Ocean Alexander Quality, Construction Questioned | Latitudes Sea would have been initiated in the 1940's but, as it's been lonely out here over the years in face Articles, Images: Copyright 1997 - 2018 David H. Pascoe All rights reserved. Today, he can only wish that the same level of guarantee he always promised for his product would be applicable to one of his purchases the elegant 98-foot passenger yacht christened Jelly Bean II he keeps moored at a specially-built dock in Redondo Beachs King Harbor. If its too flat and you bust a wave, says Mason, youre going to transmit that energy into the boat and into you. The boatbuilder doesnt want the former. Ocean Putting 57. Certified by the National Association If they did, we would not continue to see the sales growth, nor repeat sales rates., With those kinds of guarantees, responded Parker, Youd think Johnny could have had one of his people just take a look at my boat.. While others that rise out of the water are said to roll FollowingSeas Hamburger Helper of Boat Building, Reviewed in the Light Generally, a company will make a reasonable effort to solve quality control problems, said Adkinson. Tumblehome, stability, and performance | SailNet Community And Parkers current problems with an estimated repair price tag of more than $1.2 million are the result of that change at the top, said McLaren. (I have run at least 7 diffferent older models of Oceans as well). For a complete performance report of the 390-Z, look for our test during 2014. Bertram, since we can get a good idea of what happened Article, The Dey be some smart pipples on this board. Stability thats sure. A pad is a flattened section of hull, on the keel near the transom. No, I would not. Ocean Alexanders Chueh, asked if allegations of poor quality control and customer satisfaction bothered him, said, One cannot get bothered by every falsehood spread by competitors or those with ulterior motives. That creates a longer running surface surrounding the outdrive and helping the boat maintain a flatter attitude. a lot of new ideas and materials come and go over The build quality has improved dramatically with the newer boats but I've always found myself somewhat disappointed in the overall construction of the boat. misunderstood, for it is not the same thing as with The 1,000-gallon steel fuel tanks were replaced with fiberglass tanks, removing the possibility of corrosion, rust, or broken welds. "Core Complaints". There will always be stuff that they have to take care of.. I would honestly look for a used Cabo, or Viking or Hatteras if it were me What do you think about egg harbor are the ass good as ocean and riviera??? many of my previous articles I raised some warning Bavaria 38 Ocean I will also say that I have experienced it aboard other boats. Well, they do it because a deep-V hull is seaworthy but slow, and a flat-bottom is fast but flakey. I wasn't aware of much damage having occurred. Its like a permanent trim tab. While the boat was dry-docked awaiting repair, more than 600 gallons of seawater leaked from the keel. On the bright side, yachts are designed with several features that will enhance the captains ability to navigate the boat out of the rough seas and back to still waters. I can't see how they could screw something up that's this easy, the rub rail on the 60 looks like it belongs on an 18'! Cracks,Finishes and Surface Defects, Marine The Hull Truth - Boating and Fishing Forum - View Single Post However, he overlooked the point that I never I have looked at a lot of different boats and I too am having a hard time justifing the higher prices of the Vikings and so on. It handles more like a sports car with all four wheels firmly on the pavement. said that foam couldn't be used successfully; Ocean Yacht - YachtForums: We Know Big Boats! If you can see where loads need to go and where you can safely attach things, you can generally jury something up. The hulls running surface is actually three shapes nested, becoming steeper as they approach the chine. She talks through the key considerations. Those warnings haven't been In 2002, he bought the first Jelly Bean, an 86-foot craft named in memory of his wife, Arlene. But either way, youre talking about a failure to put the product together right. Specifically, Parkers lawsuit alleges a plethora of construction and design flaws which cumulatively have made his craft unseaworthy. Home Forums > Facilities include six manufacturing plants, six distribution centers, and numerous sales offices around the world. Tumblehome is a complex issue to explain in detail. Parker bought his first Ocean Alexander, a 42-foot flush desk, in 1983. Jim and Jill DeMesa were in their 51-foot Ocean Alexander 510 Classico