Almost SeaRay 290 owner-Have questions!!!!

[piratzbob]

Hello, I am nearing the final phase of trading in my center console for a 2006 - previously lite owned - 290 Dancer ( 72 hours). I know that many on this site prefer the 280 but I really enjoy the 290's lines and interior. I did a walk around today and found two areas of concern, 1st there is a small hole (3/4")in the gelcoat on the port bow at the waterline. I can put my finger past the gel coat and feel the matting (?) underneath.The hull is very thin at this point ... Normal??? The salesman said it is a blister in the gel coat that will be investigated to insure no water intrusion and repaired. Has anyone heard of this happening? Is it a concern? :huh: The second area of concern is a blistering to the left of the instrument console where the caulk joints are, the nickel is peeling back and flaking about 1/2 inch back from the caulk line. Again they said - No Problemo mon - we fix like new!!! Other than that the boat looks like it has never seen the water, no signs of leaks around the ports and hatches, engines look like new and interior is spotless. Anything thing else I should look for ?? M Max says they will deliver in like new condition... and it has the extended Merc warranties.The deal on the 290 was fair but the trade on my 29 ft Center Console with 2 STROKES - was a hard trade.

I appreciate the information I have gathered from this forum and look forward to learning and participating in the near future . ( that is if the bubble is no problem!!)

Thank you in advance for your input - piratzbob.....

 

[fwebster]

This is a matter of semantics but if the hole is above the waterline, the chances of it being an osmotic blister are zero. If it is bleow the waterline, the chances of it being a blister are a little higher, but only to the extent that is is possible instead of impossible.

This sounds like a void rather than a blister. It is a defect in the layup and will probably not rise to the level of it even being considered a structural defect which means that if the boat is over a year old, Sea Ray isn't officially responsible for the repair. The chances are, however, that MM will get Sea Ray to fix the defect as a good will gesture.

So, yes, it is a problem, but no its not serious and voids do occur but usually in concave spots where the layup separates before the resin cures. In a flat area it means nothing more than somone didn't get all the air out of the layup between the gelcoat and the first layer of mat.


Neither repair is serious or hard to fix (unless you have a blue hull). As a matter of policy, anytime a salesman tells me "Don't worry, we fix it like new", I worry. You should add wording to your sales contract identifying where the defects are and that the seller will repair all of them to new boat standards and that all the gelcoat repairs will match. This makes it a matter of contract removes and possibility that the salesman over stated his ability to get the repairs done. Salesmen don't make decisions; their managers do and when a manager signs off on a contract with the repair wording in it, you should have no problem getting the seller to live up to the committment.

 

[piratzbob]

fwebster...Thanks for the response

I have owned 5 other boats in my life and never saw anything like this .. even when I chipped under the bow on my Century with an anchor... Its good to know it can be remedied. Thanks for your input.

 

[DavidS]

Did you trade? What year is the Century?

 

[skolbe]

Ask for a date for the repair - preferably before closing. But sounds like a fairly simple repair. But don't close until the repair is completed to your satisfaction.

 

[piratzbob]

Apparently there was some water intrusion through the opening - the repair will now have to be "seen" by Sea Ray Factory personnel. I am going to look elsewhere. ai would have thought that this would have been repaired before the boat was offered for sale... Thanks all , I will update you on my next option..

 

[skolbe]

Most dealers fix things after the sale - not prior. Which is good for the consumer. You get to see the problems.