[Rhodes22-list] Will's inspection report

[Kroposki]

Will:

 

            Your inspection report gave us a great deal of information
and insight.  I have not gotten to read the highly recommended boat by
Don Casey about inspecting fiberglass boats.  You might check your local
library to see if they have a copy.  In addition, see if they have John
Roberts book, Fiber Glass Boats.  In particular, see Roberts' chapter on
surveying for quality.      

 
Chips and holes thru gel coat and be repaired.  With skill, the repair
will be difficult find.  This skill requires being an artist and a
technician.  This would be a good skill for a young man to learn.

 

            'Hull very dirty', so what else is new.  I have to wash my
boat several times a year.  It is amazing what a small pressure washer,
a couple of rags, some fiberglass cleaner and wax will do to the
appearance of a boat.

 

            'Fold down ladder left crack in stern' . 'will it happen
again?'  Of course, it will happen again unless properly repaired
including additional reinforcement to strengthen the load-bearing
surface.  The addition of strengthening reinforcement is done all the
time when an area demonstrates inability to handle use.  'Should the
hull be made strong enough so the hinges would not cause damage?'  The
original designer could not predict everything or every use.  Should the
person (manufacturer?) have anticipated the loads on the ladder to crack
the gel coat?  In today's' litigious society, plaintiff lawyers think
yes.  However, if we waited to study every use, nothing would ever get
done or product built.  The guy who put the ladder on the boat, probably
cannot afford a boat that has a ladder.  So how is he supposed to be
able to anticipate applied loads?  If you write Seaward a pointed letter
about this, they will be on notice before they put on the next ladder.
However, it is my opinion that the cracks can be repaired and sufficient
reinforcement can be added to support any loads.  Did you look behind
the mounting location?  Can a piece of marine plywood be installed
behind the inside bolts?

 

            'The former groves on the floor . now solid epoxy'.
Dremmel(sp) tools in the hands of an artist can do fantastic things.  

  

            Sounds like these problems are minor.  The price sounds
reasonable considering the original costs of the boat and that it is
only a couple of years old.  

 

                  Ed K