Hull distortion .

[uri]

I noticed on my new boat (40 foot sloop 7/8 rig, deck stepped) that on force 4 or more the door that separates the front cabin to the dinnette gets midajusted, changing tack will change the midajustment, of course I am very concerned, Is that distortion acceptable? Is that going to become worst by time? Can it be corrected some how? Is it unsafe ?

Please I need information

[soverel28]

What make of boat is this?
PB

[uri]

Is an Elan

[Sailormon6]

If I were you, I would pay a naval architect or other qualified expert to examine the boat and provide a written opinion. If there really is a problem, you will have an expert witness to support your claim against the boat manufacturer. Also, if the manufacturer proposes a method to correct the problem, your naval architect can tell you whether it is a good solution, or an inadequate one. If you don''t have a bona fide expert looking out for your interests, then you will be at the mercy (or lack thereof) of the manufacturer. Good luck.

[uri]

I am going to do that, I also will writte at the manufacturer and the arquitect or designer, I will also have a written inspection of the problem....that may be is much less than what I....well hope. Thank you but I will love more imput, The sad thing is that the boat is great ! it sails fast and I loved ...I hope we can repair that or...Il be sad really sad

[paulk]

While it may be upsetting, boats can and do flex and twist a bit under load. When this occurred a bit too much for the taste of one owner I raced with to Bermuda a number of times, he had a ring frame/bulkhead installed in the suspect area of the cabin near the partners. It was built of plywood with nice laminated hardwood trim around the opening and ''glassed into the hull, the underside of the deck and coachroof. Quite simple to do, actually, quite effective, and not a major impediment in the cabin. This was on a Whitby 45-- not a boat known for light scantlings; we were obviously pushing her hard to Place in our division. Another boat (wooden) I raced to Bermuda had the cabin trunk start to leak at the carlins from the pounding we gave her dropping off the tops of eight foot chop while beating for hours at eight knots in the Gulf Stream. For that, we pumped the bilge and hoped she''d hold together long enough to get us there. Solutions depend on he boat and on what exactly the problem is. The builder and (as a second opinion) a naval architect should be able to help you determine if the fix is a repair or a new (different) boat.
Elan takes great pride in the strength and seaworthiness of their boats, so your story is a bit of a surprise. I would think it possible that they might offer to investigate and then engineer and actually do the corrective repair for you, just to make sure it never happens again to anyone.
Happier sailing!

[uri]

Well I also think Elan and the actual designer of the boat are great, I went to see the factory in Slonenija and their quality. My confidence on them is good that was the reason that I bougght the boat. But when you see that kind of things on a new boat the imagination starts to fly, and I need to know exactlly what the problem is and what does it mind. I use to sail in cruisers and I never saw anything flex. My brother had studied naval construction in Southampton England, he did not see the problem yet but he told me that most likely is not going to be anything really bad we need to do some test and to inspect the boat again. As I saud the boat is beautiful, fast, confortable for family cruising, so I expect to fix the problem if is really a problem and keep sailing as much as I can. Meanwhile I like to know opinions and ideas. Thanks to all for the imput.

[uri]

I need to say that Elan has contacted me just in two days to go with the dealer and get some mesurements. I hope is good signal.