I need your opinion - The Hull Truth

rem7400 · 02-11-2003, 04:33 PM

This is in regards to the 6" access/inspection plates located in the splashwell and on the floor over the gas tank. I'm currently in negotiations with the factory to swap out my 2002 hull with a 2003 hull due to a problem with the liner. Negotiations are going well and they are pretty good to work with but there are differences betweeen the 2002 and 2003 hull regards to hardware and cosmetics. They have met all of my requests including a few high dollar freebies.
There is only one sticking point left.
My 2002 hull had the type of plates that had a trim ring and the plate had a latch that you lifted and gave a 1/4 turn. The replacement hull has the type of plate that you snap in and pry out, it does not have a trim ring and it can be easily removed with your fingers. My thoughts on the snap in plate is that it is a ugly piece of crap that cheapens an otherwise fine boat and more importantly is a safety hazard.My concern is that if the boat were to take a large volume of water over the bow or thru the splashwell that the snap in plates could be knocked loose thereby allowing a lot of water into the bilge. What are your thoughts on this snap in plate. Could this happen? Is it worth being a pain in the ass or should I get the boat back and swap them out with the better plates myself?

J.B. Cornwell · 02-11-2003, 04:45 PM

My opinion is that you need to tell us what boat you are talking about.

I don't visualize the plates with no trim ring, but they sound like a typically Brunswick "design improvement" (translate: profit improvement).

Red sky at night. . .
JB

2ndCurse · 02-11-2003, 05:20 PM

Insist on the old style, or replace them yourself. If you take on enough water they will pop off. This happened on a friends 20 footer and he almost went down. He put latches on that night, it looks like hell but will keep it from happening again.
Tom

LI Sound Grunt · 02-11-2003, 05:31 PM

agree with both the above

wow a hull swap!!! Isn't that basically a new boat??? At least a new boat would sound cheaper for the factpry. Can you give us any details on the boat and the job?

Good Luck!!!!

antiquerobalo · 02-11-2003, 06:34 PM

Are the new ones the same size as the old ones? Swap them from the old to new hull if so.

Chessie · 02-11-2003, 07:04 PM

I certainly wouldn't let this be a sticking point. There are not many very good (water tight, durable) covers out there. You would probably do best to take whatever they give you and swap them for something with which you feel comfortable.

Best of luck to you.

-c

-c

rem7400 · 02-11-2003, 07:09 PM

JB, I anticipate in the end I will be posting a follow up regards to the hull swap and all the details along with my final thoughts when the deal is complete.I don't particularily want to name them at this time, I'd hate to screw up the negotiations.The boat itself is a 21' bayboat. This is a small item dollar wise so I will not let it kill the deal that I have currently worked with them. I was basically wanting to get some input like Thong gave verifying my concerns about the plates popping off. The company in question has been described on THT as a good, mid tier company. I can't for the life of me figure out why they went to this style though. A couple of dollars saved with the cheaper plates will not make up for the lost sales when a knowledgeable customer(s) take a look at those plates and walks away.
I may make my point with them by telling them to cut the hole and leave the plates off, I'd rather buy my own plates($15 each) of better qaulity and install them myself than accept my new hull with those pop out plates.

Grunt, you are correct my friend! A hull swap is cheaper than replacing the liner and having to re rig everything. I am appreciative of this fact, along with the fact that the 2003 hull comes standard with hydraulic steering. My 2002 hull did not have hydra. steering. Sounds like a sweetheart deal for sure but there was a fair amount of aggravation on my part to get to this point. When it's all said and done I've got a pretty good deal on the table. I just don't like those crappy inspection plates.

Thanks for the input

FlyNut · 02-11-2003, 07:14 PM

I'd tell them you like the deal but ask them to put in the plates of your choice if you buy them!

Lead_Head · 02-11-2003, 07:51 PM

If the problems were that bad, why didn't they relace the whole boat, transfer your main pusher controls and batteries then give you an allowance to replace the electronic wiring or have your original dealer do that part?

I guess they split the liner from the hull? That's MAJOR surgury on a 2002 boat!!!

Do you feel comfortable owning such a major rework?

Considering the headache you going through, I don't think I could worry too much about inspection covers.

Sorry you have had the troubles, and hope it works out OK in the end. I hope whomever is doing the work gives you a warranty for their workmanship!

Mumblerone · 02-12-2003, 05:22 AM

The snap in plates I had, on my old 18' Whaler Outrage, had an 'O' ring in them. They snapped in just fine. The problem is that the were a bear to get out! You'ld have to pry them out with a large screw driver (hopefully something different and softer) which would scratch the cover and the trim ring. Then you'd want/have to clean the 'O' ring (sand magnet) and reinstall. Never leaked or came out though. The new boat has the latch that you give a quarter turn to...much better. Having said that, this would not be a 'deal' breaker. Ask them why? They could give you a choice.

Good Luck.

"Never enough time to do it right; ALWAYS enough time to do it over." Boston Whaler, "MUMBLER", 24' Outrage (1996), twin 175 HP Evinrude Ocean Pros.

Snowball, the cat...

Knot-A-Clue · 02-12-2003, 06:05 AM

Rem7400

Curious, what kind of boat do you have? Or just tell us where it was made. I had the same thing happen last year and your location indicates it could be the same boat.

ovenman · 02-12-2003, 07:40 AM

I take a slightly different view than some on deck plates. The hole for my deck plates are about nine inches in diameter.[two of them].Two nine inch holes can let in enough water to completely fill most bilge areas in a matter of minutes. Pop out? Twist out? Plastic?

Do this test. Get your stoutest buddy to jump on your plastic deck plates heel first. If they don't cave in, they are prolly all right. I bet they won't pass the test though.

I had two plates made for mine out of solid ten gauge stainless. Took the old ones and had proper holes punched. The metal fabricator said an elephant could jump on those and they wouldn't cave in. I made gasket out of silacone to leak proof.

Nothing big going to fall on your deck plates? I assume you all have heard of Murphy's Law?

I can post pic if anyone wants to look.

old fishermen never die, they just smell that way

jobowker · 02-12-2003, 09:06 AM

I have one locking plate like you mentioned and the others are all of the snap in variety. My previous boat [a Parker] was also the snap in kind.
It's been my experience that they snap in fairly easily, and like Mubler they were a bear to get out. I couldn't imagine one easily popping out if properly installed.
I stuffed the bow pretty good on that Parker once [not on purpose - conditions got way too rough for that size boat], and the bow light was about 6" under water. As you can imagine, when the bow came back, I had quite a bit of water in the boat for what felt like a really long time, and none of the inspection plates budged.