Gel Cracks Near Platform Bracket
Printed From: CorrectCraftFan.com
Category: Repairs and Maintenance
Forum Name: Boat Maintenance
Forum Discription: Discuss maintenance of your Correct Craft
URL: http://www.CorrectCraftFan.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=23733
Printed Date: November-19-2024 at 1:33pm
Topic: Gel Cracks Near Platform Bracket
Posted By: Infinite5ths
Subject: Gel Cracks Near Platform Bracket
Date Posted: October-03-2011 at 11:37pm
I was putting the tie-down straps on the boat this afternoon and noticed these by the left platform bracket bottom left bolt. Maybe they are new; maybe I've just never noticed them.
Do they look like cause for concern? Is there any reason to believe that using tie-downs between the trailer and platform brackets could have caused this? ...time to go review old pics. ------------- -- Mike http://www.correctcraftfan.com/diaries/details.asp?ID=6002 - 1996 Ski Nautique 176 |
Replies:
Posted By: NAUTIQUEjunky
Date Posted: October-04-2011 at 12:36am
Not likely this is a high stress area depending on how much your buddys weigh  most off my boats had very small gel cracks like yours around the platform brackets, they are only in the gel more than likely. Although i have never used rear tie downs for any of my boats I'll leave those to IO & bassboat guys  ------------- 1977 MasterCraft Stars&Stripes 1994 Ski Nautique 2000 Super Air Nautique 1986 Ski Nautique 2001 1999 Sport Nautique gt40 current |
Posted By: Infinite5ths
Date Posted: October-04-2011 at 2:59am
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Thanks for that. Perhaps they were already there. Should I seal them to prevent water damage?
It may be my imagination...but this 176 on its single-axle trailer feels a little more secure on the road with the rear tie-downs. ------------- -- Mike http://www.correctcraftfan.com/diaries/details.asp?ID=6002 - 1996 Ski Nautique 176 |
Posted By: OverMyHead
Date Posted: October-04-2011 at 3:29am
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I Like the thought of having rear tie downs as a backup to the front tie. ------------- For thousands of years men have felt the irresistible urge to go to sea, and many of them died. Things got better after they invented boats. 1987 Ski Nautique |
Posted By: eric lavine
Date Posted: October-04-2011 at 10:06am
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pretty commom around tapered lag bolts, the hole may not of been drilled large enough and the taper of the bolt will cause the cracks ------------- "the things you own will start to own you" |
Posted By: Infinite5ths
Date Posted: October-04-2011 at 1:00pm
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Thanks folks! Do I need to seal the cracks, or just leave as is? ------------- -- Mike http://www.correctcraftfan.com/diaries/details.asp?ID=6002 - 1996 Ski Nautique 176 |
Posted By: watrski
Date Posted: October-04-2011 at 1:03pm
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Do you tie down to the platform brackets?
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Posted By: Infinite5ths
Date Posted: October-04-2011 at 1:58pm
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Yes...was told that is OK.
The lift rings are not accessible on the 176 transom from beneath the platform; and there is nothing else on which to attach the top tie-down hook. We used a transom strap over the top of the boat for a short time; but it was starting to put very fine scratches in the deck gel (despite pads). So I replaced the transom strap with standard tie-downs.  ------------- -- Mike http://www.correctcraftfan.com/diaries/details.asp?ID=6002 - 1996 Ski Nautique 176 |
Posted By: watrski
Date Posted: October-04-2011 at 2:14pm
You received some poor advice. The amount of force exerted when the boat is bouncing around is much more than 200-400 pounds of people getting on and off of there with low dynamic loads. Don't put the straps on anymore and enjoy your boat. If you needed straps on it CC would have put them on. |
Infinite5ths wrote:Posted By: Infinite5ths
Date Posted: October-04-2011 at 2:33pm
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Not to start a war...but my info came from here:
http://www.correctcraftfan.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=13693&PID=159181&title=rear-tie-downs - Rear tie downs EDIT: Technically it wasn't ADVICE - just several long-time CCF members who have used the tie-downs as I do without issues. ------------- -- Mike http://www.correctcraftfan.com/diaries/details.asp?ID=6002 - 1996 Ski Nautique 176 |
Posted By: 8122pbrainard
Date Posted: October-04-2011 at 3:08pm
I would question who recieved the poor advice!!
