So How Often Does It Happen ??? Hull Failure Due to Rot ???

[tpenfield]

Most of us know why we take a keen interest in detecting and correcting structural issues in our boats, as their is a fair amount of discussion on this forum about the possibilities of a weakened hull breaking apart.

I wonder how often it actually happens; that a boat breaks apart due to structural deterioration that went unaddressed? I recall their was a local news story not too long ago about a boat in Boston Harbor that apparently broke apart and sank.

However, I don't see hardly any pictures on the Internet of boats that suffered a hull failure, etc. So, I am wondering how often it really happens, and are people just lucky?

 

[Bondo]

Re: So How Often Does It Happen ??? Hull Failure Due to Rot ???

Ayuh,... I'd think generally, with I/Os, the coupler fails, 'bout the time the transom starts leakin' profusely...

With outboards, it's 'bout the time the motor falls off the back of the boat,... Hopefully, while on the wagon...

 

[halfmoa]

Re: So How Often Does It Happen ??? Hull Failure Due to Rot ???

Great question....not that I can contribute.....but I'd like to know how often a motor rips off a rotten transom and lands in the drink.

 

[jigngrub]

Re: So How Often Does It Happen ??? Hull Failure Due to Rot ???

I've seen 2 or 3 threads here in the resto forum where the outboard has bashed in the rotten transom and broke through in the relatively short time I've been here.

As far as boats breaking up and sinking, I guess we don't get too many of those here because they're beyond repair.

... although, there is an accident looking for a place to happen in R.I. that I've been expecting to hear about...

 

[JDA1975]

Re: So How Often Does It Happen ??? Hull Failure Due to Rot ???

I saw a video of a hull that cracked bow to stern along the keel line banging on a wave due to excessive flex from structural failure..the question I ask is just how many people on the lake are taking a risk and do not even know they are!

 

[Grandad]

Re: So How Often Does It Happen ??? Hull Failure Due to Rot ???

I'm with Bondo. I think that the hull or transom fails first with a monstrous leak before the structure actually breaks up. I suppose sinking is euthanasia for boats before they actually break up structurally.

 

[Bondo]

Re: So How Often Does It Happen ??? Hull Failure Due to Rot ???

... although, there is an accident looking for a place to happen in R.I. that I've been expecting to hear about...

Ayuh,.... :facepalm:

 

[Chip Chester]

Re: So How Often Does It Happen ??? Hull Failure Due to Rot ???

The pictures you are looking for are on the scuba diving forums.

Chip

 

[oops!]

Re: So How Often Does It Happen ??? Hull Failure Due to Rot ???

how bout a link chip?

 

[oops!]

Re: So How Often Does It Happen ??? Hull Failure Due to Rot ???

Ayuh,... I'd think generally, with I/Os, the coupler fails, 'bout the time the transom starts leakin' profusely...

With outboards, it's 'bout the time the motor falls off the back of the boat,... Hopefully, while on the wagon...

this is bang on....

and the truth is........it is very very rare.

for the reasons listed above.....

rotten stringers are usually at the stern, around the mounts in I/O.s that means the coupler fails first.....even with a rot transom.

out boards....fail on the trailer......usually large cracks develop first.

these two symptoms, are usually caught by the mechanic before the boat is re floated.

really heavy use, and wave jumping has caused glass to fail once in a while......but per capita, the the scenario of the glass catastrophically failing is very rare.

glass is actually very very strong. it flexes.....but rarely breaks

 

[oops!]

Re: So How Often Does It Happen ??? Hull Failure Due to Rot ???

btw.....even our friend in RI (due to the small size of the craft) will need a real wave whack to break the crimson catastrophe

 

[Woodonglass]

Re: So How Often Does It Happen ??? Hull Failure Due to Rot ???

Well heck, if that's the case then I'm gunna build me a Rhode Island Special and go BOATIN!!!!!!

 

[sasto]

Re: So How Often Does It Happen ??? Hull Failure Due to Rot ???

A friend has an '80's Grady White......rotten to the core. I mean rotten! Not a good piece of wood on her. 2 outboards hanging off the transom. He takes the thing offshore in some big stuff. Catches fish. Makes it home everytime.

 

[jigngrub]

Re: So How Often Does It Happen ??? Hull Failure Due to Rot ???

A friend has an '80's Grady White......rotten to the core. I mean rotten! Not a good piece of wood on her. 2 outboards hanging off the transom. He takes the thing offshore in some big stuff. Catches fish. Makes it home everytime.

So restorations are just a waste of time and money???

 

[tpenfield]

Re: So How Often Does It Happen ??? Hull Failure Due to Rot ???

Well heck, if that's the case then I'm gunna build be a Rhode Island Special and go BOATIN!!!!!!

I see that our young former friend from Rhode Island is still taking a beating . . .

Maybe I'll have to watch the R.I. news channels for any sinkings out in Narragansett Bay

 

[Fisherball]

Re: So How Often Does It Happen ??? Hull Failure Due to Rot ???

How often do boats like this sink?

Usually only once!

 

[Yacht Dr.]

Re: So How Often Does It Happen ??? Hull Failure Due to Rot ???

Most of us know why we take a keen interest in detecting and correcting structural issues in our boats, as their is a fair amount of discussion on this forum about the possibilities of a weakened hull breaking apart.

Its not really an issue of having a hull going catastrophic failure..its more of the possibility of something getting worse or possibility of sinking due to some failure ( as Bondo has said above ).

The forum has tons of threads like " um..lookie at this..what should I do " and its very rotten out. We have to reply suggesting that it has to be repaired or replaced. If we dont..on the outside chance that something goes terribly wrong.. then its on our heads if we suggest anything other then " dont take a chance..fix it now before it goes back into the water ". Its not your boats going to explode ..

I wonder how often it actually happens; that a boat breaks apart due to structural deterioration that went unaddressed? I recall their was a local news story not too long ago about a boat in Boston Harbor that apparently broke apart and sank.

Normally its a bad repair and not from a factory build that something like that happens. I remember years ago a salvage Co. brought a pachanga to the shop for an estimate. A 4x10 section of the bottom hull ripped off underway and basically sunk at the marina. It could have been a bad bad situation if the owner was not paying attention.

However, I don't see hardly any pictures on the Internet of boats that suffered a hull failure, etc. So, I am wondering how often it really happens, and are people just lucky?

Lucky.. Yup. I like to view it as "are people rolling the dice"

When you do a resto..its very important to do it Right .. or as close to right/proper as possible. Or you could have a Catastrophic Failure.

YD.

 

[mark1961]

Re: So How Often Does It Happen ??? Hull Failure Due to Rot ???

I guess this transom failure was due (in part) to rot......

Wasnt that glass supposed to flex though?

 

[Yacht Dr.]

Re: So How Often Does It Happen ??? Hull Failure Due to Rot ???

I guess this transom failure was due (in part) to rot......

Yea weak transom.. oh and that high speed 40 footer that clipped it probably didnt help .

YD.

 

[starcrafter65]

Re: So How Often Does It Happen ??? Hull Failure Due to Rot ???

Alot less if you get a Aluminum Boat