272 water damage - how to check for rot?
 

I've read on here where some new 272 owners have had to replace the floor and more due to rot because baja did not properly cover all the wood in some of these boats. I'm considering buying a 272 and have read you can't just go by looks. I'm having the survey / inspection done but when I asked if he would check for rot he said he could look but to check it all he'd have to cut a hole in the floor.

Hold on there partner ...it's not my boat, yet. There has to be a better way or some way to check these boats structural integrity without cutting a hole in the floor, right? I sure hope so.

Please advise.

Most surveyers tap with a soft (rubber) mallet and listen for dead (soft) spots. If it is the gas tank cover (center floor section) you can usually feel that just by walking on it. Those were screwed down and many times water can infiltrate past the screws. If it feels soft and squishy, the core is likely waterlogged and disbonded.

Stringers and transoms are a litte more difficult to check, particularly stringers since they are not a big flat area that readily lends itself to a hammer test. If you are really concerned, pull a couple of screws out of the trim tab mounts on the transom and look for water sepage. The outdrive should seal with an o-ring and that is difficult to mess up. Trim tabs and exhaust, that sort of thing, would require sealant or bedding to be used during assembly and the potential for poor work at the factory or sometime after factory assembly is greater.

Dan

Thanks Dan.
I do think the floor can be checked without to much trouble. It's the stringers I'm concerned most with. If I read right some bajas that simply sit outside during the summer will have water pass through them when it rains, that can sit in there and damage the stringers. Not sure but that's how I read it. I was hoping some could use a mini camera or something to go up the drain hole and get an idea if you have a problem or not. All new to me, and hopefully I have nothing to worry about but knowing it can happen I prefer to be safe rather than sorry down the road.

Just about the only place on a Baja that can get you in trouble on stringers, at least on the ones I have seen and I believe this covers your 272, is that at the back of the stringers, next to the transom, you may see a drain hole about 1 1/2 inches in diameter drilled through the stringers. This was cut after the fiberglass was put over the stringers. This is usually just painted over so ther really is raw wood exposed there except for the paint. My 2001 252 is like that and has no problems. Others have reported some issues. You can get to that hole and put a moisture meter on it and check it. A camera will not tell you much.

Another problem area are the shelves for the batteries in the engine bay. These had all sorts of fasteners screwed into them that were not sealed (sort of like the center section on the floor). No real way to check them without drilling a small hole into them and seeing if it comes out wet (or dark). If you do that just epoxy the hole back up with some thickened epoxy. A 1/8 inch drill is all you should need.

Zero G, good choice. I loved my 272 so much, I bought a newer one. Check out my 1996 Anniversary Edition for sale in the Classifieds - mint with NO structural rot.

http://www.offshoreonly.com/classifi...o57436-en.html

Incidentally, it has no drain holes drilled in the stringers. They either forgot, or were not doing it in 1996. I did have to replace the wood in the sunpad too, as it was starting to go. I coated all the wood in FG resin..... can't hurt.

My 2000 that I just replaced it with, has the drains. I tap tested the stringers on the new boat and everything is crisp, but I am going to reseal those drain holes regardless.

No need to drill the center floor... Lol. Almost all 272s will have a soft spot in the center floor. My 1996 has it just in front of the rear bench, and my 2000 has it by the left seat. Easy fix - remove the floor, cut out the soft wood, replace wood, reglass in. Nothing to it. It's the structural wood you want to check. Stringers, and transom.

What year boat are you looking at?

Any surveyor worth his salt should have one of these in his bag of tricks.

http://www.amazon.com/Wood-Composite.../dp/B002MYDV08

Of course, he'd need to know how to interpret the readings.

Thanks guys!!!!! Very informative info.

I'm in the process of buying a 2000 272 Boss. I know it has the drain, but now at least I know what to check. Thanks again.

I just picked up a 2000 272 a couple weeks ago. Very clean low-hour boat. I went over mine thoroughly and did not detect any issues other than the the fuel tank inspection cover softness, but I was under the impression that most of them had this characteristic regardless of condition....Anyone know for sure if that is correct.

ZeroG keep us posted. I wanted a BOSS...mainly for the windscreen, but when I came across the one I got, I couldn't pass on it.....Good Luck!

Thanks Crew272. Good luck with yours. Glad to hear you had no issues, and hope mine is the same.
How about posting a pic of your new to you boat? I'll do the same once I get mine. I have to wait another week and a half for the inspection. Busy busy place.

Thanks man! Here you go....

http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/e...ps3fcfae56.jpg

http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/e...ps24df3cd9.jpg

http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/e...ps37f2e30b.jpg

http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/e...ps30456047.jpg

http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/e...psa00dcf3f.jpg

Couple crappy camera interior shots. Cleanest 14 year old boat I have ever seen though.

http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/e...pse25e25c8.jpg

http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/e...psafb0477f.jpg

http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/e...ps49248c15.jpg

Very nice. Thanks for the pics. :)

It's great to find a boat that was well taken care of. I 'think' I've found one also. More once I find out for sure.

I do like that these models do not have the big head rests on the sun deck. I don't care for those.

I'm also looking for a 252 or 272 baja. Looking for an islander. I am trying to find a 1995 or newer with 502 or 496. Would like to find one for less than $20,000. Do you guys think this is doable?

Not sure.. A friend bought a 97 272 for 20 last year. Brother bought a 252 this year for 19,900. Both were cuddys. And both were 454's. 496 and 502's would be in the newer versions but I suspect they would be closer to mid 20's than 20. Just my guess. Sometimes you get lucky.

I'm thinking of getting a moisture meter to check the level myself. What would be an okay reading and what would constitute a negative reading meaning trouble is ahead in this area?
The meter I'm looking at from lowes reads in percentages. so would 3% be okay but 15% be fair warning of issues? I've no clue what would be an acceptable reading, so please help here.

What year was the 252 your brother purchased?

It's a 96

I'm looking at a 1998 272 Islander. It was repowered in 08 with a 496 ho. Guy is firm at $21750. He said he had the transom replaced in 2010. What do you guys think about the price and would the fact that the transom has been replaced scare you guys away?

Got the survey back today. No rot. Yippee. But, there were other issues that made me back out of the sale. Darn it. Now I'm back to shopping again. Found a sunsation i am very interested in, costs more but probably worth it. Now I have to find a budget stretcher.

I too am looking at a 272. I am looking at an islander, not a closed bow. What were the issues that caused you to back out? The one I am looking at May have some of the same issues. This would be my first Baja and I'm not sure of all the things I should be looking for.

What was wrong with it??

What were the issues? Check my earlier post; issue-free 272 with low hours, and no disappointments. Sunsation's a nice boat also!

Thanks for the offer puzzleboy but I wanted 2000 or newer. Found and bought an 03 Sunsation MCOB this past weekend. Loved the boat.

The issues with the Baja I had surveyed were:
not charging
Running hot
Lower unit oil alarm was unplugged. When plugged in it went off all the time. Even with oil in the reservoir.
Miss in engine (suspected plug wires)

And a few more items that fell under general boat maintenance. All probably fixable I just did not want to pay 28k and have to take it right to my boat mechanic to figure out the issues. Surveys do save you dollars for sure.

Congrats! Pics?

I'd be happy to post pics if I knew how. I don't have a url for the pics, they are on my computer. When I click the insert image button it wants a url.

Pics here:
http://www.forumsforums.com/3_9/showthread.php?t=68253