spider cracking

[boatman37]

looking at boats and found one we really like but it has alot of spider cracking in the gelcoat near the transom. the swim platform has damage so i'm thinking that caused the cracking. transom seems solid as per my tap test and moisture meter (i am a severe rookie at that). i did talk to a surveyor who would have been doing the survey on it and he didn't seem too concerned with the cracking if there was no structural damage.

so what are thoughts on spider cracking in the gelcoat?

99% sure i'm passing on this boat but just curious as to the thoughts on cracked gelcoat?

 

[Scott Danforth]

taping means nothing.

 

[tpenfield]

Those spiders, I'm telling you, they do so much damage to gelcoat.

Got any pictures to share. It is a bit tough to give advice without a visual to go by.

 

[boatman37]

Yeah those spiders can be brutal...lol

Here are some pics. The guy isn't doing well health wise and the wife doesn't care for boating so it has been sitting since last year and needs a severe cleaning. My concern is the cracks in the gelcoat. No matter what boat I buy i will be getting a survey done and have talked to a surveyor about these cracks but he hasn't seen them or pics of them.

I only have a few uploaded. I will have to get the rest off of my wifes phone and I have a video that shows most of it. I'll have to post that to youtube and provide the link.

There is also cracking all along the rear of the boat just above the rubrail along the whole back of the boat similar to what the swim platform has. It is all above the waterline. This is a 1998 Sea Ray 270 Sundancer (9'2" version). There is a space about 2" tall between the top of the rubrail and the bottom of the transom storage door. The cracks cover that whole area the width of the boat.

We like the boat, the layout, and the options. Found another one locally but doesn't have A/C. This one has a new genny (replaced 3 years ago and has 2.8 hours on it). It has a Loadmaster trailer that is in very good condition. I got him down to $18,000 contingent upon survey and sea trial but the cracking really concerns me.

The swim platform damage (what I think was the culprit)

 

[tpenfield]

Those areas look like they are from impacts. Looks like the current owner played bumper boats on occasion.

Your call as to if you want the boat . If you fix the damaged area, it should be fine.

 

[boatman37]

I would be fixing the swim platform damage (either a new platform or a better repair of that one) but what about the cracking on the rest of the boat itself?

Also, I walked the bow and tested with my cheap Lowes moisture meter and got higher reading right around the deck controls for the windlass. I was getting about 0-6% everywhere else but got closer to 20% around those controls. I'm sure these %'s aren't accurate but just based off the relative readings it was higher there. Didn't feel spongy though.

 

[boatman37]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=49sVN-wSBVs

 

[Woodonglass]

How old is this boat? How was it cared for? Covered or Outside in the elements. That's a LOT of SC! Either a really poor job on the Gel or I'ts seen a LOT of abuse. Unless you just can't live without her, I'd PASS!!!

 

[boatman37]

it's a 1998. the current owner said it was like that when he bought it (from the original owner). the current owner knows nothing about boats. he mainly just hung out on it at the docks. you see the damage on the swim platform? seems like that is what caused the cracking above the rubrail in the video?

the current owner is having health issues. they pulled the boat last summer and had it winterized and covered it with tarps. i guess they just took the tarps off recently. he can't even get on the boat now and she wants nothing to do with it so it sits there.

 

[89 resorter]

I had a 1999 Sundancer 260 which I had to back into the slip if I ever hoped to get on and off the boat. It looks to me that the previous owner(s) likely hit the corners of the dock a lot which caused the platform damage and likely the cracking at the corner of the transom. I would be most concerned with what the area around the platform supports look like (where the platform bolts to the transom). I have seen several cases where a back-into-the-slip maneuver in rough water resulted in the platform actually going above the corner of the dock and pulling on of the lag screws out of the transom at the lower part of a support. It was also what I found happened on my Coronado which resulted in the rotted transom and stringers. I suggest at the very least you get a reputable surveyor involved before buying.

Good luck which however you go.

 

[boatman37]

have a surveyor lined up and would definitely be getting a survey. i didn't notice anything wrong on the transom itself. i took a screwdriver and wrench and tried to tighten all transom screws to see if maybe there was rot and all tightened up like they should.

have a call in on another 1998 270 not far from here but it is through popyachts and have not heard back from anyone yet. hate the idea of popyachts but want to see what this other one looks like.

just did a search on yachtworld for 26-30' $20,000-45,000 within 100 miles and only got about 5 results...lol. i need to move

 

[harringtondav]

Spider cracks in an older boat's transom could mean a rotten transom. Unless you're in love with it, I'd walk away. Smoking out a rotten transom is difficult with the engine in. I'm sure the pros. in this forum can tell you how to assess if it is sound.

 

[JASinIL2006]

have a surveyor lined up and would definitely be getting a survey. i didn't notice anything wrong on the transom itself. i took a screwdriver and wrench and tried to tighten all transom screws to see if maybe there was rot and all tightened up like they should.

have a call in on another 1998 270 not far from here but it is through popyachts and have not heard back from anyone yet. hate the idea of popyachts but want to see what this other one looks like.

just did a search on yachtworld for 26-30' $20,000-45,000 within 100 miles and only got about 5 results...lol. i need to move

If you're in the market for a boat in that price range, you might expand the area of your search...

 

[kcon]

$18,000 seems pretty steep for the condition of the boat (but what do I know). Needs some work and it would appear, based on all available evidence/pictures prior issues weren't properly addressed or maintained.

 

[garbageguy]

..so what are thoughts on spider cracking in the gelcoat?..

I don't think it would be the SC's to be concerned about, it's determining why they are there. From the few pics of small part of boat, very hard to tell. Good thing you plan to have it surveyed. To me, how long you plan to have the boat in addition to what you find out from a GOOD surveyor, would come into play. From what I can see, 18k looks too high - but that's v tough to say without hands and eyes on the whole thing

 

[briangcc]

I see spider cracks on the side of the swim platform, top of the swim platform which appears to be from a strike, and a wad of bubble gum (or something similar) under the rub rail to close an unknown issue. From appearances of these two photos it doesn't appear to be well cared for. I think I'd be walking away but that's just me.

 

[boatman37]

Thanks all. Pretty sure I'm walking. Going to look at a 2003 Regal 2665 tomorrow. Only concern I see so far is 830 hours on a 5.7 VP GXi. Seem like too many hours?

 

[sheboyganjohn]

100 hours can be too much if the engine was overworked and not taken care of. If the engine looks like it was taken care of and has good documentation I personally would not be too concerned, as long as the engine has easy access to remove in the future. All else considered, the engine is a relatively inexpensive and predictable overhaul. Once completed you basically have a new engine. The engine removal can be anywhere from easy to impossible.

When I say inexpensive I base it compared to replacing with new. And being a 350 assuming its a GM block, it will be rather reasonable.