Exposed Seam on forward, starboard side ...

[Gone2long]

Ahoy threadmates,

I am looking at a 26x for sale in Asia. The boat is a 1998 model, but it looks OK except for a couple of details.

The first is that, if one pulls up all the cusions and looks at the interior hull, there seems to be a seam just forward of the main cabin area, on the starboard side, approximately at the waterline. The seam stretches at the waterline foward to the stem, and it appears visible because it is a lighter color than the fiberglass hull itself, as if light is shining through it from the exterior of the craft. It seems as if this seam, about one quarter inch wide, is less thick than the rest of the hull. I am wondering if this could be evidence of an actual slice in the side of the hull that was rather shoddily repaired.

Furthermore, there is no such seam at the same level or position on the port side, making things appear even a bit more strange.

Since I am not a maritime engineer and have never owned a MacGregor, I am wondering if anyone has ever seen something like this and if it is in some way integral to the boat's stucture or is indicative of an old repair.

Also, being built in 1998, the boat has a balsa core deck, and the forward cleats are a bit loose. Wondering if this is an indication of rot, or simply an indication of repeated stress on the cleats.

Any help, advice, or suggestions that anyone can offer would be greatly appreciated,

Best Regards,

G2L

[jbgibbs99]

Strangely enough I was messing around in my bilges in that area a couple of weeks ago and noticed the same seam, or thinner bit on the hull, with light coming through.

My 26X is a couple of years younger, but it didn’t look repaired and I figured it’s not let water in for the last 10 years so I wasn’t going to worry about it.

(I hope that other responses don’t start me worrying!)

Cheers,

Bruce

[Divecoz]

This topic has come up before and its not an issue and has TTBOMK never become one. If It was, we would be reading about it here hahaha
Believe me.. the boats at issue are in or around 10 years old if something was going to fail on any of them it woud have done so by now!!!!

[raycarlson]

the light shining through is just a spot where the amigo who was spraying the gelcoat did not get even coverage and the stripe is thin enough to let light glow through when viewed from inside.not an issue other than low quality control same as with most macgregor issues,and common when most of your work force speaks spanish and can't read english.

[Gone2long]

... So what I get out of this discussion so far is that, since other folks have witnessed something similar in their own boats which has not caused great problems, we can assume that it is a minor design or manufacturing flaw.

That is some relief, because it potentially rules out the possiblility that the previous owner ran into a wharf with a particularly sharp edge jutting out somewhere. That could have proven to be a serious concern.

Also, if "the admiral" could direct me to a specifically related, earlier thread, I would sincerely appreciate it. Meanwhile, I'll try a key word search.

Thanks again, and anything else that anyone out there could add would be greatly appreciated.

Best regards,

G2L

[Gone2long]

Folks,

As an afterthought, I realized that nobody has yet addressed the issue of the loose, forward cleats, and if that might indicate water having leaked below the deck, rotting the balsa core deck that comes with all pre 1999 X models.

Any thoughts on that?

Much thanks, once again,

G2L

[raycarlson]

all these issues are fairly easy to identify or fix.If your not sure what you are seeing, or if it is a serious problem you should probably hire a surveyor or at least a marine mechanic to check these items out so you know what you'll be paying after the purchase for repairs or refitting.dont cheap out now it will cost you later.