Pilothouse yacht in November 2009, when they were asked to move from one mooring to another. While not every yacht is equipped to handle rough seas as well, each is designed with features that will assist the captain to help get the boat back to shore. Several of these factors are as follows: Yachts are designed as monohulls which means that they have a singular-pointed structure jetting from the bottom of the boat and protruding into the water. That creates a longer running surface surrounding the outdrive and helping the boat maintain a flatter attitude. The end result had two serious problems that were anticipated. First, the hull weight was reduced by means of an intricate framing system. The problem with that was that anything that was saved on materials cost was more than offset by increased labor costs of achieving the detail work. Pleasure crafts investigations to court testimony. YachtForums: We Know Big Boats! Boating Magazine may receive financial compensation for products purchased through this site. Big boats, big problems, small boats, small problems. Hull blistering. Discussion in 'General Sportfish Discussion' started by julio008, Apr 19, 2009. doing this and what the potential consequences The result? Ray's response to allegations of serious problems common law usage. The company promises its customers, We care about the products we sell, the quality engineering of our products, and the impact they have., I built my company on that guarantee, Parker said recently. These running surfaces have strakes that vary from right angles by about five degrees. Not everybody was happy with Ocean Yachts success. With weight and strength acting in my favour I have had no problems from ice damage. Riviera's are ok. ATC Together theyre much smaller than the single contact area of a typical V-bottom. Article, It The newer ones are much better. And I'm giving short shrift to the discussion of form stability versus ballast conditioned stability. Are Sea Hunt Boats Any Good The newer ones are much better. Planing Hull A hull designed to ride across the top of the water, rather than plow through it (as does a displacement hull like a pontoon). Purporting The hull/deck joint and the rubrail they use to cover it is laughable. Materials Again" from Marine Surveying, Stress We have always used different outside specialists and consultants such as interior design, structural design, hydrodynamics design, electrical design, and mechanical design. In the case of the IOR era the rapid increase in stability as the tumblehome hit the water and the rising vertical center of gravity associated with rolling out, was seen as contributing to their notorious excitation roll characteristics and poor downwind controllability. The sharper the corner, the harder the chine and the stronger the bite in turns. boats.com - new and used boats for sale #everythingboats And yes, a boat thats fast. WebA catamaran generally has no ballast. Its beam is considerable (13 2), which gives us some concern regarding inverse stability and upwind performance. This has less to do with faster top speeds and more to do with the ability to jump onto plane quicker and stay on plane at slower speeds. Traditional designs tend to remain pretty neutral with regards to heel, but designs with tumblehome tend to initially roll out, before rolling down, sometimes quite deeply. Can A Monohull Yacht Survive Rough Seas? - Best Boat Report The 36s hull is balsa-cored, as is the deck. A boat that has a spot where its stability increases rapidly within its roll angle also tends to have a jerky motion de-accelerating rapidly as stability rapidly builds. Thirdly, the rudder of the yacht will play a pivotal role in helping to navigate the boat through the rough seas. Drive, Grandma. Entire Article, In Sheriffs officials said the midsummer fire in the brand new Chinese-made luxury mega-yacht was the result of an electrical flaw, and the flames completely destroyed the $8 million craft. Ebbtide builds its Z-Trak hull with unique double-vented chines that send air under the running surface, reducing speed-robbing drag at two points (and producing the distinctive Z-shape seen from the side as the boat whizzes past.). It primarily depends on beam and individual hull buoyancy for stability. Its also good to have a few blocks, especially the ones where the side snaps open and shut, so you can rig up a replacement block and tackle arrangement if the vang breaks. Theyre out of the water when the boats on plane. But as he explains on the companys website, Performance is about more than just going fast. But just as bell bottoms came back around, so also, to an extent, is the square transom. the market now for about ten years, but is only are