Gel Coat Cracking

[Brian G.]

Did Boston Whaler ever have known problems with gel coat cracking on the outside of their hulls?

I recently looked at two [Boston Whaler OUTRAGE 21] hulls, a 1993 and a 1994. Both had quite a bit of cracks on the outside of the hull. The 1994 looked like it had impact damage but there were no chips or scuffs, just cracks.

Were these boats abused? Or is [cracked gel coat on the hull of Boston Whaler boats something] common?

The 1994 21' Outrage was in great shape besides the cracks.

[PJMSport15MY1984]

Dear Brian--I am by no stretch of the imagination an expert on gel coat or fiberglass. I can tell you gel coat is extremely fragile to bending, stretching or any kind of movement. It will crack or break if it is bent, stretched, or hit.

A lot of old Boston Whaler boats that have been abused could fall victim to the kinds of disrepair you are talking about.

Good Luck--Paul

[Brian G.]

[The cracks in the gel coat] are all over the hull. Outside only. Here are some pictures.

[jimh]

I have a 1992 Boston Whaler boat. There are no cracks in the gel coat of the hull of my boat.

It is my experience with Boston Whaler boats that the hulls seen in your pictures are very unusual examples of Boston Whaler boats, and they are not representative of what one can find today in c.1990 hulls.

[Brian G.]

I was not sure if the Reebok hulls had problems. The inside of the hull is in very good shape but the outside is covered in cracks, even in places that I would assume have never been hit. It's too bad because the rest of the boat was well taken care of.

[Jeff]

I have seen cracks like that in all Whaler hulls. The abundance and severity of the cracking and crazing comes from the amount of exposure to ultravoilet and other elemental factors, as well as how the gel coat was cared for during its life.

Gel coat is a petroleum based compound and the oils give it flexibility. If you allow the gel coat to dry out, it will shrink and crack.

On our 1993 23 Walkaround Whaler Drive we do not have cracking like that on the outside of the hull. There is only one place we have cracking like that occurring, and that is in the cockpit floor just aft of the pilot seats. This is a common place for this cracking though.

[Brian G.]

More pictures....

[Brian G.]

Could pressure washing the bottom at a high PSI cause the cracking seen below the waterline (transom picture)?
He said he used one to remove the bottom paint.

[Jefecinco]

I doubt pressure washing caused the cracks. It's interesting that some of the cracks appear to be radiating outward from what appears to be a scupper or transom drain.

If a fiberglass boat was in the water when the water froze what sort of damage would be expected?

[Brian G.]

The drain hole is what makes me think that Boston Whaler messed up putting the gelcoat on--was it not cured or was it too thick? There is no sign of impact, yet there are cracks everywhere! What disappoints me [about this boat having so many cracks on the exterior of the hull is otherwise] the inside of the boat is in very good condition.

[flymo]

Is the cracking just on the sides of the hull and transom? How about the underneath of the hull?

My take on the cracks is that [they were caused because the boat] was just left out in the sun on a trailer for years, never protected, or never waxed.

Impact damage usually produces more closely spaced cracks, from what I have seen.

Tim

[Brian G.]

There are plenty [cracks] below the waterline, but they are very fine, not raised, and small. The [cracks in the gel coat of the Boston Whaler boat located] on the [hull] sides are big!

[Jefecinco]

I'm reading a lot of speculation and some fact in the responses. I have no personal knowledge to offer. Impact damage usually producing more closely spaced cracks may be correct but when a rub rail forcefully impacts a piling amidships it could produce cracking all along the hull sides due to the flexing of the entire hull upon impact. I suspect that the more brittle the gel coat due to cold weather or neglect the more widespread the resulting damage would be.

Finally, I don't believe Boston Whaler hulls of any era are particularly prone to gel coat cracking. I certainly have read no evidence of it. Neglect and or misuse are more likely causes of gel coat cracking.