What You Don't Want to See...

D

DukesFin

New Member
Jul 30, 2009
22
Lake Lanier, Georgia
Boat Info
'05 SeaRay 340 DA Sundancer
Engines
8.1Horizons with V-Drives
So, the '05 340DA was run onto some rocks by the owner 2 years ago. I told him to pull it right then and there, but he didn't. It has been in the water like this for 2 years now! I had it pulled today and snapped some pics of the damage:

The "over all" view:

DSCF1057.jpg


A couple of close ups of the two worst parts:

The keel:
DSCF1055.jpg


and a chine:
DSCF1052.jpg


It's going to dry out for quite a while, then the grinding will begin!

Here's to deep pockets! :smt013
 
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I know! He's just not "boat savvy", I guess. He bought the boat and has been on it maybe 2 times in the past year. Good for me, bad for him...

I asked him a few months ago if he was going to sell it and his reply: "Oh, the boat! I haven't seen that thing in over a year! I need to give you the keys. You and your wife use it, enjoy it and keep it running for me." NO PROBLEM!!! :smt038

"Did you ever have it pulled?"

"No"

The first thing I did was dive it. I'm not laying my credit card up for the repairs, and it's taken three months of me hounding to get it out of the water!

At least it's on the way to being "right" again though!
 
How long will it take for the hull to dry out and what process are you using to dry it out? This sounds like an interesting project especially since you don't have to use your own funds to restore!
 
Only time will tell how long the drying out process will take. It's indoors and will be "air" drying (no blowers or additional heat). We're in Georgia so I'm guessing anywhere from 5 days to a week.

We'll need moisture checks on the glass as it's ground back for repair as well as moisture checks in the stringer system to make sure it's okay before it gets covered up.

The repair process is quite simple:

Dry it out
Grind it out back to good/dry/clean glass
New alternating layers of mat and weave
Fairing
Gel Coat
Bottom Paint

The worst part will be seeing how far laterally it will have to be ground out.

I'll be back there on Saturday to check on the progress (if there has been any by then)!
 
5 day to a week to dry out a hull that has been soaking with a large open breech in it's skin for two years? Seems like it might take more like several months to get the moisture readings right.
 
sfergson727 said:
I know when my dealership hauls a boat, the first thing they do is pressure wash the bottom, maybe they cleaned it prior to the pictures?
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Well, I knew what it looked like under water since I dove it with a mask and looking at the water line while it was in it's slip, it DID have algae growing on it, so they must have pressure washed it right when they pulled it out.

The bare glass isn't NEARLY as green as it was when I dove it, that's for sure!
 
rabyers1 said:
5 day to a week to dry out a hull that has been soaking with a large open breech in it's skin for two years? Seems like it might take more like several months to get the moisture readings right.
Click to expand...


Yeah, that is what I was thinking...5 days more like 5 months...ok not that much but 5 days ?
 
trit21 said:
Yeah, that is what I was thinking...5 days more like 5 months...ok not that much but 5 days ?
Click to expand...


Well, there may be some wishful thinking, can't there? :lol:

Who knows. It all depends on the weather and the unseen delamination. Only time will tell!

I'll keep this thread updated with progress reports. I'll be there on Saturday checking it out again. I know it won't be dry by then, but they can start grinding it out and that alone will really speed up the drying process for sure. Actually, if you think about it, it has to be ground down to good glass and the "good glass" would be glass that isn't damaged or in other words, has no water intrusion!

Oh, this is going to be a "process" to watch for sure!!!
 
That's my biggest fear. There will be a moisture meter involved in the grinding process to check for that. The fact that the hull is/was thick enough that no water found it's way into the boat/bilge is promising, but if you have ever had any experience with below the waterline fiberglass damage, you know how it can really surprise you at times!

The stringers specifically will be checked for moisture though. Cross you fingers on that one!

Just repairing the skin/hull will be pretty simple, but if there is stringer or any other skeletal damage, the repair gets much more involved!!!
 
DukesFin said:
So, the '05 340DA was run onto some rocks by the owner 2 years ago. I told him to pull it right then and there, but he didn't. It has been in the water like this for 2 years now!
Click to expand...

it's a Sea Ray, no worries:grin:

seriously, you knew this and still bought the boat?:huh:
 
ultratiger89 said:
it's a Sea Ray, no worries:grin:

seriously, you knew this and still bought the boat?:huh:
Click to expand...

Here's the really cool part... It's still HIS BOAT! That sounds cold, but it's true.

He can't use it much at all, but he likes it. He's given the keys to my wife and I to enjoy and use. More importantly, to KEEP IT RUNNING!

He's been on the boat 2 times in the past year. TWICE IN ONE YEAR! Boats don't like that and neither do the mechanical parts!
 
DukesFin said:
Here's the really cool part... It's still HIS BOAT! That sounds cold, but it's true.

He can't use it much at all, but he likes it. He's given the keys to my wife and I to enjoy and use. More importantly, to KEEP IT RUNNING!

He's been on the boat 2 times in the past year. TWICE IN ONE YEAR! Boats don't like that and neither do the mechanical parts!
Click to expand...
ah, gotcha, sweet deal then.:smt038
 
good luck with the repair! Would love to see pictures through out the repair. Very interesting to see!
 
That's not going to be an inexpensive repair. Like to hear what Rob thinks about it.
 
Boat abuse!!!! Don't let it happen to yours :smt009

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