There are plenty out there that tie down to the platform brackets without problems. In fact, by using the search feature here, you will find that it's been discussed at length many times. You may also want to look into your states regulations. Many require the aft end to be tied off to the trailer. ------------- /diaries/details.asp?ID=1622" rel="nofollow - 54 Atom /diaries/details.asp?ID=2179" rel="nofollow - 77 Tique 64 X55 Dunphy Keep it original, Pete < |
Posted By: Infinite5ths
Date Posted: October-04-2011 at 3:11pm
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I've also sent an email and placed a phone call to Larry Shea at CorrectCraft with pics and my questions. I'll let everybody know what the official word is on platform-bracket tie-downs (at least for my 1996 SN 176). ------------- -- Mike http://www.correctcraftfan.com/diaries/details.asp?ID=6002 - 1996 Ski Nautique 176 |
Posted By: 8122pbrainard
Date Posted: October-04-2011 at 3:12pm
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I'm going with Eric's idea. The cracking looks like the factory didn't remove enough gel from around the hole before they ran the lags home. ------------- /diaries/details.asp?ID=1622" rel="nofollow - 54 Atom /diaries/details.asp?ID=2179" rel="nofollow - 77 Tique 64 X55 Dunphy Keep it original, Pete < |
Posted By: Infinite5ths
Date Posted: October-04-2011 at 3:16pm
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...which is fine - no complaints. I just want to make sure that my tie-down system isn't causing damage. If so, I'll change it. Otherwise, I merely need to know if these gel cracks must be sealed/fixed.
Thanks to all for the input! ------------- -- Mike http://www.correctcraftfan.com/diaries/details.asp?ID=6002 - 1996 Ski Nautique 176 |
Posted By: 8122pbrainard
Date Posted: October-04-2011 at 3:18pm
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Mike,
I'd just leave them. They will not cause any harm. We've got boat hulls all over with gel cracking!! ------------- /diaries/details.asp?ID=1622" rel="nofollow - 54 Atom /diaries/details.asp?ID=2179" rel="nofollow - 77 Tique 64 X55 Dunphy Keep it original, Pete < |
Posted By: Hollywood
Date Posted: October-04-2011 at 3:22pm
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They don't need to be fixed, purely cosmetic.
Where'd you get that rudder? ------------- |
Posted By: Infinite5ths
Date Posted: October-04-2011 at 3:25pm
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The rudder came with the boat.
No seriously - I think it's the stock rudder for this 176. I'm heading to the lake...so replies may be delayed a few hours. Thanks for the input folks! ------------- -- Mike http://www.correctcraftfan.com/diaries/details.asp?ID=6002 - 1996 Ski Nautique 176 |
Posted By: watrski
Date Posted: October-04-2011 at 3:35pm
Not the stock rudder. |
Posted By: TRBenj
Date Posted: October-04-2011 at 3:37pm
I dont believe that to be the case. The 176's came from the factory with hokey looking hand made stainless rudders. The idea was that these thing detuned the turning and tracking of the boat so that it didnt outperform its 19'6" big brother. That rudder looks sort of similar to a Correct Craft piece, but my bet is that its not. Most likely an aftermarket replacement. ------------- |
Posted By: Infinite5ths
Date Posted: October-04-2011 at 3:41pm
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Then I couldn't tell you. The boat had 44hrs when we bought it a little over 2 months ago. An owner who put 44hrs on the boat in 15 yrs doesn't seem like the type to put on an aftermarket rudder...but what do I know. ------------- -- Mike http://www.correctcraftfan.com/diaries/details.asp?ID=6002 - 1996 Ski Nautique 176 |
Posted By: Infinite5ths
Date Posted: October-05-2011 at 12:21am
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Answer from Larry:
---------------------------------------------------------- Hi Mike, Sorry for the delay in getting back to you but I wanted to run by some engineers too. We don’t see anything wrong with your set up, as long as you don’t overdo it when tightening the straps, which may not be possible. The bracket is lag bolted and through bolted so it is there to stay. In our opinion the cracks do not look new. Larry ---------------------------------------------------------- ------------- -- Mike http://www.correctcraftfan.com/diaries/details.asp?ID=6002 - 1996 Ski Nautique 176 |