Top and Bottom of Hull do not fit together well.

[siebt]

I have a 2005 232BR.

Along the sides, the top half of the boat does not fit well with the bottom half of the boat.  Is this normal and/or acceptable?

It is approx. 1.5 inches mismatch on one side and up to an inch on the other.  The gap is filled with caulking.

The fit is much better, but not tight, towards the front and rear of the boat.

My 2002 232 had a very tight, very uniform fit all the way around the boat.

I have not seen this before.

I have pictures, but am having problems reducing them to fit.  I will read some of the threads elsewhere in the forum to figure it out.

thanks for any opinions.

[osead]

I'd check spec's with Rinker.  Did you get it from a dealer? Private sale?

[siebt]

I bought the boat from the original owner who claims that the boat has no damage history.

[DaleM]

Just a thought here, I'm not sure if the top and bottom is screwed or nut and bolted together but look to see if something pulled apart and the original owner caulked the gap.  You could also pull the rubrail insert and scrape the caulk out to try to pull it together with stainless nuts and bolts.  Did this same thing to my Astro bass boat.  It was only riveted to together and some pulled out on rough runs.  Be sure to use a decent size fender washer on the backside. 

[Capt Ron]

Rinker uses stainless steel screws and caulking to fix the upper and lower parts of the boat. I would check with Rinker to see if this was normal for your year of boat.

[siebt]

Per Randy Rinker, the 2005 (not sure what other years would be included) did not fit well together and this gap is not something they like, but is normal.

Between 2002 (my previous boat) and 2005, they changed the upper and lower section designs and thus the mismatch.

I guess this means that all 2005 232's will have this same characteristic.  I would like to hear from other owners to confirm or deny.

Thanks for all the responses.

[Dream 'Inn]

Definitely would love to see some pictures of this.  I could ask at the rinker dealer where I keep my boat to see if they have seen this as well.

[Texas232]

I would like to see pictures as well.  I have 2005 232BR and everything seems to fit fine.

[siebt]

Here is yet another attempt to post pictures showing the mismatch between the top and bottom.

[Texas232]

The pics are pretty small, but I can surely tell on the second one, that looks bad....mine does not fit like that.....mine match up and is a 2005.

I can't believe they shipped boats out that look like that.

[mightys4]

WOW, that is some gap!  That looks like almost an inch!  My 2002 FV270 gap varies from around an eighth to around a quarter inch, maybe a bit over that in one spot, and the rub rail was sealed so water could not escape and was leaking into the cabin.

This spring, I removed the entire rail, removed all the caulk (some came easy, some didn't) and re-caulked with Boat Life, I really hope I don't have to do that ever again.

I also caulked all the screws for the rub rail, no sign of leaks since.

 

[siebt]

I cannot get good pictures of the length of the boat showing the extent of the mismatch.  Camera won't focus and it is hard to get the light right.

I kind of wish I had not posted the issue on the forum as I am terribly disappointed to learn that it is probably not as normal as Mr. Rinker suggested.

I have not owned a boat that was not a Rinker for a reason and that reason is the high quality.

Our 2000 and 2002 boats were of excellent quality.  I had zero issues/complaints on either.  I am becoming disappointed with this particular 2005 model for various issues; some of which I might attribute to the fact that it was a lift-kept boat before I got it a week and a half ago.  Maybe constant motion on the lift has worked the boat "loose" in several areas.  My other boats were trailer boats.

Does anyone have experience with lift boat vs. trailer boat issues like loose windshield, loose screws, etc?

All that being said, the 2005 is still a very nice boat and looks, runs and performs very well.  It is just not as refined as I know Rinker to be.

[jakline]

I have this same year and model boat and do not have this issue. Sorry to hear about it though.

[Capt Ron]

Loose screws on runabouts is not abnormal. On my Bayliner I had to tighten windscreen screens and rails all the time. The boat flexes more than you think and this is why screw tighten becomes a normal check. Lifting it out of the water should be no different than trailering it unless the lift isn't properly adjusted for that hull. Just my experience.