harryb1
New member
I took ownership of my new (old boat) at the weekend, an Elizabethan 30. After a couple of days work and generally getting her ready for her lift in scheduled for today I noticed a largish vertical crack had appeared running 8" from below the waterline to just above the boot top, exactly on the forward bulkhead.
The boat is newly painted, and was spotless. I had spent quite a time looking her over, when having a final viewing a week before- I can definitely say there was no crack.
There are no impact/contact marks of any kind near the crack (or anywhere)
On investigating the other side, there is a faint but otherwise identical version of the crack. And also some faint stress looking crazing in the paint just below the toe rail.
It seems clear that the boat has flexed around the bulkhead.
But I can't quite work out why.
My theory has something to do with the fact she is laid up on Yacht Legs. (not something I would choose to do)
She has no support on the bulkheads other than the keel. Monday night I stayed on the boat, and it was fairly windy- she wobbled considerably in the gusts.
But she has sat here for many months I'm told (and many months since she was painted/anti-fouled) through worse weather.
Could the combination of my being aboard, the wind and the fact that the legs support the boat amidships cause the hull to flex enough around the bulkhead to crack it?
Other than this I am at a loss as how to explain it, and why the problems has arisen two days after completing on the deal.
I would rather it was a clear impact, at least it would be a one off problem.
Any experience on whether using legs causes these sort of stress crack, or issues of Elizabethan 30's suffering from stress cracks around the bulkhead would be welcome.
The boat is newly painted, and was spotless. I had spent quite a time looking her over, when having a final viewing a week before- I can definitely say there was no crack.
There are no impact/contact marks of any kind near the crack (or anywhere)
On investigating the other side, there is a faint but otherwise identical version of the crack. And also some faint stress looking crazing in the paint just below the toe rail.
It seems clear that the boat has flexed around the bulkhead.
But I can't quite work out why.
My theory has something to do with the fact she is laid up on Yacht Legs. (not something I would choose to do)
She has no support on the bulkheads other than the keel. Monday night I stayed on the boat, and it was fairly windy- she wobbled considerably in the gusts.
But she has sat here for many months I'm told (and many months since she was painted/anti-fouled) through worse weather.
Could the combination of my being aboard, the wind and the fact that the legs support the boat amidships cause the hull to flex enough around the bulkhead to crack it?
Other than this I am at a loss as how to explain it, and why the problems has arisen two days after completing on the deal.
I would rather it was a clear impact, at least it would be a one off problem.
Any experience on whether using legs causes these sort of stress crack, or issues of Elizabethan 30's suffering from stress cracks around the bulkhead would be welcome.