crack help?

C

ctcruiser

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hey guys I noticed a series of cracks on the side of my boat above the waterline. they are about 6 inches or less long and are vertical there are 4 of them in a slight curve pattern and very fine hairline. They could have been their along time time I was right infront of then and did not notice them when I was right in front of them today. I went back to the boat and was working on a decal and right next to them and saw them. I am thinking they may have happened at the begining of last season when wind caught my boat and it hit the dock broad side teice without the fenders out though their was a rub rail on the dock.

Should I panic?

Thanks
 
I doubt panic is in order. Going on your description alone, these sound like simple gelcoat cracks, which are easily repaired. They can come from physical stress, but can also come from aging and temperature changes, especially if the gelcoat is a bit thick in the area.

While I don't believe panic is in order, they should be repaired. If they are what I suspect, the repair is pretty simple (if you know what you are doing) and not very expensive -- maybe $100 from a good 'glass / gelcoat guy.
 
Yup...they're impact cracks in the gelcoat. Not serious...just unsightly.
 
Freebird? Oh, vertical cracks. Most hull sides are cored, get a small plastic hammer, tap on the other side of the boat in the same area, then this area, compare the thudlike noises to see if they're the same. That may tell you if it's damaged/delaminated there. Can you see this area from inside the boat? Of course posting pics would help. If you're handy you may want to do a gelcoat repair job to those cracks, and see if they reappear next season. It is tough to tell if you're talking spider cracks in gelcoat or structural damage. What type boat? There have been a few threads elsewhere about damaged forward hull sections in the area above the DWL from "pounding" the seas, hitting dock could do same. Good luck!
 
I did tap the other side to compair they both sound the same in that area very solid. to trie to be more clear the lines are vertical and slightly curved they all the line are close to geth and almost parrellel to each other the longest line is 6 inches. It is hardly noticable.
 
Sounds right for minor gelcoat fracture. Get 'em looked at. I'll bet ~ $100.

While I had my recent purchase out for a new bottom job we went over the whole thing with a fine-tooth comb and found about 5 of these kinds of cracks. The painter fixed 'em all for $300, including two in abrasive non-skid areas.
 
Id didn't think their where repairs for $100 these day's. I'll Call the yard to have them look at and fix. Hopefully I don't get riped never called them for work like this before.
 
$750 is a little steep for me to see justifing the repair unless it is nessesary. I asked him if he thought it needed to be fixed and he said that if i hit that spot again the cracks could get bigger and it would cost even more. He said it would be a full day to do it right so thats 8hrs at 85 per hour.

Is this somthing I can repair. I just don't want to make things worse or am I better off just leaving it.
 
I had some stress cracks on my last boat, I just left them alone. It looked to me that it came from haul outs since they lined up close to where the sling would wrap. Spend the 750 bucks on fuel, just watch the cracks, mine never got any bigger and when I sold the boat it was never an issue either.
 
$750 ? Either it is some smokin' crack or your yard is doing a number on you. It may take all of a day, but not 8 hours of actual labor.

If it's just usual stress cracks in gelcoat I would shop around. Check with some of the boat glass shops or paint shops. Preferably one independent from a yard. In the meantime, I wouldn't fret.

Can you repair them ? Sure - if you can do simple filler work, like body repair and compounding.
 
Every time I go by this title my conjours many things that have nothing to do with gel coat.

G
 
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