scoutabout
Lieutenant Commander
- Joined
- Oct 14, 2006
- Messages
- 1,568
Hi folks -- I'm looking for some advice from the fibreglass experts in the crowd.
I have a 2004 Scout Dorado 175 which I just bought in the southern United States. I then trailered it about a thousand miles up to my home in Canada. When I arrived and was cleaning her up after the long trip I noticed what I thought were several strands of hair on the deck forward of the consoles.
When they wouldn't sweep up I discovered with horror that they were actually hairline cracks in the gelcoat. The red lines on the diagram below show more or less where they are. As I said, they are so thin you'd think they were strands of hair. The longest is about five or six inches.
I got on the phone with the former owner and asked if the cracks were there prior to my purchase. He admitted that there was "one about an inch long" there already. I kick myself for not finding it during the inspection.
Anyway, obviously the thousand mile jostle she got on the trailer (bunk style, not roller) introduced enough stress to spread them plus add a few more. The cracks appear in the smooth part of the gelcoat between the nonslip surface and the vertical bulkhead of the helm console. One crack even rounds the aft corner of the console bulkhead.
Questions:
1. Does this matter or is it only cosmetic?
The boat has a ten-year structural warranty from Scout but I notice they are careful in the documentation to exclude "gel coat cracking and crazing" in what they cover.
2. Will water get in there and, if so, where does it go and what damage does it cause?
The boat is supposed to be "all composite" but I've learned here on the iboat forum that doesn't necessarily mean the deck isn't a balsawood composite sandwhich -- still prone to rot
3. Could this be repaired so that the results are invisible?
As I've said, this is smooth gelcoat, not the nonslip surface. Is it a matter of finding a real good fibreglass shop to drill and fill?
All thoughts welcome!
I have a 2004 Scout Dorado 175 which I just bought in the southern United States. I then trailered it about a thousand miles up to my home in Canada. When I arrived and was cleaning her up after the long trip I noticed what I thought were several strands of hair on the deck forward of the consoles.
When they wouldn't sweep up I discovered with horror that they were actually hairline cracks in the gelcoat. The red lines on the diagram below show more or less where they are. As I said, they are so thin you'd think they were strands of hair. The longest is about five or six inches.
I got on the phone with the former owner and asked if the cracks were there prior to my purchase. He admitted that there was "one about an inch long" there already. I kick myself for not finding it during the inspection.
Anyway, obviously the thousand mile jostle she got on the trailer (bunk style, not roller) introduced enough stress to spread them plus add a few more. The cracks appear in the smooth part of the gelcoat between the nonslip surface and the vertical bulkhead of the helm console. One crack even rounds the aft corner of the console bulkhead.
Questions:
1. Does this matter or is it only cosmetic?
The boat has a ten-year structural warranty from Scout but I notice they are careful in the documentation to exclude "gel coat cracking and crazing" in what they cover.
2. Will water get in there and, if so, where does it go and what damage does it cause?
The boat is supposed to be "all composite" but I've learned here on the iboat forum that doesn't necessarily mean the deck isn't a balsawood composite sandwhich -- still prone to rot
3. Could this be repaired so that the results are invisible?
As I've said, this is smooth gelcoat, not the nonslip surface. Is it a matter of finding a real good fibreglass shop to drill and fill?
All thoughts welcome!
