poorly maintained

[chambers1517]

I just purchased a 2005 Caravelle 207 with a 5.0 mpi. The boat has 123 hours and is in pretty good condition except it isn't real clean. I think I can clean it but the only issue I can't understand is the ski locker lid. It wont close. The lid looks slightly too large. I loosened the hinges and it still won't fit correctly. If I stand on it it will close very tightly. How can the lid be too tight. It looks ok on the ends but the sides are very tight. Any Ideas? One other thing is the carpet in all the compartments is damp. How do you get all thes nooks and crannies clean and dry? THANKS>

 

[Lion hunter]

Re: poorly maintained

Either the deck or the lid has swelled. As far as keeping thngs clean and dry, it's almost impossible with carpet. Carpet gets wet, soaks into the wood and takes a long time to dry. If you search through the resto forum you'll see alot of guys refusing to put carpet back after they have seen the damage it does. Alot of deck are not glassed from the factory as well.

 

[chambers1517]

Re: poorly maintained

I have taken everything out and cleaned, dried, shampooed etc. The boat looks way better and is in really good condition now. I looked everywhere and as far as I can tell there is no wood in the boat. The ski hatch cover closes very tight. I have to stand on it to get it shut. It is composite and hits on the latch side, it is also tight on the hindge side. Only thing I can guess is maybe it had a bow and has flattened out. Thinking about turning it upside down and supporting the edges on 2x4's, then adding weight to the center and trying to rebow it. What do you guys think?

 

[jkust]

Re: poorly maintained

Caravelle does not use wood in the construction of their boats so no worries there. My boat has carpet lining only under the bow-cushion storage on the two sides. In the unlikely event it gets wet, I just flip the cushions up on their hinges and let it dry in the garage. After every ride just out of caution I open all hatches including the ancher locker hatch so the rope and chain can dry and engine hatch so there is no moisture sitting trapped while in the garage. I agree carpet doesn't belong anywhere on a bowrider especially a nicer boat like yours. Funny how they put a nice rubber mat in the ski storage but carpet in other spots where tha mat material would be superior. Regarding the locker lid...are you saying that one end of the locker flairs out a bit preventing closure? Can you take a picture and post it here? If your lid is like mine it is a solid piece of fiberglass on a gas strut. Can't imagine how fiberglass can become misshapen.

 

[chambers1517]

Re: poorly maintained

Your right, the carpet is only in certain areas. I removed the shelf in the glovebox and the compartment had about 5 gal of water trapped under the bottom with no where to go. The carpet beside the engine and in the sides was soaked. I have everything open in the garage like you and it has dried up. I only have snap in carpet on the floor. My ski locker lid is fiberglass with a strut like yours. It just rubs on the latch side like it is slightly too large. I tried to loosen the hinges and slide it back but it is tight on that side too. Looking at the cover it looks good but it is just slightly too big. Ill try to take pictures tonight.

 

[chambers1517]

Re: poorly maintained

Here is a picture that shows how tight the hatch fits. I can't believe it came this way but how could if have grown?

 

[mphy98]

Re: poorly maintained

Possibly take a belt sander to it and shave off a little? Sound to me like an easy fix.

 

[204 Escape]

Re: poorly maintained

?? Picture what picture ??

 

[chambers1517]

Re: poorly maintained

Here is the picture.

 

[jkust]

Re: poorly maintained

I can't see how fiberglass could ever be maluable enough to change shape like that and even moreso with such a newly constructed, modern boat. I am going to venture a guess that that is not the factory hatch but a poor fitting replacement but that brings up a bunch of other questions. Does the diamond pattern under the carpet match the rest of the floor diamond? I bet retail on that hatch is over the top expensive and they made due with a poor fitting replacement. From the sound of it you are fortunate to have bought a no wood boat. I initially laughed at the sander idea but it seems based on the picture and explanation you will need to remove some of the material to have practical use of the hatch or look for a new one.

 

[chambers1517]

Re: poorly maintained

Thanks for the reply, I have thought the same thing. The pattern looks the same and looking at the hatch it doesn't look warped so my only conclusion is it's a replacement.