gel coat crazing

[dj43]

Looked at two boats that were for sale today, a fairline and a sealine, both had crazing or fine cracks in gel coat, maybe caused by impact , is this something that could be filled and polished out, none of the damage was near stanchions or cleats, when pointed out to broker, got no reply,any comment's would be appreciated good or bad,

 

[sterntube]

crazing

if you like the ship ,take her, after all i chose the wife with crazing in every department ,no where im comin from?

 

[Searush]

AFAIK, you accept it & live with it or pay a fortune for extensive gel coat repairs. Could be a bargaining lever. But if you want to polish rather than sail, pass on & look for an immaculate boat.

 

[[2068]]

A fortune?

Depending on where they are, small areas can be sorted out so they are near-enough-invisible for a few hundred pounds.

 

[Searush]

A fortune?

Depending on where they are, small areas can be sorted out so they are near-enough-invisible for a few hundred pounds.

Quite, that's what I said - a fortune!

You see, everything is relative . . .

 

[[2068]]

yup, relative to a purchase price of say £100,000 a couple of hundred quids worth of gelcoat repair shouldn't be a deal breaker

 

[hlb]

Gel coat crazing has nothing to do with strength. It can be cut out and filled,

It's a bit like hitting a safe with a hammer, you might damage the top surface but thats about all.

 

[dj43]

Many thanks to all replys, having another look at one of them this week will post results,

 

[rafiki_]

You might want to see if there is anything below the immediate crazing area, to see if there is a stress raiser. I have this in one place on the saloon floor in Rafiki. the floor is sitting on one of the cross bearers on the hull, causing a local stress raiser and crazing. I am going to fill this when I get a few moments.

 

[A_8]

If the crazing is caused by flexing of the hull it will most likely comeback if you try to fix it.

If it is caused by an object or accident type situation it will stay repaired until the same accident happens again

I think you should put some effort into understanding why there is crazing, if it's bad or not depends on many things so best is probably to let a expert look at it if you intend to buy.

For example someone I know bought a 32' sport cruiser that had crazing here and there but he had a relaxed attitude towards it. One day he decided to clean the bilges and got a bucket full of gelcoat.
It turned out the inner lining had come loose 2/3 of the hull and caused the hull to flex excessively which in turn created the crazings.

One tell on the crazings are if they are very thin, that indicates it's not something/movement that happens repeatedly which should make it ok.

 

[Elessar]

If the crazing is caused by flexing of the hull it will most likely comeback if you try to fix it.

If it is caused by an object or accident type situation it will stay repaired until the same accident happens again

I think you should put some effort into understanding why there is crazing, if it's bad or not depends on many things so best is probably to let a expert look at it if you intend to buy.

For example someone I know bought a 32' sport cruiser that had crazing here and there but he had a relaxed attitude towards it. One day he decided to clean the bilges and got a bucket full of gelcoat.
It turned out the inner lining had come loose 2/3 of the hull and caused the hull to flex excessively which in turn created the crazings.

One tell on the crazings are if they are very thin, that indicates it's not something/movement that happens repeatedly which should make it ok.

very wise advice +1 therefore.