brought to bear in following books. Reverse Chine A two-corner chine; before the bottom meets the side, it forms an upside-down V-shape to deflect spray away from the boat. Entire Article, The Parkers issues with the boats design and construction started with below-the-waterline leaks from the hull and keel, and the degrading of its lamination, and have widened to incorporate numerous other problems discovered following a detailed forensic survey of the yacht and its substructure. But what they really mean could be a telltale sign of which used boat to buy, or not to buy. YachtWorld Article, Warning: Finally, if the yacht has sails, these can be used to catch the rough elements of the wind to help the captain navigate the boat out of the storm. ). They also create air bubbles in the water, reducing the propellers bite. Case Study: Larsons Duo-Delta Conic Hull The Hallberg-Rassy 46 Lykke with a jury rig. The hull's condition once the boat reached Rhode Island is undisputed, but HMY said the structural damage could have resulted from hauling the boat at Cracker Discussion in 'Ocean Yacht' started by Capt. failure involved an area of laminate failure on There is more equipment with bigger boats.. Paul Stehfest To Join Little Yacht Sales. Bob Huff, Sep 19, 2011. The moment one winch goes down it changes the whole dynamic of how you sail the boat, but keeping winches well maintained is actually not that daunting. Copyright 2023 Boating Magazine. have met with failure, or one way or another have There are two ways to describe Chaparrals approach: lengthen the hull to wrap around the outdrive of its I/O boats, or draw the center portion of the transom forward within the hull. Depending on the shape of the hull, some boats actually move lower into the water and are said to roll down. Sea Hunt boats have been designed with ease of maintenance in mind. I would not even consider a Luhrs. This can have a negative impact on maintaining a straight course as the hull shape change in the water causes the boat to want to 'roll steer' or in other words develop a tendency to change course solely because of the heeled shape of the hull in the water independent of all other factors which may otherwise cause a boat to alter course as it heels. Steering problems at sea can easily get into the showstopper category, but if youve got two wheels youve got options for redundancy. Thats a decision he believes precipitated what he views as todays problems with the companys customer satisfaction reputation. I read with great enjoyment some of the archived threads about limits of stability and various hull forms. Secondly, the power source of the boat will assist the captain in helping to navigate the boat. All rights reserved. Oooh, the clean sweeps and crisp lines of those boats. cores in boat structures is now THE thing to do. October, 2002, Powerboat Reports ran a piece entitled If the steering breaks on the windward wheel, dont just freak out, get the boat under control. Speed rails keep the boat tracking true, particularly in turns. We had to take ours from Mexico to Newport Beach for repairs twice., Farley added, If you just putt-putt around in quiet waters, youll never know what a piece of shit they are. He saw almost immediate construction issues with the Ocean Alexander craft his employer purchased a decade ago. True but historically Tumblehome was used before they had gun decks. Some of these factors include the displacement of a monohull, durably constructed material, features that enhance navigability, safety features, and the overall size of a yacht. The term latent defect in maritime use is widely And complicating the problem is the evident, almost cultural, lack of interest on the part of many Chinese manufacturers to stand behind their products. Its no secret that Chinese products, which continue to flood the American marketplace with everything from clothing and pet food, to toothpaste and candy, enjoy a reputation for being inexpensive and often poorly made at best, poisonous at worst. Another big issue is the gear lever seizing up. My boat was just poorly constructed. The Hull Truth | Boating Mag Over forty years of knowledge and experience Weve stood by that for almost 40 years now. As a skeptic of foam cores, Entire Article, Chapter Frequently employed as the onboard problem solver, Wardleys Black Diamond head torch is her go-to piece of equipment along with her multitool and basic toolkit. But due to a corporate decision by Alexander Marine to install company-employed sales outlets in the United States, that technical wall has been breached. A boat hull is either designed as a displacement hull or a planning hull: Displacement hulls move within the water. Michael Farley, a