Checking for damage

[SkaterRace]

Over the weekend I took out my Glastron GT 185 (bowrider) and the waves were less than pleasant ever at slow speeds. I tried to keep up with the other boats of similar size and type but could not do the 35 mph they were, I settled in at 23-25 after doing 35 and taking a hell of a beating for 5 minutes.

Near the end two large racing boats flew past me on both sides and their wake was pretty bad, I took that head on and boy did that scare me. I figured it would not be too bad but lesson learned the hard way.

My question boils down to, if I went out and took a good beating, what should I be looking for in regards to damage? Minus my skeg...

 

[AZQCBoater]

If its not taking on water anywhere I wouldn't worry about it much. Check the entire hull for stress cracks.

 

[southkogs]

I would agree - we wind up going flying from time to time too.

Look for water coming in the hull up around the rub rail (where the top cap meets the hull), look for stress crack around the hull, and maybe look for any leaking water where the stern drive mounts.

 

[SkaterRace]

I would agree - we wind up going flying from time to time too.

Look for water coming in the hull up around the rub rail (where the top cap meets the hull), look for stress crack around the hull, and maybe look for any leaking water where the stern drive mounts.

Boat looks perfectly fine the only thing I noticed was my phone/gps mount moved. The outdrive was my main worry, not sure how to check it -- still got to learn the I/O world

 

[H20Rat]

Unless you broke bones, your boat is probably fine. It takes A LOT to break one, and when you do, you know it. You usually are swimming.

(Owned a couple tri-hulls in my life, they will show you how strong boats are)

 

[Scott Danforth]

I have stuffed a boat into an on-coming waves more than once and other than damaged phones and cameras and spilled beer.... the boat was fine.

as others stated, unless you broke bones smacking the windscreen your boats is most likely fine.

 

[Old Ironmaker]

The Bassassin is aluminum. I always check for water in the bilge after every trip good or bad. Not an I/O guy either but I would think if you had skeg problems, which is very easy to check, I'm sure the boat would track off centre and or get a noticible vibration if bent.

 

[dingbat]

A boat will take more of a beating than you. If you live to tell the tale, most boats will be fine