GMoneyman Posted July 21, 2020 Report Share Posted July 21, 2020 Anyone have any issues with hairline cracks ? I have a 2018 26 hps with a tower and some hairline cracks are showing up On the tower ! i love this pathfinder, just concern if they will fix and how . here are some pics Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sunstone Posted July 21, 2020 Report Share Posted July 21, 2020 My guess is it isn't the metal just the coating. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NCTribute Posted July 21, 2020 Report Share Posted July 21, 2020 My guess is since multiple other people have posted with the same exact issue, that it's cracking in the metal. Right at the heat affected zone of the weld, which is the most susceptible area to cracking due to change in section and embrittlement of the material. Call MBG, hopefully they will help you out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MuddyBottomBluz Posted July 21, 2020 Report Share Posted July 21, 2020 Chinese Aluminum! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GMoneyman Posted July 21, 2020 Author Report Share Posted July 21, 2020 It keeps growing ! Darn . Calling them now thanks for input Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smilemaker Posted July 21, 2020 Report Share Posted July 21, 2020 since you have pictures of the problem I would sand the powdercoat and see is it is into the metal. unfortunately a betting man would take the odds that it is in the metal. Powdercoating is very unforgiving and that is why if I was fortunate enough to buy a new boat it would not be powdercoated. Anodizing can have colors too and I have wondered why it has not been used in the marine industry more. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderator Posted July 21, 2020 Report Share Posted July 21, 2020 If that is a factory installed tower, then definitely contact your dealer and get that fixed.. Mod Marc 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jason p Posted July 21, 2020 Report Share Posted July 21, 2020 3 hours ago, smilemaker said: Anodizing can have colors too and I have wondered why it has not been used in the marine industry more. You’d have to dip the entire part after it was welded, not practical with large assemblies. The pipe used for t tops, leaning posts, towers, etc... is anodized, it’s just clear. The only time we used “bare” aluminum where I worked, is when a part was going to be painted or powder coated. When you weld anodized pipe you burn through the anodizing leaving a bare aluminum weld, most fabricators will go back over the weld with a silver paint. That’s why as they age the weld looks darker than the pipe... the bare aluminum weld oxidizes while the anodized pipe stays shiny. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MuddyBottomBluz Posted July 21, 2020 Report Share Posted July 21, 2020 18 minutes ago, smilemaker said: Anodizing can have colors too and I have wondered why it has not been used in the marine industry more. Not durable enough coating for scratching, chemicals in sunblocks can discolor it. The best thing about anodized is that if you did have a colored anything in anodized aluminum, a can of easy off oven cleaner can turn it back into bare aluminum in a heartbeat, anodizing wipes right off. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smilemaker Posted July 21, 2020 Report Share Posted July 21, 2020 ok thanks for the explanation bare aluminium looks beter and better Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jason p Posted July 21, 2020 Report Share Posted July 21, 2020 This kind of cracking isn’t as uncommon as you’d think with these hard tops and towers, not just MBC boats either. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fin-addict Posted July 22, 2020 Report Share Posted July 22, 2020 Feel it’s more than just the coating. Sorry but I don’t like the looks of the welds, not clean and smooth looking, jmo. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bloch776 Posted July 24, 2020 Report Share Posted July 24, 2020 The factory won’t replace it. They’ll contact tnt and you’ll have to buy a new one and they’ll pull it off for you and put the new one on. Some help is better than none but it’s not completely covered unless it’s under a year old from my understanding Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MuddyBottomBluz Posted July 24, 2020 Report Share Posted July 24, 2020 I think it was Capt. Troy who explained on another post that the vibration that t-top is under just not on the water but on the trailer going down the highway is a lot. That t-top is exposed to a constant 60-65 MPH wind putting pressure on it for however many miles you travel. Then just the vibrations and impacts from the road itself. There are alotta variables when it comes to how and why t-tops crack. Of course workmanship and quality of material is at the top of that list of course. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fin-addict Posted July 24, 2020 Report Share Posted July 24, 2020 If I were you I would take it to a GOOD fab shop and see what can be done before spending dollars for a new one. I feel this is a workmanship issue rather than stress. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HoneyB Posted July 24, 2020 Report Share Posted July 24, 2020 I would wait for MBG to say pound sand before talking it anywhere. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NCTribute Posted July 26, 2020 Report Share Posted July 26, 2020 On 7/21/2020 at 4:45 PM, MuddyBottomBluz said: Not durable enough coating for scratching, chemicals in sunblocks can discolor it. The best thing about anodized is that if you did have a colored anything in anodized aluminum, a can of easy off oven cleaner can turn it back into bare aluminum in a heartbeat, anodizing wipes right off. HB has anodized platforms, never heard of issues. Anodizing is a porous layer of aluminum oxide that grows from the parent material, Type II can be colored, Type III cannot really be colored and is typically dark greenish to black. Both are sealed. Type III is industrial/military grade and extremely hard and durable. I have several bike frames with type II anodize and have had zero issues with discoloration, it will wear/rub off if in contact with a cable for example, but so would powder coating or paint. Oven cleaner will screw up just about every material on a boat, not just anodize, it is caustic soda which is an etching solution. So yes it will remove anodize, but it will also remove chrome and powder coating. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jason p Posted July 26, 2020 Report Share Posted July 26, 2020 Hopefully we’ll hear the outcome of this. Seems every time there’s a stringer, t top crack or other major issue it disappears from the interwebs forever. I don’t know if the MBC is hooking these guys up out of warranty and telling them to keep quiet or if the owners just say F-it and handle it themselves. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GMoneyman Posted December 9, 2020 Author Report Share Posted December 9, 2020 Wanted to do a follow up post with my warranty experience with pathfinder with the tower crack. anyone interested? Jason here goes ! Pathfinder did fix it , great customer service . Some communication issues with Steve but , all in all great experience all around ! Special thanks to Tripper with Maverick and Beth from family boating keeping the project managed. tower was taken off sand blasted fixed re sprayed wired and installed in like a week ! Other items like screws backing out of rub rail fixed as well . only downside is all that debris and shop scraps left in the bilge. Few hours of clean up would of scored Maverick an 💯 . Let’s hope thus fixed second station doesn’t fail again ! Also not sure what’s pathfinders take on the remainder of my warranty now ? thanks team Pathfinder. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HoneyB Posted December 9, 2020 Report Share Posted December 9, 2020 Thanks for coming back to update the thread. Good information right there as they say! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
THE OUTLAW Posted December 19, 2020 Report Share Posted December 19, 2020 IMHO The hardtop has to be secured to rhe leaning post . When more than 50% of the top is hanging off behind the aft legs , the stress’ and load are too much for the pipe to handle . A properly designed top will not fail . 🇺🇸🏴☠️ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fin-addict Posted December 19, 2020 Report Share Posted December 19, 2020 Outlaw, any pic of what you talking about for all of use to see, thanks, fin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
THE OUTLAW Posted December 20, 2020 Report Share Posted December 20, 2020 This 🇺🇸🏴☠️ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
geeviam Posted December 20, 2020 Report Share Posted December 20, 2020 On 12/19/2020 at 11:12 AM, fin-addict said: Outlaw, any pic of what you talking about for all of use to see, thanks, fin Here's another good example Fin: https://www.thehulltruth.com/boats-sale-wanted/1124888-2018-28-whitewater-twin-300-s.html 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fin-addict Posted December 20, 2020 Report Share Posted December 20, 2020 Sorry guys, have seen many with the LP supports. Meant, Pathy’s. My wrong. Thanks for the time and trouble. 😀👍⚓️Fin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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