long-time captain now living in Mexico, said the manufacturers quality problems are not new. The ride may not be as The problems we had were weight issues, and shortcuts they took (during design and construction)., Farley said the manufacturers advertising theme emphasized how light their boats are, and fuel efficient, and all that. The rest of the hull, the chines and strakes, lift the boat onto the pad, which then rides literally above the chop. A boat hull has all sorts of shapes, bends, fins and grooves things you can see most clearly when the boats on the trailer. It may have been one of the most spectacular and visible results of Ocean Alexanders growing repertoire of construction issues, but it certainly wasnt the first. The V-shaped design of a singular hull will help the captain to point the ship precisely in order to embrace the elements around it. It was the first one built of only three 98-footers. In this case, theres a question as to whether this is a design or a construction defect. now beginning to get some serious recognition. The Ocean 38 Ocean, because it is a center-cockpit design, presents a different look. Whenever anyone mentions tumblehome, I invariably think of the S&S designed Catalina 38, from the late-70's/early-80's, as the archetype in fibreglass: The Picture of the Sheerwater illustrates an eliptical transom. Interior woodwork is laughable at best, the types of vinyls and the way they are applied throughout the interior is of extremely low quality and the rigging throughout is a nightmare. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission, which supports our community. Ebbtide president Tommy Trabue loves speedy boats. It all comes down to how the specific boat is modeled. I have heard the same thing from several people, the aftercoolers were leaking into the cylinders. Entire Article, In "Marine JavaScript is disabled. The Stable-Vee combined with Split Chines allows the boat to handle more like a sports car with all four wheels firmly on the pavement. Yachts are constructed of very durable material- usually some form of metal that is reinforced interiorly. WebOcean Yachts is a family-owned company that has been building strong, safe, and seaworthy sportfishing boats and cruising yachts since 1977. Like so many things in yacht design, tumblehome isn't inherently good or bad. The concept also places the drive and prop farther forward of the swim platform, which has safety advantages. Boat Hulls (Mid Size Power Boats). One of the most common issues people have with Four Winns boats is hull blistering. A traditional V-hull digs a hole in the water while youre getting on plane, says Jeff Kruscheck, Larsons general manager. My name is Kern and Im passionate about boating. In rushing waters, there is an increased likelihood that the water will not be the only thing that hits the side of your boat. In Another thing that can keep you out of trouble is learning a simple end-to-end splice for joining two bits of Dyneema together, for example. hull bandwagon.Entire If the steering breaks on the windward wheel, dont just freak out, get the boat under control. Ocean Alexander Quality, Construction Questioned, More Than You Really Wanted To Know About Cruising Compost Part 8 -The New Role of Print Magazines in the 21st Century, Earth Wind Map Super Computer Visualization, How To Get Your Picture On The Cover of Latitudes and Attitudes Magazine, Couple Builds Wooden YACHT in Backyard 5-year Timelapse, Podcast Interview Cruising With Bob Bitchin. You can ask your dealer what spares they recommend you carry, but if I had to name two it would be the pawls and the pawl springs. So one epoxy hull (not the 7 year old early model c&c121 with the known gelcoat problem) in say 500-600 hulls develops a structural crack, the company fixes it to the owners satisfaction, and the only banter out there is about overtight rigs, a lifting strap too far forward, layup issue, deck tie down strap too loose, amine blush, supervisor at Finally, the Z series hulls feature a flat keel for most of the length of the underbody. The biggest issue here is making sure you have a captain who is familiar with using whatever his or her boats source of power is. It does though move the center of gravity lower in the vessel for a given displacement resulting in a proportionally higher GM or initial stability. Come join the discussion about sailing, modifications, classifieds, troubleshooting, repairs, reviews, maintenance, and more! Cored And those were not forthcoming, he alleges. She points out that the tools in your toolkit have to be compatible with the fittings on the particular boat youre sailing, so thats one of the pre-race checks before the boat leaves the dock. They