Do I have a MAJOR problem?

This topic has 9 replies, 5 voices, and was last updated 15 years, 10 months ago by Bass Cat Boats.

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August 5, 2010 at 1:58 am #419309

MossBoss
Participant

I have an 03 Pantera IV. When I push on the side of the boat below the rubrail on the the side feels “loose” and pushes in. If I pull out on the rubrail I can see a gap between the rail and the topcap.Is this something that is just a loose rubrail, or have I had a major structural issue? Is this something that can be fixed with rivets. Here is the worst part. I have BASS Federation Divisionals and I leave in 36 hours. And it is on Lake Michigan.Should I be panicking?

August 5, 2010 at 2:33 am #419311

blakesfav
Participant

Yes.

August 5, 2010 at 2:36 am #419313

MossBoss
Participant

Any more detail you can add?

August 5, 2010 at 2:49 am #419315

regulator 1
Participant

I would contact service @ basscat tomorrow and speak with them direct, also may to take some pics to email them. Hope its nothing but needs to be looked at.

August 5, 2010 at 3:19 am #419317

MossBoss
Participant

Thats what I will do. Just took some video of it.

August 5, 2010 at 3:33 am #419320

JSLAW
Participant

More then likely its just a rubrail issue and the structural intergity is still present, the gap is it all the way through or is it just the light penetrating. More then likely at one time or another you bumped a dock hard on the side and popped the rivets loose. Either way run the boat as you normally would for the tournament and let service decide on the next best course of action, once you are done. I would not be too concerned with using it as you normally would, as i am sure that is gonna be their recommendation as well.

August 5, 2010 at 3:44 am #419321

blakesfav
Participant

Might want to double-check your bilge also before this weekend.All kidding aside, I have a non BC skiboat that had a soft spot on the transom – pulled the plug after loading and a little water ran out. When I got home one hour later, it was still running out, and in grand fashion. Turns out the motor mounts were rotted and the hull was probably nearly completely full, with no functioning bilge. Maybe a test run before trying Lake Michigan would be in order?

August 5, 2010 at 4:09 am #419323

MossBoss
Participant

Nothings soft, just loose. Had it out on Sunday and didnt notice a thing while driving, only while washing it when drying with a towel tonight. Boat ran fine on Sunday and definitely showed no signs of a problem. Its alson on the mid side, no where near the transom.Ill see what service says in the morning.

August 5, 2010 at 11:19 am #419325

Bass Cat Boats
Keymaster

When you push on the side of the boat you can actually see it move in? Does it spring back? Are there cracks in the gelcoat? When you push it in can you see the hull move inside a compartment? Not that I can help – Im just trying to imagine this with fiberglass unless there is a spot you hit something and cracked it…but the gelcoat would be cracked. If I could push the side of my boat in like it sounds you are saying there is no way I would get out on the water.

August 5, 2010 at 1:19 pm #419327

Bass Cat Boats
Keymaster

Send a pic to Service and get their opinion. It is probably just loose rivets and on those year models the rivets could come loose in really rough conditions or on pier impacts. They have had some waffling of the sides on impacts and the rivets loosen. You might be able to tighten it up, though they will want to see the pics to let you know for sure.
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