I am looking to purchase a new to me boat. It is looking like a good deal but i am concerned about some gelcoat cracking on the side of the gunnels. Everywhere else looks good. I know the gelcoat is the waterproof skin of the boat. Is this a costly repair? Any knowledge of the process or cost of repair? Referrals?
Thank in advance for any advice and/or help.
I’m sure Capt. Cracker and some of our other experts will be along directly. Small gelcoat repair is not difficult to do yourself and not very expensive. The hardest part is the sanding/prep and color matching. However, spiderweb cracking is sometimes a sign of something causing undue stress on the gelcoat so you have to find and deal with the underlying issue which may be a difficult and expensive undertaking depending on the cause. Probably best to post a picture and let some of these guys help diagnose.
16’ High Tide Flats (Green) w/Yamaha 90
Wilderness Ride 135
Wilderness Tarpon 120
Need pictures to give you a good answer. Some minor gel coat cracks are normal and of no real concern. Gelcoat is not waterproof, it is nothing more than polyester resin and color pigment. Water permeates it over time. It is also very brittle and easily cracked.
Cracks in a spiderweb pattern usually indicate an area of high stress or point loading. Cracks in a radial pattern are usually indicative of collision or impact damage. Cracks in a linear pattern usually indicate unusual hull flexing. It could be nothing, or it could be serious. Can’t tell from here.
Capt. Larry Teuton
Cracker Built Custom Boats
“Ships are the nearest things to dreams that hands have ever made.” -Robert N. Rose
I left my old Whaler uncovered with the plug in for a couple of weeks one time and it filled half way with water. When I emptied it, there were ‘worm’ cracks in the deck and up the sides where the water was. I’m sure this was unusually flexing due to the weight of the water…does not seem to have affected the boat, just looks ugly.
Larry, thank you for replying. I was hoping for your input. You are obviously the goto guy with anything boat related and it shows that your knowledge is vastly greater than mine. I only have pictures that were emailed to me. So i can’t figure out how to post them. Sorry. The cracks are linear and i first thought some kind of impact to the hull but they are directly above the metal rub rail and it shows no damage and i am told it is original. The hull doesn’t appear to have a single crack anywhere just the cap on the side of the gunnels. There are snaps for a cockpit cover in the area of the cracks but the cracks don’t seem to radiate from them.
One more thought. This boat has lived most of its life in dry storage. Could a strap lift have been part of the cause?
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I only have pictures that were emailed to me. So i can't figure out how to post them. Sorry.
Email them to me and I’ll post them. LTeuton at aol dot com. Without pictures we are just shooting in the dark. Most boats get minor gelcoat cracks after a few years of use, there is a lot of stresses and flex on a boat hull. Some are indicative of a serious problem, most not.
Capt. Larry Teuton
Cracker Built Custom Boats
“Ships are the nearest things to dreams that hands have ever made.” -Robert N. Rose
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Could a strap lift have been part of the cause?
Yes. What brand and year model boat is it?
Capt. Larry Teuton
Cracker Built Custom Boats
“Ships are the nearest things to dreams that hands have ever made.” -Robert N. Rose
It is a '97 25ft Pusuit. I am getting a survey done next week. Will this be something that a marine surveyor would be knowledgable about? If there is fiberglass damage that i should be concerned about, should i be able to tell by tapping on the area and/or pushing to check for deflection?
Larry, I pm’d you.
Thanks
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It is a '97 25ft Pusuit. I am getting a survey done next week. Will this be something that a marine surveyor would be knowledgable about?
Absolutely the marine surveyor will be very knowledgeable about that, otherwise you aren’t getting what you paid for. I know Pursuits well and regularly fish on an 11 year old 27 Pursuit. We take it 100 miles offshore and it is rock solid. Very good boats. I doubt it has any serious issues, but if it does your surveyor will point them out. The designer of that boat was Jacques Mertens, he is also the designer of most of the boats that I build. I’ve got his phone number and email if you have in depth problems, doubt it does with that hull.
PM replied to.
Capt. Larry Teuton
Cracker Built Custom Boats
“Ships are the nearest things to dreams that hands have ever made.” -Robert N. Rose
Larry, thank you for the info. I feel more comfortable now knowing your confidence in the manufacturer. I will update once the survey is done.
I do have a lot of confidence in Pursuits design and construction. I fished it once in true 12-15 seas, 70 miles offshore and we came back in with Sargasso weed hanging from the antennas and covering the radome and T-top. It was a long ride home. Never once worried about the boat but everybody on it was a miserable soul. When we got back to the dock 1 man left running, never wanting to see water again. 2 were still throwing up. It was pouring rain and I just laid in the grass in the rain for an hour, enjoying something that wasn’t moving. That boat can take more than I can for sure.
Capt. Larry Teuton
Cracker Built Custom Boats
“Ships are the nearest things to dreams that hands have ever made.” -Robert N. Rose