Cracked Hull

[BUMMERBAITS]

Got a 2003 Tracker PT185 with a cracked hull. The Keel is cracked and also the same stringer on both sides of the boat have cracks. These appear to be stress cracks. I have taken it to the dealer once already with no luck, actually got the boat back in worse shape than when I took it there. Have tried JB Weld twice, but the hull is stressing so much the JB Weld just cracks.

Have thought about taking back to another dealer, but unsure because of the experience I had with the last dealer and with tracker.

I have thought about getting it welded, but fear that with as bad as the hull is stressing, it will be a waste of money and the welds will just crack.

And yes the boat does have some bumps and brusies on it, but it's an aluminum boat and should probably not have these kinds of cracks in it. I know I have talked to 2 other people who had similar problems with about the same year boat as mine, and it turned out to be bad welds on the inside of the boat, of course they got new hulls. Me I got nothing but $60.00 of wasted gas and a crack on the motor cowl from taking mine to the dealer. I called tracker while the dealer had the boat and hey did not seem to intereseted in trying to help me with the situation.

Any ideas or suggestions, or anyone know someone within the tracker orgranization that could help me get this resolved through them.

Thank's.

[TXTracker45]

I just had this EXACT problem with a 2005 PT165. It was a great boat. I had a 40HP Merc. I had it on the lake at least three weekends a month and fished a lot of local tournaments. I hit something in Choke Canyon in Three Rivers, Texas.

I took the boat to Rocky Mountain RV/Marine in Albuquerque, New Mexico. After three different quotes, they found $8500 damage to the hull. There were stress cracks all over the boat. The welder would not guarantee the work because of how much damage. the boat could not be repaired.

I was not going to go with Tracker again. The only reason I did was because of the great help I got from the marina and my insurance company (State Farm) replaced my boat. Between the marina and State farm, I had to come up with almost nothing out of my pocket. I was going to go with a Fisher. My insurance company put me in a 2007 PT175. State Farm was great to me.

I hope I don't have this problem again.

[BUMMERBAITS]

Thank's for the info, I was think about call the insurance company, but was unsure about it because they were stress cracks. Think I might give them a call and talk to them about it. I got Progressive with the Total Boat Replacment Plan. So maybe it will work I hope.

Once again thank's for the info.