Fiberglass Boats Anymore? Larson licenses Harry Schoells patent for this design, which it uses in its sport cruiser line. Many stepped hull boats get squirrely when turning. They seize up quite often from saltwater and grease, because you cant wash inside them. of composite failures in aircraft with that of boats. The constant motion can cause debris in the fuel tank to clog the filter and/or injectors. Johnny Chueh, Alexander Marines president, a 1997 economics graduate of University of Chicago, returned to Taiwan to help with the company shortly after his father, Alex, founder of Alexander Marine, became ill. Alex Chueh died in 2011 after a lengthy battle with cancer. And (Ocean Alexander) was building bigger and bigger boats so the problems cost a lot more. Tech Materials in Boat Building" from Buying a Boat, "New It features a pair of small, 2-inch tall steps with large vents at the chines. DIGITAL SUBSCRIPTION AVAILABLE NOW! The reader is cautioned not to make comparisons of the consequences In Yachting World May 2023 we bring you everything you need to know about crossing the Pacific Ocean, a spectacular but often daunting experience and give you a, Best family yacht: our pick of the best yachts for sailing with the family, 2020 Vende Globe preview: Pip Hare and Paul Larsens guide to the fleet, Spirit 111: This sailing art gallery is one of the most sensational yachts ever built, Video: See inside 9 of the most amazing modern sailing superyachts, Lagoon 46 first look: Updating this catamaran is a significant step for the yard, Excess 15 first look: This vibrant catamaran can sail in the lightest of winds. One safety feature included on a yacht that will help it to survive rough seas is the bilge pump. An American yacht builder who has worked on the brand for years asked to remain unidentified but offered this opinion: Would I buy an Ocean Alexander? The purpose is to keep the boat from banking in turns. The lawsuit is in itself unique: until recently, serving a prospective defendant residing or operating in a foreign country was practically impossible. Yes, most yachts (both sail and motor) can survive rough seas due to a variety of factors. WebBoat Buyers Beware: 10 Hidden Problems to Look For in Used Boats If youre looking for a used boat, youll want to go over it with a microscope and make absolutely, positively sure Big boat manufacturers often build into the (boats) cost a million dollars or more to handle problems, said McLaren. Which They just screwed up. WebThere is a lot of additional maintenance and other issues with dark colored hulls/superstructure. Where the FasTrac differs is in its retention of a mild V-shape in the aft in turns while avoiding the coming loose feel of some stepped hulls. The displacement of the monohull is a contributing factor that has much to do with the physics and the boats capacity to withstand the force from rushing waters. Nor he said, could a number of naval architects and structural engineers who inspected it., McLaren is convinced that the problem lies both in design and manufacturing methods: They take shortcuts as they design. Finally, the power is a natural safety feature equipped on the boat. Ocean Yachts for sale Identify the showstoppers, the things that if they go wrong will bring your race to a grinding halt. For the most part, yachts have been designed to withstand storms of great concern, so your safety will not be jeopardized on a yacht should you spot dark storm clouds. This stays wet and allows installation of through-hulls to be successful, something always problematic aboard stepped-hull boats. Without the impeller you lose water cooling in your engine and youre stuffed. Tumble home does not result in a loss of buoyancy until the tumbled home section is immersed. W.W.II, production fiberglass boat building probably analysis. So carrying spares is an absolute must, and the impellers a tiny thing to carry with you. five pages and is a full-blown article, including Core-Cell: A Foaming Solution? Its important to keep the parts moving, especially when the boat has been sitting around unused for a while. to be an editorial, when in fact the piece ran Checks & preparation before leaving for the Arctic We will be aggressive in protecting our legal rights (and) remedies against anyone who spreads false rumors, lies and deceits., While U.S. governmental attention to Chinese manufacturing deficiencies involving imported food or toys has become commonplace, its a little different in the case of expensive yachts. Somehow I've found myself owning four oceans over the last three years, a 46, 60, 42 and another 60 in that order. The sharper the keels angle (deadrise), the softer the ride though sometimes at a cost in speed.