UP DATE ON LEAKING LUND

[Randy Gaines]

Let me start by saying I’m sorry for the delayed update, between my job (which keeps me on the road way more then I like) and fixing my boat plus trying to do a little pre-fishing, my days have not left me any time to do much else.

So here’s how it went, I pulled the center floor out of the boat to first find I had no brackets what so ever holding my fuel tank in place. A good sign someone had been there before me. After draining the fuel tank and removing it, it was plain to see that the keel had been welded before. There was a weld no less then 1.250” wide weld that started just about even with the drivers seat and ran well under the bulkhead for at least 1.5’ for a total of about 3’ of weld. The split ran down the port side of the weld, right up to the bulkhead. The weld was so badly under cut there is a wonder it lasted this long.

I then took the S/N and made a call to LUND, I was informed that the original owner had the boat in soon after he had purchased it to have it fixed. And their records stated that the Keel weld split do to him carrying to much gear (weight) in the bow. That’s all they would tell me. I then stated that their warranty work is what broke, and ask if there was any help for me to be had by them on getting this fixed. Lund’s response to me was as simple as, it is all yours. In fact I was told that the repair was only covered to the original owner for one year.

So I fixed it myself. Re-welded the split and made brackets to hold my fuel tank in place. The hardest part was coming up with a Tig and the time to do it. I now have two 1500 gph bilge pumps (just in case) and glad to say they didn’t kick on one time last weekend.

Thanks For all the advice and reply’s

Randy Gaines

[perchjerker]

Thanks for the update, Randy. Glad you got her fixed.

I wonder how many guys spend 15, 20 grand or more on a used boat not knowing there is no warranty on the hull. (not saying you did).

[bobberal]

Thanks for the update.

I have seen this repeatedly on all the boats I have purchased or had close friends own. I do not care if it is an Alumacraft, Tracker, Lund or Crestliner. Aluminum gets harder with age and constant stress, pounding and flexing tends to work harden it. Improper welding also will do more harm than good.

Over the years, I have made it a habit to tear my boat down after the season closes and the long winter sets in. I pull the floors, check the welds, rivets and all electrical, water and gas connections. I enjoy this and feel that the little time I spend doing this in the fall the less time I am down the next season.

I suspect most people do not have time or the resources to do this but it works for me. You can say I know my boats inside and out and after a few years I have a checklist of items and I can almost tell you the mean time between failure of some of the components in my boats.

By the way, I own a 2003 Lund my third, and an Alumacraft, which is my second.



The best all around fishing boat is owning two boats....

"We own the night"

[Wow]

I read your update several times. I am left with several thoughts.

One, I wonder if the gas tank struts were removed by Lund or the original owner. I cannot believe that Lund (or any responsible company) would do that, so I am leaning toward thinking the original owner did it.

Two, if the original owner did it, it must have been because the boat had problems a second time. To me that means the Lund fix failed and the owner decided to fix it himself the second time and removed the struts as obstructions to his fix attempt.

Three, I wonder if that original owner then sold the boat after his own fix. If so, I wonder if you might have legal remedy available. It would seem that he would have been selling you an item which was unsafe and known to be so. But, not being a legal eagle, I simply don't know. Wouldn't hurt to check on that thought though, if you know someone who is an attorney.

Four, having just reread your update yet again, it just stuns me that Lund passed it off as the original owner was "carrying too much weight" in the bow. Sounds like a design defect to me. Sounds typical of Lund however. As a Lund owner I am not pleased with their customer service at all and won't buy another of their boats.

Good luck with your boat.