gelcoat crack in new boat

S

surfbird

New member
We just returned from our second trip on our 2007 22' cruiser and noticed that there is a 4 in long crack near the intersection of the cockpit and cabin.
We have logged about 6 hours in Turnstone in mild seas.
I am new to fiberglass boats; how concerned should I be about this?
Any input would be appreciated.

Jim
 
Jim-

It depends on how deep it is and whether it's getting progressively larger.

It could be just a crack showing over a void between the gel coat and the fiberglass underneath, a place where the gel coat is extra thick and therefore unreinforced, or it could be a deep crack that goes down into the structural fiberglass layer.

You'll have to watch it carefully to determine which case you have.

Try reading these two threads and see how they relate to your problem:

C-22 gunnel gel coat crazing/cracking

cracks, leaks, foam, and old bad work.

Let us know what you think!

Joe. :teeth :thup
 
Looking through your photo album I would say it was too dam cold and the boat cracked. :lol: On a serious note, the problem you describe seems to be quite common. Look at the other threads and I believe someone posted pictures of the types of cracks that are ok and ones that are not.

Oh by the way, you have some great photo's in your album. This one's my new favorite.

kluane_sm.sized.jpg
 
I think that crack is pretty common with our boats...mine has them there... I am thinking about checking out some stuff West Marine has to seal the cracks.... it's a really thin liquid that wicks into the crack and seals it... what I don't want is water entering the cracked area and swelling causing more cracks...

Joel
SEA3PO
 
That boat is new (2007) and I'd take it back to the dealer from which you bought it. Talk to them about it. The warranty is for 5 years, to the original owner. The factory was really good about fixing a crack in the transom of Journey On, though it was a slow process.

I monitored the crack in the transom by grinding it out (small V groove), and when it went below the gel coat, I got it fixed. For a 2007, the dealer should be able to tell you what is going on.

Boris
 
Thanks everyone for the advice.
After reading the 6 pages of posts that Joe directed me to, I will 1) call C-Dory to inform them of the issue and 2) follow any changes in the depth and length of the current crack.
What a can of worms this seems to be for C-Dory; hopefully, the factory is exploring changes in glassing technique in order to minimize this issue.

Jim
 
I am quite sure that my Tom Cat probably had some repair work done at the factory for a crack at that area. The gel coat was rough and didn't match when I recieved the boat--and recently it cracked again.

I doubt that the factory would admit doing repairs--and I had to press to find out exactly what repair had been done (obvious to me) to the non skid on the foredeck--susposedly there was a hause pipe put in by "mistake"--they denied working on the cabin area--but is was miss matched gel coat.

I am skeptical that the factory would be making modifications to the glass laminate schedule, based on some cracking--unfortunately this area is subject to "stress cracks"--good luck finding a dealer with the skills.
 
I found several cracks in my boat after the first outing. One a horizontal crack just over the wheel and a couple of star type cracks that looked like impact damage butthere hadn't been any impact. so far I haven't had much satisfaction from the dealer or C-Dory.

Glen
 
We purchased our C-Dory from Sportcraft here in Oregon and I've got to say dealing with everyone there has been a great experience. We too have had a few minor gel coat repairs needed. Each one has been handled quickly and without any hassle. For a person like myself that suffers from a bit of OCD they did a great job. I can't even tell where the repairs are. In fact, today I pointed out another factory flaw - without hesitation, "we'll fix that no problem." :thup
I'm in sales and know that when dealing w/ products that they aren't always perfect even when new. However, it's how you service your customers after the sale that develops that confidence to earn their next purchase. I'd say any dealer not willing to assist you with your warranty work wouldn't be earning any future business, let alone some bad press. :sad
 
Hi all,
Just a little follow up on the crack thing. After a few emails back and forth to Frank Walters, C-Dory's new management has decided to fix my boat. They could have left me hanging. So I'm very pleased with this developement, after a years run around with my x-dealer. Looks like this could be good news for all.

Glen
 
The stress crack between the cockpit and a cabin is a design problem and exists on most of the models from my experience here. My Tomcat had cracks there, twice, before I got it home. Upon my first inspection of the new boat the cracks were there. I had them repaired at the dealership. When the boat was transported to my house 400 miles north, the cracks came back over the course of the transport before it hit the water.

Bottom line is it is a flex point on the boats and would likely need to be fixed at the end of every season unless structural changes were made. Keep an eye on it and just keep getting it repaired every year through the end of your warranty.

I am not checking out other pilot house boats to see if I can spot the cracks in the same spot. Recently I was aboard a Parker with the exact same cracks, but this boat fell off a trailer while going around a rotary.
 
matt_unique":3sm56z5u said:
...
I am not checking out other pilot house boats to see if I can spot the cracks in the same spot. Recently I was aboard a Parker with the exact same cracks, but this boat fell off a trailer while going around a rotary.
Click to expand...

Oops...meant to say I am "now" checking out other pilot house boats when I have the chance because I think this is a common flex point for this type of design.
 
My 25 year old CD has a crack at the cabin-gunnel joint but only on the stbd. side. It did not appear until I had the boat for 15 yrs.
After a rain there is a little water that weeps out of the crack but disappears in a day or so. The crack does not get any bigger and I hammer my boat quite hard in rough weather.
My boat had a pole barn roof with 7' of snow on it collapse on top of the boat about 20 yrs. ago. It broke all of the port side cabin windows and pushed the cabin roof down to the top of the trunk cabin. I had it repaired at an Anchorage fiberglass shop. The external gel coat in that area is starting to craze but otherwise is structurally sound.
I am not worrying about it but the cosmetic effect is not so good.

An interesting fact is that the RED FOX C-Dory was parked next to mine and was damaged worse than mine.
 
Today I looked at my friends 1983 CD classic which is 2 months older than mine, hull no. 105. He has no cracks anywhere but did have a rotten transom. It is repaired and looks good.
 
The Hunkydory has the gunnel cracks and small similiar cracks off both side forward cleats and bow rail mounts. These have all slowly showed up over the years and I personally believe they are due to the flexing the boat goes through on the trailer on the trips we have made to and from Alaska and Canada. Have had the boat several times in severe short duration steep wave conditions where the boat pounded to the extreme without any noticeable increase in the cracks, though if extreme enough believe it could cause or contribute to there forming just believe its subjected to more stress from the trailer on a long rough road.

I have used the really thin crack sealant from West Marine to hopefully stop any water penetration that could cause further damage.

Believe the gel coat cracks on the Hunkydory are all cosmetic and the results of using the boat exactly like I planned when purchased. What I would do different and advise others who want to use theirs like we do ours is start out with a double instead of a single axle trailer.

Jay
 
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