Hull reliability

[Chromegorilla]

I have a serious question I would like your thoughts on.....

If you were driving your boat (brand new, less than 20 hrs) at approximately 50 mph and during a gradule right hand turn, on flat water, your boat spun out. And the boat does not rollover, just spins out. What type of damage would you expect, if any, to the hull?

Thanks, CG

[antonfourie]

There should be no damamge to the hull in that situation unless there was a design / manufacturing fault

[Figgy]

Or you might have hit something and did not hear or feel it.

[SmithCraft64]

What damage occured anyway? Was this just a "what if" kind of scenerio?

[Chromegorilla]

Well the speed and situation can be verified by the marine patrol who was behind the boat when it happened. Also, there were no citations issued.... ie wreckless driving / bui or anything to that effect.

There was no collision, just the spinout. Boat did not roll either. Bother passengers ejected. There was no drive or gimbal failure just a gross failure (IMO) of the hull. I know people who have spun large performance boat on purpose during testing and not so much as a crack in the gel coat let alone a massive failure.

It was a 32' stepped hull performance boat with twin 496HO's. Water was flat.

I will post the pictures shortly, please be patient... Thanks, CG

[Chromegorilla]

There was major dmage to the port side of the boat with 2 large vertical tears in the glass. Also deck seperated from hull and tore at the fairing..... you will not believe the pictures....

[marshmat]

OK, for one thing, a 32' step-V with 496 motors, should be built to take pretty heavy stuff.
As to why it spun out. Stepped hulls are notoriously sensitive to trim, and something like this doesn't have very much boat touching the water at 50+. They also generally prefer a bit of chop instead of flat water. But that shouldn't cause a spin. It's hard to say just what could have.
As to the damage. I'd like to see the pictures, but there is no way in hell that a spin at 50 should cause ANY damage at all to a boat like that. Unless a large, rock- or tree-like object was involved, I would fully expect the boat to simply settle down and continue on. A few scratches of no more than a millimetre in depth might be found if there was small debris or flotsam in the water. But the deck separating? The hullside tearing apart? That reeks of shitty construction, IMHO.

[Adam Younger]

What make and type of boat was it?

[tom28571]

A last year issue of Professional Boatbuider had an extensive article about shoddy construction of many current boats. Building practices are being used that almost guarantee massive failures in any but mild usage. In many examples, there was almost nothng substantial under the skin. Sounds like your boat.

I'm not in favor of much litigation but this kind of crap needs attention. Get a reputable surveyer as an expert witness and sue.

[Chromegorilla]

Forunately it was not my boat. It was my best friends. Whom happens to be a very experianced boater. The spin is a surprise to the both of us. But yes...they do happen. but the result has us amazed.

My friend is making a decision here shortly on what actions he is taking. When he decides I'll post the pictures .

But I think Marshmat hit the nail on the head... and "offshore" boat shoudn't see this type of failure after a spin in calm water.....

it's not like he was running hard in rough water when it happened...

please be patient and you'll get the pics.

[Chromegorilla]

The scary thing is I currently own a 22' Donzi Classic. After my friend had bought this boat (June 06) I was very impressed with it and was considering the same boat only with 525's as my next boat......

I wouldn't dream of giving this company any $$ now. I think another thing that is surprising us is the builders answers/response as to wheather this damage is expected from a spin... you wouldn't believe it. This company suppossedly has some of the best CS in the industry too....

They also have told him that at one point where it failed they actually add an extra stinger in that location in their race boats......

When the time is right I'll fill you in with ALL the details of the aftermath....

CG

[marshmat]

Like Tom, I don't like litigation, but I agree that this deserves to see a courtroom. Selling something as an offshore boat, when in reality it can't even hold up to a calm-water spin, is pretty irresponsible. Your friend needs a good surveyor and a good lawyer. If the boat was insured, I think his insurance company would be glad to take on the case. They don't usually like paying out huge sums due to preventable things like shoddy construction.
I'm waiting for Eric Sponberg to chime in on this. I think he does a bit of boat-wreck forensics and would know a lot more than I do about this kind of thing.

[SmithCraft64]

Interesting to say the least. I too am looking forward to viewing some photos of this wreck. Please keep us abreast. I think that it is in everyone heres interest. There could and most likely will be very important information learned from this for the prevention of failures in the future. Thank you Chromegorilla for sharing this information with us. And for everyone elses input. SmithCraft64

[SamSam]

Originally Posted by Chromegorilla

Donzi
When the time is right I'll fill you in with ALL the details of the aftermath....
CG

What do you mean 'when the time is right' ? After years of litigation? After other people get hurt? Why is this a big secret, is it against the law to post pictures of broken boats? Sam

[Chromegorilla]

No..... next week we will know more about which direction this will head. The only reason I haven't shared the pictures yet is the boats owner.... whom is my best friend and fellow boater, has been trying to give the builder an opportunity to handle this correctly.. and in this effort hasn't really let the cat out of the bag.... i know on the performance boating sites I frequent, it's nothing but rabid dogs waiting to hear what kind of boat it was..... and the only thing that will result is bashing and discontent..... In the end that may be warrented, but like I said, in the interest of remaining on an amicable relationship with the builder for the time being......


Hey Sam.... I just moved from the Georgia coast up to SC because of work... where in GA are you located? I lived in St Mary's.


But yeah, this coming week if nothing comes from the dealer and litigation is choosen owner won't really mind everyone knowing the details...

I agree.... as boaters/builders it would definately benifit everyone if what actually failed and why could be figured out....

Thanks, CG