A 2005 Tartan Splits Open at Sea (Part II)

The pictures here show a 2005 Tartan 3700 that literally came apart at sea.

The vessel itself was abandoned by the delivery skipper and his mate in December. (See previous post on this topic)

The pictures you see here show a comb that is poking in to the laminate layers of the hull. The hull not only split, but the hull was starting to delaminate. I have been told you can put a screw driver up in to the interior for the length of the split. The water was 3 feet deep in the interior. The crack runs for 30 inches under the forward bulkhead and terminates at the transducer through hulls (removed following incident).

[Image #1 Removed at Request of Owner - See Leverage of a Different Kind post]

[Image #2 Removed at Request of Owner - See Leverage of a Different Kind post]

[Image #3 Removed at Request of Owner - See Leverage of a Different Kind post]

To protect the identity of this boat and the owner I have not included photos of the topsides.

The boat is said to be fully repaired by Fairport Yachts to 'as new' standard (at the factory over the last 9 months) and should be on it's way back to the owner very shortly, pending some paperwork.

• So how many other Tartan 3700 hulls are out there at risk when in 5'-6' seas offshore?
• Was this a hull manufacturing defect, or as the owner was told by the factory months ago, the result of over-tightening the rig?
• Why has no other Tartan 3700 owner received a letter from Fairport Yachts about this with an advisory to have their hull inspected?

After seeing all the press about the Bavaria that lost it's keel and sailors died a few years back I only hope that the sailing press cover more of these types of issues and to push for (1) improved vendor disclosures (2) requirement for manufacturers to inform owners of significant potential risks they face under the 'duty to inform' code of ethics and (3) the need for owners to have the hulls (and other components) checked by a qualified yard ASAP.

Together, the Tartan 3700 and wider Tartan and C&C owner communities can bring about change and stop us all suffering in isolated silence as we all decide how best to balance our desire to keep sailing, while identifying build issues and asking collectively for real solutions to real problems in these boats.

In closing for this post I want to thank the owner of this particular Tartan 3700 for being completely unselfish in coming forward to share this hull issue and through this blog make these photos available to the community. While his hull build issue was possibly a one-off, at least he was bold enough to come forward and stand up for what is right for all owners. For all of us with a Tartan 3700 in the water (or in my case on the hard!), check your hull and of course, keep checking those sail-drives!