Star crazed fibreglass damage - repair or leave?

[kennyh]

Hi all

I've my boat on the hard at present (due to my Volvo DPH Sterndrive needing some the oil seals replaced) and I've a spotted a couple of fibreglass damaged areas that might need attention. One is on the topside, and has previously been repaired (by original owner) and one is near the (displacement) waterline near the bow.

I'm not too bothered about the topsides damage (it's not going to sink me) but the one near the bow might need some consideration.

Of the two pics, the one with my finger in it is the bow damage, which is just above a chine. The longest craze/crack is perhaps 20cm or so, with a very fine crack (can't really feel it with my nails).

So, do i ignore it and keep on boating (once I've got my Sterndrive fixed and I've stopped crying due to the service costs) or do I use the opportunity to get the cracks gouged out and a good repair done?

Any thoughts?

Ps. Photo with finger needs to be rotated 90deg Clockwise.

 

[omega2]

Does not look terminal, but if you are not happy, can you get the area on the inside? if yes then see if there has been any ingress of water. You could also throw another layer of matt on the inside providing all is dry. The topsides looks like someone dropped something heavy on it, again nothing to worry about. Unless your surveyor has mates in the osmosis repair game.

 

[rafiki_]

Nice to get them repaired for your own piece of mind, nothing you wont see on most boats 10 years old and beyond.

 

[A_8]

They are likely to come back even if you repair them. Having had the P34 I am curious of the topside damage which seems odd. It looks more aggressive and if repaired before something might be off.
Where exacty is the topside damage located?

 

[kennyh]

They are likely to come back even if you repair them. Having had the P34 I am curious of the topside damage which seems odd. It looks more aggressive and if repaired before something might be off.
Where exacty is the topside damage located?

The damage is on the rear starboard quarter, above the joint of the hull and the topsides.

It looks to me like "marina rash" probably due to a bad docking manoeuvre.

The moulding looks pretty thin there, so I'm not surprised that damage could occur there.

 

[A_8]

Ok, makes sense.

 

[doug748]

"Any thoughts?"

I have got worse on my boat, in a highly stressed position, and it has not changed in the last 20 years.

I think that damage is trivial and anything less than a first rate repair would look poor.