Hull cracks. 1994 Spectrum Sport 16.

randys

Seaman Apprentice
Joined
Jun 6, 2008
Messages
36
I have a Spectrum 1994 16? Sport model. (Bow rider, 40HP Force, 12 gal below-deck fuel tank, carpeted, twin wood consoles, canvas/clear plastic top and sides, Escort trailer.) Deck is soft in spots, and the hull leaks. Leaks are bad enough that boat would sink if left in water unattended overnight. For simple fishing purposes, the single 500gph sump pump can keep up with it.

Inspecting the outside of lower hull, I found several hairline cracks that run along side some 3? to 4? long welds that attach aluminum hull material to stringers. (I can see slight dimpling of the inside hull material from the factory original welds.) The cracks all run lengthwise to the boat. I assume they are stress cracks, with the welds being stronger than the immediately adjacent aluminum. I tried some short-term external-hull fixes using 3M 5200 sealer/adhesive, and aluminum strips. The strips held, but the leaks did not stop, again assuming that there may be cracks I could not see under trailer bunks, or even worse, the keel.

Are there other Spectrum owners that have noticed hull cracks? If so, how severe, and how did you deal with it?

I plan to replace the carpet, deck and water logged floatation foam, and seal the hull somehow. I don?t want to throw good money after bad, so I start in this forum to see if someone has experience with a Spectrum cracking issue. I?ll take any repair/procedure related questions elsewhere.

Thanks!
 

Steelhd

Seaman Apprentice
Joined
Aug 4, 2009
Messages
34
Re: Hull cracks. 1994 Spectrum Sport 16.

Have you considered having someone weld them up for you? Old dirty aluminum can be a pain to repair but as far as I know that is the only real fix. Had two fixed on mine where the transom meets the hull and it cost me a bottle of decent whiskey. If a crack really opens up while on the water it can easily overpower the pump.
 

Bob_VT

Moderator & Unofficial iBoats Historian
Staff member
Joined
May 19, 2001
Messages
26,019
Re: Hull cracks. 1994 Spectrum Sport 16.

Oh this post is an absolute candidate to move to the restoration section...... I will not move it yet but just ask when you want it to go. Here is a link to a few aluminum boat restorations and we have done MANY MANY fixed allot of leaks too!! Gluvit will become a new word in your vocabulary ;) Take a look at this http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=385090

If you have that much to do.... I would do it right and get it welded AND do the restoration. Since it leaks your flotation foam is probably wet and that will slow down the boat and have an effect on performance costing you more fuel!!:eek:
 
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