My Legend’s hull flexing is vexing
Q
During a recent lift-out, it was pointed out that a section of my Legend 306’s hull could be pushed in, whereas the rest of the hull was very solid. According to gossip, this part of the hull was the subject of warranty claims some years ago. However, the indications are that a section of the hull could be removed, stringers added and the hull repaired and restored. Do you feel such repairs are worthwhile, and would safety be compromised if the work was not carried out? I only take the boat for short trips round Lyme Bay. COLIN BROWN REPLIES:
The short answer is yes: repair to flexing on the hull is worthwhile. The urgency and extent of repairs depend on how your hull was built, where the flexible section of hull is and just how flexible it is. If the flexing goes unrepaired it may put unfair loads on other components, and the damage could spread to load-supporting structures.
My answer has as many questions as answers, but these should help you with your final decision. The first question is whether the hull has been damaged by a particular incident, or have some parts of the hull been weakened by normal use? Damage should be repaired, but if a hull has just become flexible from normal use you should get a local surveyor to check the entire hull and internal structure.
Is the flexible area visible, and has the gelcoat cracked around it? Gelcoat is less flexible than the reinforced laminate and tends to crack first. It can be easy to see the edges of some damage because the gelcoat cracks along the ‘hinges’ – by that I mean the transition between stiff and flexible sections. If cracks are visible some of the gelcoat can be removed to see whether the cracks extend into the laminate below, and this may help in planning repairs.
Does your hull have a core? Some boats are built with relatively thin hull skins with a foam or balsa core between. This makes the hull light and stiff, but if the core is crushed or gets wet the skins can separate from the core and the area may be flexible. If this is the case, either the inner or outer skin can be cut away to allow a new core to be fitted.
If the hull is solid laminate then the flexibility can develop because the fibres are no longer stuck together by resin. Reinforcing the area may be enough, but a better repair can be achieved by cutting out the damaged area and laying up a new piece of hull and reinforcing it as required.
Is the opposite side of the hull the same? If there has been a recognised manufacturing fault then both sides may be at risk and both should be repaired.
Finally, have you been in touch with the Legend Owners’ Association (www.legendowners. com)? They may be able to put you in touch with other owners to help in identifying repair methods and repairers in your area.