Spider veins (cracks) coming from the tow clamps

D

dbenja51

Member
Joined
Oct 6, 2003
RO Number
12284
Messages
23
Need some advice. I have a 2003 Chap Cruiser. which I bought new in 2003. At the stern of the boat are two clamps or heavy rings used if you needed to tow another boat or inner tube. Coming from each clamp are spider veins, not very long , maybe several inches or less. We've never towed anybody or anything for that matter so i would suspect that Chap bolted them on too tight and over the years stress worked its way into the bolts/clams. Question? Would this be a project i could address on my own say purchasing color coded gel coat from Spectrum. Thanks for your help.
 
Aren't those rings where you attach your stern tiedown straps?? Or are these rings in addition to the
stern strap rings? Makes a difference on the repair 'cause you might have to do some reinforcement work
not just a cosmetic repair.

Pete
 
Bay2260
Not sure what you mean by a tie down strap. They are on each side of the boat at the stern. They look like half rings (metal)and would be used to tow a disabled boat or tow a innertube. The only thing I would guess for the reason for the spider cracks would be Chap probably tightened the bolts at the backer plate too tight. I can either wax around them real well to keep out water or try the Spectrum. Appear to be only in the gelcoat.
 
Tie down straps at the stern hold the boat to the trailer and it sounds like that's what those U-bolts are
intended for.
For little cracks like that, if your primary goal is to keep out water, something like "Capt. Trollys" will
do the job with minimal fuss. It's a very thin resin that literally wicks into small cracks and seals them
permanently. You can get it at Boatfix I'm sure.
Don't rub wax into the cracks as then it will be impossible to get anything to stick later.
After sealing the cracks with Capt. Trollys, maybe apply it twice, then you can do a little rubbing or waxing
if you want.

Pete
 
Thanks Bay2260 for your suggestion. I've heard of Capt. Trollys and will give it a try.
 
First, before YOU repair, id check with your dealer. and 03 should still have a hull warranty. if you havent towed by them its not your error, and if you used them for the intended purpose (they are trailer tie downs) that a factory issue. i dont know Chaps warranty, but i dont know of many boats that dont have at least a 5 yr hull warranty anymore
 
An inch or two means that the area is flexing. Those are not tow points for inner tubes, they are trailer tie downs. You can fix the cracks with gel cote, but beware that you need to match it perfectly or it will be even more noticeable. If you hire someone, don't go cheap as you need someone well skilled at color matching. But, don't fix it if you continue to use them as you have without some reinforcing. The cracks will just come back if the flexing is still there. Check on the inside of the transom what the backing looks like

bp
 
Sounds to me like Brett is correct. Those Eyelets aren't intended for towing tubes, skiers or disabled boats. They are for tie downs to the trailer. Mike, I'd be surprised if any hull warranty covers gel coat crazing. I always interpreted hull warranties to cover hull structural failures. Maybe if enough water seeps into the laminate from these gel coat cracks, you could be looking at a hull failure down the road. In looking at my warranty, gel coat is expressly excluded.
Greg
 
quote:
Originally posted by Gregory Saracco

Sounds to me like Brett is correct. Those Eyelets aren't intended for towing tubes, skiers or disabled boats. They are for tie downs to the trailer. Mike, I'd be surprised if any hull warranty covers gel coat crazing. I always interpreted hull warranties to cover hull structural failures. Maybe if enough water seeps into the laminate from these gel coat cracks, you could be looking at a hull failure down the road. In looking at my warranty, gel coat is expressly excluded.
Greg

Click to expand...

while correct, i have done work at dealers who can get the factory to cover this, as it is (structurally missing ______ ) which caused the cracking. that would be a defect. im not saying it'll work, but its worth a try
 
I think the real problem here is the title of the topic---"cracks coming from the tow clamps" They aren't designed for towing.
 
I've used such things for towing tubes before. Depending upon the backing used, they are often quite strong and easily handle a tube, but that doesn't mean they were designed for it and you have to know your limitations of the indivdual boat. They are designed for a load pulling down and parallel to a transom and not necessarily for a perpendicular force. Again, you have to investigate how the boat was built, or really overbuilt to determine if you could use them for purposes other than securing to a trailer.

I certainly would not tell the mfg that the "towing" hooks are cracking. :)

bp
 
debenja51, is this how yours is set up? Those tie down hooks sure are in a bad place (above the swim platform where the strap has to wrap around the side of the platform to get to the trailer)...should be below the swim platform in opinion. Just odd, that's all.
84884810_2.jpg
 
Thos spider cracks are more than likely just cracks in the gelcoat. I have a bunch of these at places where holes were drilled. If the holes aren't countersunk slightly, any sideways stress will cause these cracks.
 
I had a guy look it over yesterday who repais these type of things and indicated that it is in the gelcoat. Can easily be repaired for several hundred dollars. I think he mentioned $300.00+- but he was quick to say that it doesn't need to be repaired now, probably when i would sell the boat someday. They are trailor tie downs. My mistake. Obviously, I don't trailer the boat. I may try to fix it myself.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top