Hull Integrity Issue Question

MStick14

New Member
Mar 14, 2012
7
Annapolis, MD
Boat Info
2006 270 SLX
Engines
496 Mag - Merc 425 HP w/ Bravo 1 drive
I have 2006 Sea Ray 270 SLX and upon de-winterizing it today I noticed an issue with my hull. Port side, middle, there the fiberglass hull seems to be loose from the upper part of the boat right at the rub-rail in a 2-3 foot section. The rest of the boat along the rub-rail seems to be tight, but in this section you can actually push it in a little bit. When looking up into/behind the rub-rail, it seems like there was caulk that was pulled apart.

Any ideas on how to fix this? Is this a major issue? Can I just get some sort of marine caulking compound to pull it back together or is this something better left to the professionals? I have attached a picture to better show the location.

Any help or suggestions is greatly appreciated. - Mark S.

searay.jpg
 
Mark,
First, Welcome to CSR! There are a lot of helpful, well qualified owners on the site that are more than willing to help with this and any other questions you may have. PLEASE check back often over the next 24 hours as I am sure some of the experts will chime in.

As for your initial question, I don't think you want to just pump some caulk in there as this COULD be more of a structural issue. But again, give the guys a chance & check back often. Again, Welcome to CSR!
 
Did someone hit your boat while it was in storage? I would have the dealer look at it. I wouldn't just caulk it.
 
Some 270 SLX models had hull problems that were the result of a manufacturing defect. I do not exactly what the model year range affected was however a friend of mine's 270 was affected. It was a grusome repair to watch but Sea Ray covered the whole thing. As I recall, the dealer contacted him initially, I don't think he had yet seen any problems at the time of the repair. I think my friend's is an 07 or 08 so don't be too alarmed, just wanted to make you aware of the possibility.

It is also a possibility the deck and hull were not attached well in that spot.

I would recommend you contact your dealer or Sea Ray with your HIN to inquire assuming of course there is no sign of physical damage from a foreign object.
 
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The hull and deck cap have a "shoe-box" fit or joint, where the deck cap has a lip that fits down over the hull top edge. There is 1" or more of an overlap where the hull and deck join. It would be most unusual for that joint to just come apart on its own since the parts are thru bolted, then the rub rail is screwed in place over the deck/hull joint. If it failed on its own, then I think it is a structural failure and should be dealt with by your dealer and Sea Ray. Your Sea Ray dealer is the starting place; don't try to patch this on your own. But don't be surprised if the dealer's investigation ends up with there having been some physical damage at that point. If that is the case, then you have the dealers investigation to use in dealing with your storage facility or insurance carrier.

Good luck with it...........
 
Being a relatively new boater, this is obviously a big concern and thank you for all of your feedback. I really hope it somehow turns into a simple fix by the dealer, but, this doesnt seem to be the case. I'm contacting the dealership first thing in the morning.
 
Didn't shrink wrap it this year. Just tarped. (we had a very mild winter). I did just move it to a new marina where they hauled and blocked it. Not sure of the caliber of there work but could that be it?
 
Mstick14, this is probably not that big of a deal. Likley either the screws backed out over time / vibration or they were not long enough. Sometimes they could just be stripped out. I bet you can fix this as a DIY. Remove the screws in the metal rubrail insert (check the screw length), sometimes you have to remove two sections depending on where they overlap. Then remove the screws in the PVC rubrail (check the length). When checking the length make sure they are long enough to engage the fiberglass of the entire shoe box fit and backing support behind the fiberglass. There are also screws in the fiberglass to mate the deck to the hull. Do the same thing here. Once you have the rubrail removed, check the gap between the hull and the deck overlay. If there is a big gap you can fill it with 3M 5200 bonding sealant. Fill all of your open screw holes with 5200 before putting it all back together. Then screw the PVC and metal insert back in (with the correct length of course). This area of the boat is not through bolted, its just screwed in. This same issue happened on my Sundeck in one of the back corners. If you don't feel comfortable you can always get your dealer or local service center to do it. Its no more than a 2 hour job. Make sure you let the 5200 cure out before running the boat on the water.
 
How was the boat hauled, by forklift or travel lift? That area is about where the slings would be if a travel lift was used. Could have been damaged in handling or somebody could have damaged it after it was blocked. I would shy away from the DIY fix until the dealer passes judgment on the extent/cause of the damage.
 
I would also recommend dealer inspection.
 
http://www.thevirtualboatyard.com/2011/09/sealing-the-hulldeck-joint.html#more

In this brief article is a good diagram representing the shoe box design Frank described so you understand how the parts fit together. Sometimes the variances in the top and bottom of the shoe box are enough to allow the seal to not be great to start with; but, as I understand it these fitment issues usually occur at the stern and not abeam where yours is located.

John
 
Just to be safe, I called the Sea Ray dealership who is sending a guy out to check on it. I have a feeling this issue came from the travel lift that they used to pull the boat. Depending on what the dealership guy says on the condition, if it looks like it was due to the marina hauling it out, is there any way to prove that and get them to pay for the damages? Or is that a lost caused?
 
First you would have to prove it which would be hard! Most of the cost associated with travel lifts is liability insurance so you should be able to claim on that.
 
If the boat is on stands and blocks I would recommend taking as many pictures of that as you can. Poor blocking can cause hull distortion. If that was the cause pictures may be your only proof in a couple of weeks.

Henry
 
Our marina would haul it with a travel lift as well if the boat doesn't have its own trailer. Not every marina has a forklift.
 
Open boats generally do not have interior bulkheads and are not stressed for lifting in slings. The boat will usually have sling marks on the gunnel, if it is. That isn't to say that it isn't done all the time. I wouldn't do it, but all the marinas down here have ramps, and forklifts.
 
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