Are stress cracks in the gelcoat normal?

[kiloil]

I've had two long stress cracks or gelcoat cracking on two separate occasions but I want to know if its normal to have these cracks pop up? Both of them were about 12" long and deep enough for you fingernail to grab it. SR has fixed both of them.

 

[LG111]

Stress cracks are not normal but generally only cosmetic. What is the location of the cracks?

 

[Tonka Boater]

It depends. Where are the cracks specifically? Are they spider cracks or stress cracks? If you're getting repeated stress cracks in the same area then they could be an indication of a structural problem. If they're spider cracks, then it's probably cosmetic in nature and nothing to worry about.

More info on the location and nature of the cracks would be helpful.

 

[wrvond]

Lots of variables. I trailer all my boats and the roads around here are so rough it's impossible to not get cracks.

 

[fwebster]

Where the cracks appear is important to understanding the problem. Sea Ray uses very high quality resins and gelcoat, and the gelcoat is sprayed heavily which is why these boats have a very high quality gelcoat finish with no print thru. A crack appearing out in a flat part of the hull or deck is rare. Gelcoat is different than resin used in the structure underneath the gelcoat. The 2 materials have a different rate of expansion which usually isn't a problem. However, in curved areas of the mold, the gelcoat is sprayed in first and it tends to pool in concave spots.....convex spots are sprayed more heavily than flat areas to avoid shading and print thru. Therefore, the areas with a heavy or thick gelcoat may tend to stress crack over time just because the gelcoat has a different expansion characteristic than the fiberglass and polyester resin it is bonded to.

For the most part, stress cracks do not involve the boat's structure so they are cosmetic and harmless. If they bother you, they are usually very economical to repair.

 

[kiloil]

The first crack appeared about 12" long on the starboard side swim platform under the sea deck. The other one 5 months later was between the co captains chair and the rear seating on the deck, both about 12".

 

[Bay Frog]

Hello and new to the forum.

I'm looking at purchasing an 06 SR 300DA. The survey identified some starboard side stress cracking. I am a boat owner, but don't have experience here so I figured I'd get thought from some experts. Any opinions you may hae is appreciated:

 

[Little Ducky]

Hello and new to the forum.
I'm looking at purchasing an 06 SR 300DA. The survey identified some starboard side stress cracking. I am a boat owner, but don't have experience here so I figured I'd get thought from some experts. Any opinions you may have is appreciated:

I'm no professional but that would be a hard pass for me especially with a colored hull.

I could handle fixing dock or impact damage than some weird stress cracks.

 

[Bay Frog]

Thanks Little Ducky! I have some photos fresh from my survey.

Folks I'm talking to are all saying weird looking. I don't know if cosmetic or if there is something else here. It measured dry in all stress crack locations.

 

[mrsrobinson]

I've seen this before on a boat I was looking to purchase but it was a painted hull. Do you know if this one was painted?

 

[aerobat77]

Hello and new to the forum.

I'm looking at purchasing an 06 SR 300DA. The survey identified some starboard side stress cracking. I am a boat owner, but don't have experience here so I figured I'd get thought from some experts. Any opinions you may hae is appreciated:

View attachment 129253

This is imho not a stress crack from normal use but the result of a minor collision with something , maybe a bad docking manouver . Nobody can answer if this will develop in future problems like further developing of the cracks / new cracks in the area or soaking of moisture.

 

[Bay Frog]

This is imho not a stress crack from normal use but the result of a minor collision with something , maybe a bad docking manouver . Nobody can answer if this will develop in future problems like further developing of the cracks / new cracks in the area or soaking of moisture.

Thank you aerobat77!!

I am feeling the same that there was a collision here. I've asked the owner for any repair documentation and/or any survey information they may have. I'm also feeling at minimum there should be a value deduct here. Other than the risk as you noted, I'm questioning whether I can live with this. Even if there is no future issue, can I accept looking at this everyday.

Then the day I determine to sell the boat, I will be dealing with this again.

 

[mrsrobinson]

If you are questioning it now, you will every time you see the boat. I suggest you walk unless the seller will repair it.

 

[sbw1]

If you are questioning it now, you will ever time you see the boat. I suggest you walk unless the seller will repair it.

Not likely it can be repaired without color variations. Blue is very tough to match, and it almost always fades at a different pace than the factory original. It is common to see repairs on older boats that jump out at you when viewed at a distance.

 

[kevin27]

Good luck with that blue hull. Thar looks from hitting something during docking. Go find a white hull. You won't regret it.

 

[Creekwood]

Those cracks are not going away and would bug me forever. I think the repair would be pretty costly since the back side would have to be strengthened potentially or the cracks will just come back, and blue is not forgiving for hiding gel coat repairs. Maybe if the price was really low (like stealing it low) it "might" be worth taking a leap and not fixing it, as long as you can live with a boat with obvious damage.

 

[highslice]

Good luck with that blue hull. Thar looks from hitting something during docking. Go find a white hull. You won't regret it.

+1, those look like they are from impacts. I've seen more than my share of stress cracks, and they didn't look like that.

Looking at that every day would drive me insane. My first boat had a blue hull and developed stress cracks. MarineMax could not match up the colors. Sea Ray ended up sending someone from the plant to fix it.

 

[Fill Ess]

Come join the 300DA white hull group -- where cracks are a lot harder to see

 

[Pirate Lady]

Come join the 300DA white hull group -- where cracks are a lot harder to see

View attachment 129360

How many times can I like this post!!!!

 

[Pirate Lady]

Dark hulls ….

White hulls…..