I will suggest it be removed and checked. I looked at it on the boat and it did not appear to be bent. Some one said to me that they could have tourqued the transom area while the boat was out of the water?!? How would you check for this, if possible?

 

[Big Al]

I would be surprised that the transom area would be torqued enough to create such a problem by having it out of the water. To do that you would need to use a pretty bad travelift. I am up north and I have my boat out of the water each year. It never torqued the transom area. If it was the case I guess you would see a lot of gelcoat cracks in this area and also fiberglass damage ?

If you force the door a little will it close ? I don't have a 0,5 iinch gap on mine but the fabric around the door scrubs the fiberglass panel a little when I close it.

 

[Jack]

You can see significant rub wear on the door. When I tried to close the door it closed about 1/2 inch of overlap and got so tight I had to pull with both hands to open it back up. I have emailed about checking the hinge which seems to be the only thing that it could be.

 

[fwebster]

Larger boats will flex when you lift them...to the extent that some doors may not open or close right. It is normal and not something to get excited about. Boats are designed to support their weight equally distributed on their bottom. Lifting in slings and blocking one up will cause flex end to end and side to side.

The boat should relax again after it is launched. If you still have doors that won't close or open after 2-3 days back in the water, then its time to check further.

 

[Jack]

Thanks Frank, The transom door has not closed on this gentleman's boat since he had new engines installed in 04. If the hinge is not broken or bent what else can you check??

 

[37 Dancer]

Larger boats will flex when you lift them...to the extent that some doors may not open or close right. It is normal and not something to get excited about. Boats are designed to support their weight equally distributed on their bottom. Lifting in slings and blocking one up will cause flex end to end and side to side.

The boat should relax again after it is launched. If you still have doors that won't close or open after 2-3 days back in the water, then its time to check further.

Frank .......I agree 100%......this is one reason I leave my boat in the water all year..... I don't like leaving it on blocks for 4 months. I worry about it flexing..... and getting stress cracks in the gel.

 

[fwebster]

Jack,

Other than the hinge.......and I doubt it is the problem unless something is in the hinge in the closed position like a screw backed out......there is one other potential cause.

The "trunk" or aft storage compartment module may have been removed if the yard that changed the engines had limited lifting apparatus to pull the engines with. The trunk compartment is a bolted on assembly that runs from the stbd side wall of the boat (see the vertical seam to the stdb side of the trunk door?) over to the transom door and forms the jam opposite the hinge. If this assembly was not positioned exactly right, it will affect how the transom door fits. The module bolts down thru the cockpit and transom floors and I suspect that the boat was out of the water and blocked up when the trunk was removed and reinstalled. If the boat was flexed when the trunk was refitted, it could be out of alignment.

It won't take a brain surgeon to fix it, but the repair does need to be done in the water and it is going to take a coouple of guys a while to get it done. If you have not yet bought the boat, make this part of the deal, and get a survey before writing more than a deposit check.

 

[Big Al]

Larger boats will flex when you lift them...to the extent that some doors may not open or close right. It is normal and not something to get excited about. Boats are designed to support their weight equally distributed on their bottom. Lifting in slings and blocking one up will cause flex end to end and side to side.

The boat should relax again after it is launched. If you still have doors that won't close or open after 2-3 days back in the water, then its time to check further.

Well I learned something today...thanks :smt001

 

[mrsrobinson]

Wwe learned about flexing when it came time to align our new engines. You need to align engines with the boat in the water, fully supported. A little OT but related.

 

[Jack]

I have not bought the boat. I stopped by to look at it on my way to NC on vacation. I have no intention of buying the boat unless the door is repaired. I am interested to see what caused the misaligned door.

 

[Larry]

I have a 1998 330, and if it is similer I had the same problem and I know the prier owner lifted the engine hatch while the transom door was straped open and put preasure on it and misaligned the latch. that sounds like what may have happend to this one.


Larry
1998 33 Sundancer

 

[Capn Ron]

I agree with Larry. I know a guy by me that did the same thing. I would guess that is the problem. Open hatch while the door open. Something has to give.

 

[Bridog]

Larger boats will flex when you lift them...to the extent that some doors may not open or close right. It is normal and not something to get excited about. Boats are designed to support their weight equally distributed on their bottom. Lifting in slings and blocking one up will cause flex end to end and side to side.

The boat should relax again after it is launched. If you still have doors that won't close or open after 2-3 days back in the water, then its time to check further.

Frank, could a smaller boat like a 300 DA have the same issues? Although I have not taken delivery yet I noticed while on blocks the transom door would not shut unless I pushed on it real hard.

 

[osd9]

[/quote] Frank, could a smaller boat like a 300 DA have the same issues? Although I have not taken delivery yet I noticed while on blocks the transom door would not shut unless I pushed on it real hard.[/quote]

In an email conversation I had with Frank W., he said that he will not have Internet access for about another week and a half....I'm sure he will answer you when he gets back online.....

 

[Bridog]

Thank you Dominic.