Gel coat stress cracks

[##StuA##]

Just in the process of buying a first boat, Bayliner 2455 (2001), over the phone the surveyor has mentioned stress cracks, in the Gel coat, on the inner spray rail (both sides) which are approx 80cm by 3cm. He doesnt know how far they go in but recommends getting it sorted before putting it in the water.

Should I walk away?

 

[##StuA##]

Hi, posted this question yesterday, but it didn't appear on the forum till this morning, if anyone has any views on what to do I would love to hear them as at a bit of a loss what to do.

 

[John100156]

Posting some pictures might help the professionals on here to provide a more informed response. But 80x3cm? Is this an area containing stress cracks? Surely they are not 3cm wide cracks?

If the boat has been properly surveyed the surveyor should recommend appropriate remedies and should give his opinion as to whether or not they are serious defects. Normally these sort of repairs are easily sorted, but if I were you I would negotiate with the seller to offset the cost of any repairs, they would need to be completed to the full satisfaction of my surveyor!

 

[imac8]

I wouldn't jump the gun and walk away just yet. Depending on the severity most stress cracks can be repaired. If the boats in good nick, surveyor hasnt highlighted anything of serious concern and has the spec you want then I'd get an estimate to repair and then knock it off the asking price and then pay your own GRP specialist to do it. At least you'll know it's repaired properly.

 

[paultallett]

Hi StuA,

Welcome to the forum. I agree with the others. A proper surveyor will beable to tell you how bad or not the cracks are and how is best to get them repaired.

Depending on what they say, get a price to fix the problem then negotiate the price down.

Good luck and let us know how you get on.

Regards,


Paul.

 

[##StuA##]

Hi,
Thanks for the advice, grp specialist has had a look and they aren't serious, so going back to vendor with costs to repair.
Hopefully we will be on the water later this month!

Thanks again for putting my mind at rest

Stu

 

[rafiki_]

It would be very unusual for a grp mobo of that age to have no stress cracks in the gelcoat. American built sports cruisers can be a bit more susseptible to cracking than European boats, as they tend not to be built to quite the same robustness, and this is reflected in their price. Stress cracking in the gelcoat can be quite easily repaired, but you might want to talk to a specialist first, as the Bayliner is 10 years old, and the colour might have changed slightly from the sun/weather etc.

It is highly unlikely that these cracks are a sign of impending doom or failure, and as others have said, the surveyor should tell you if this is so.

 

[rbcoomer]

Just a theory...

Given the size and type of boat, it may well have been trailed regularly. It's not uncommon for people to strap boats down too tight and shocks from bumps, potholes etc in the road is transferred through the straps to the boat. It may be that if these cracks are symmetrical that this is where the straps have crushed the gel-coat or even the boat pressed down a roller etc? Fibreglass will flex and is unlikely to be damaged, but the gel-coat doesn't and will crack. Probably easily fixed, but probably not cheap for a good job!