Super User Sam Posted December 4, 2005 Super User Share Posted December 4, 2005 Has anyone known of a bass boat splitting in half in rough water? My friend told me this past week of an incident that happened to one of his fishing friends when the fishing friend's bass boat actually broke in half in rough water. I was very surprised as I had no idea that a bass boat would do this. Then I remembered riding with a buddy on Smith Mountain Lake in very rough water and wondering if I should have been wearing my Bike #10 as we bounced along. However, I never gave one second thought to the boat breaking apart. Has anyone heard about this situation? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Low_Budget_Hooker Posted December 4, 2005 Share Posted December 4, 2005 it's not gonna happen. A boat will delaminate before all the structual braces break. Even if torque was an issue, the topdeck would seperate from the hull before the hull would actually split in half. In other words, it can happen from top to bottom but not side to side without coming in contact with solid structure like coming down off a wave onto an unforseen rock but even in this situaion, the hull is much more likely to crush first. My .02 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Super User Sam Posted December 4, 2005 Author Super User Share Posted December 4, 2005 Thanks. I feel better now knowing that the boat will not come apart. I will ask my friend when he and his wife join us for dinner next Saturday evening about the accident to get more details. Have a super Christmas Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FlyRod Posted December 5, 2005 Share Posted December 5, 2005 it's not gonna happen. A boat will delaminate before all the structual braces break. Even if torque was an issue, the topdeck would seperate from the hull before the hull would actually split in half. In other words, it can happen from top to bottom but not side to side without coming in contact with solid structure like coming down off a wave onto an unforseen rock but even in this situaion, the hull is much more likely to crush first.My .02 Well, there was at least one incident of hull failure that I'm personally aware of. It happened at Falcon Lake circa early 80's. Conditions were horrible, wind-wise, with some serious and unevenly spaced waves churned up. A bass boat, driven by a fairly seasoned pilot, was so battered by impacts with the waves that the hull literally split from near the bow hook to a point approximately 1/3 back on the keel. It opened a gap nearly an inch wide . Fortunately, the incident occured not far from a launch ramp and another boat , which was "in formation" with the unfortunate crew, immediately responded. The other boat managed to tie on and tow the stricken craft to the shallows where it was beached by wave and wind. There were no injuries. I will not name the make or model :-X, but will say that the firm involved no longer manufactures bass boats. I DO recall that it was within three months of purchase and the manufacturer offered a full replacement. Being thoroughly spooked, the owner refused replacement and successfully demanded a full refund on the purchase...WOW!...and was finally successful in that effort. Imagine trying that nowadays. Now, and this was probably key to his success in obtaining a refund; The boat showed absolutely NO sign of impact with a solid object. I saw the boat once it was dragged onto the trailer and I can attest to that. Conclusion: A manufacturing/material defect. So far as one breaking in half, it has happened with supertankers but never with a small boat. F.Rod Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yankee_Bassman Posted December 6, 2005 Share Posted December 6, 2005 I think it's unlikely that a newer bass boat will break up that way, given the structural design of todays boats. It's possible in theory that improperly cured resins or some other material defect could cause hull failure, but I suspect it would be more likely to be "hooking" of the hull, or cracking gelcoat, rather than the hull splitting open. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Low_Budget_Hooker Posted December 6, 2005 Share Posted December 6, 2005 Exactly, and even if there was a materials defect causing hull trauma, the boat still isn't going to snap in half. Unless.... It sinks, and lands on the middle of it's hull,...on a rock,....and an ocean liner directly above it also sinks simultaneously,.....landing on it and crushes it. Then yes, I suppose it is possible. And my Ex-Girlfriend will be calling me tomorrow to talk things over in a non-heated, mature fashion.,lol : :-? ;D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DDbasser Posted December 6, 2005 Share Posted December 6, 2005 I've never seen a bass boat break in half. Now, having said that. I used to attend the drag boat races all the time when I was younger. My step mom worked for a company that had 3 drag boats. I have seen several drag boats come apart, but they don't split in half either. They shatter scarriest thing I've ever witnessed!!! Actually saw one of our drivers lose his life on Truman lake in Missouri. The boat just dissentegrated around him at 130 mph, that was the last boat race I ever attended. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cedar1 Posted December 6, 2005 Share Posted December 6, 2005 As LBH said, I think its unlikely a bass boat will break in half from front to back, but I know of more than one situation on Lake Erie that a boat has split at the seam under the rub rail causing water to enter the hull fast enough that the bilge pumps would'nt keep up. There isnt much holding a bass boat together where the top of the hull meets the bottom. Pretty amazing really. It's not a bad idea to remove the rub rail and inspect the screws that hold your boat together from time to time and tighten any that may be loose. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Super User cart7t Posted December 12, 2005 Super User Share Posted December 12, 2005 As LBH said, I think its unlikely a bass boat will break in half from front to back, but I know of more than one situation on Lake Erie that a boat has split at the seam under the rub rail causing water to enter the hull fast enough that the bilge pumps would'nt keep up. There isnt much holding a bass boat together where the top of the hull meets the bottom. Pretty amazing really. It's not a bad idea to remove the rub rail and inspect the screws that hold your boat together from time to time and tighten any that may be loose. Buy a Champion. There hull and cap are bonded together. Beatch though if you want to take off the cap to do repair work. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cedar1 Posted December 14, 2005 Share Posted December 14, 2005 cart7, I wish I could afford a new Champion, a friend of mine runs a new 206 on Erie and it's amazing in rough seas. An incredible ride for a bass boat. Its slow compared to my boat, but what a ride. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fisher of Men Posted December 15, 2005 Share Posted December 15, 2005 Yes, it's hard to match the ride of a Champion, and it's stability at rest on the water. Even my old '80 model rides really good. I think they were ahead of their time compared to other builders in the early '80's. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Upnorth Posted December 18, 2005 Share Posted December 18, 2005 I'll agree, you can't beat the ride of a Champion. I fish the great lakes from a 193. Length to length, you can not beat the ride. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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