Hulls split down the middle

[wannacat]

Pictures would be interesting if available. We're thinking of getting an Aquila?

[tiopirata]

I have twice surveyed catamarans where this has happened, both Leopard cats. Repair was substantial but easily performed. Both were longitudinal splits along the lower hull, neither showed any sign of impact or collision damage.

[Cpt Mark]

If there is an owners group out there see if anyone else has had this issue. Have you watched Parlay Revival on You tube? Hurricane damaged boat. In their repairs they found the bulkheads were cracked. Nasty surprise. Turns out a LOT of those boats have cracked bulkheads. They contacted the mfr and got help on how to repair it. Well documented. But after non hurricane boats reported the same problem the mfr stepped up afer a few months and said anyone can go to one of their locations for a free eval and I believe, free repair. These are older boats too.

[MJH]

Originally Posted by lhuff35204

The yard called after haul out this year and reported major hull damage to our 2013 Aquila cat. The insurance adjuster says the hulls are split down the middle but no signs of impact so it is not covered. Has anyone had their hulls split like this?

That is why I would stay away from any boat where the hull is manufactured in halves and later put together.

~ ~ _/) ~ ~ MJH

[Rapanui]

I would investigate the method used to lift the boat. Most catamarans need full width spreader bars to prevent hull crushing which can pop windows and worse. Demand photos from the yard to show their lifting method, failing that a drawing showing the lifting arrangement. There are often gawpers present when boats are lifted, one of those may have photos or remember the lifting arrangement. Your best chance of getting recompense is a claim on the boatyard's insurance unless your policy covers lifting.

[Nicholson58]

I’ve done a lot of glass work. This is a big job. My initial feel is that a proper repair needs to be done from inside and possibly also outside. Inside is no doubt largely difficult to reach and covered with oily contaminates. If it is cored it could be more complicated.

Does the maker have anything to say? Seems like a manufacturing flaw. Let’s say lucky it didn’t happen at sea. Feel for you man.

[lhuff35204]

The builder says this has never happened (30 boats) and that there is no seam. I'm looking into the haul out, but you pretty much sign that if the boat breaks in half you get both ends.

[ABJ87]

Do you have any pictures of the break?

[Knotical]

How did they put the 2 hulls together if there’s no seam? Get construction plans and talk to a few of those 30 owners.

If it’s not a manufacturing defect then it has to be an impact damage, I would think your insurance company foots the bill in that case.

Lawyers here can shed some light but if the yard folded your cat in half they ought to pay, waiver or not.

[Nicholson58]

Can’t write reply due to pop up adds blowing my screen

[Knotical]

From the photos it seems like the hulls themselves are split, not the bridgedeck between the hulls, I know you mentioned this in the OP but was thinking the bridgedeck, my apologies.

Can you clarify?

Few photos from afar might be useful.

[valhalla360]

Originally Posted by Knotical

How did they put the 2 hulls together if there’s no seam? Get construction plans and talk to a few of those 30 owners.

If it’s not a manufacturing defect then it has to be an impact damage, I would think your insurance company foots the bill in that case.

Lawyers here can shed some light but if the yard folded your cat in half they ought to pay, waiver or not.

The insurance company doesn't care if it's under warranty...they care if it was a manufacturing defect. Manufacturing defects are typically not covered by insurance and I suspect that is where they are staking their position until proven otherwise.

Now the challenge is proving it was damage due to the marina and not an inherent defect in the boat.

I see 4 possibilities:
- Convince the insurance, it was damage, not a defect.
- Convince the marina they failed to lift the boat properly causing the damage and should pay.
- Convince the manufacturer, it was a defect and they should pay even though out of warranty.
- Pay for the repairs yourself.

Do you have an estimate for the repairs? Unless it's pretty high, lawsuits are likely a losing proposition and I would be working thru the other alternatives.

[S/V Illusion]

Originally Posted by valhalla360

I see 4 possibilities:
- Convince the insurance, it was damage, not a defect.
- Convince the marina they failed to lift the boat properly causing the damage and should pay.
- Convince the manufacturer, it was a defect and they should pay even though out of warranty.
- Pay for the repairs yourself.

Just to play lawyer (was one before retirement):
1. Need evidence of prior damage,
2. Marinas lift hundreds/thousands of boats including multihulls. Proving negligence is a very long shot,
3. Defects typically manifest themselves shortly after manufacture, not years later, and
4. I suspect that will be cheaper than $400/hour times hundreds of hours.


Threaten to sue the marina and settle for a free slip for life.

[valhalla360]

Originally Posted by S/V Illusion

Just to play lawyer (was one before retirement):
1. Need evidence of prior damage,
2. Marinas lift hundreds/thousands of boats including multihulls. Proving negligence is a very long shot,
3. Defects typically manifest themselves shortly after manufacture, not years later, and
4. I suspect that will be cheaper than $400/hour times hundreds of hours.


Threaten to sue the marina and settle for a free slip for life.

Never suggested any of the options would be easy or likely...and you left off the part where I suggested lawsuits were likely a losing proposition.

Threaten to sue means everyone goes dark except when forced to respond and they will provide the least useful response they can legally (possibly illegally) come up with.

[Secondshift]

Sorry bout your boat . Hope it ends well.

It sure looks like a seam in the photos.

The yard I've been using has the owner mark the lift points to mitigate their risk.