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Author Topic:   Gel Coat Cracks
smcleod posted 12-31-2001 09:07 PM ET (US)   Profile for smcleod   Send Email to smcleod  
I've noticed a few cracks showing-up on my 1986 22' Outrage. There are a few in the corner of the splash well and transom and a couple foreward on the port side near the corner of the floor and gunnel. These hair-width cracks have shown-up in the last year and the boat is stored in doors when not is use.

Are these due to stress, UV rays, age or other? Is this a sign of structural weakening? Am I being too hard on the Whaler? This boat is rigged w/a '98 Merc 225 Offshore.

Also, does anyone have the specs for this boat?

Drisney posted 12-31-2001 09:10 PM ET (US)     Profile for Drisney  Send Email to Drisney     
SMC.....Your boat is completely shot at this point...please send it to me for disposall.
Thanks, Dave
JohnAz posted 12-31-2001 10:31 PM ET (US)     Profile for JohnAz  Send Email to JohnAz     
dave offer him $50.00,,,,
PULLNIT posted 01-01-2002 08:28 AM ET (US)     Profile for PULLNIT  Send Email to PULLNIT     
SMC.......Dont listen to them!!They are trying to rip you off!!!Drisney is right your boat is completely shot,But I will give you $103.00-Pick it up(at my cost)and buy lunch. Thanks John
smcleod posted 01-01-2002 08:59 AM ET (US)     Profile for smcleod  Send Email to smcleod     
OK, sounds good. If you pay for the truck fuel, we have a deal. Where shall I deliver it?

Seriously guys, I posted to this forum for advise, not wise cracks (no pun intended). Next time I want advise I'll visit my local Whaler dealer....at least I can buy his respect and he can earn mine.

Over & Out.

PULLNIT posted 01-01-2002 09:19 AM ET (US)     Profile for PULLNIT  Send Email to PULLNIT     
OHHH Dont be like that !You know what they say about you if you cant take a joke.Anyay buddy-go to top of page-Reference-Articles-Buying a classic-Gelcoat condition.Ancient chinese secret huh! John
jameso posted 01-01-2002 11:48 AM ET (US)     Profile for jameso  Send Email to jameso     
Please allow me to apologize for some of this forum's members. I will hope that their attitudes are a result of too much New Years grog.
There are some really good articles here about gel coat repairs ect. I am no expert but having a couple of years experience with the Whalers I would say this is normal and a matter of age and other factors. I have long suspected that the gel coat and foam have different thermal expansion rates this combined with everyday stress causes the cracks. I have seen some of the larger hulls, like yours with a bulge of several inches in the sides, I know they did not leave the factory this way. Getting too long winded.
My advice would to get a gel coat repair kit, use a small brush or other instrument to fill the cracks, wipe with a cloth while still wet and then polish, I have done this on my 15 and a friends Wahoo with good results.
If you need any futher help there are a lot of good people of this forum, somewhere, I think.
Jim Armstrong
LKS posted 01-01-2002 11:49 AM ET (US)     Profile for LKS  Send Email to LKS     
SMC -- Welcome to the forum! These guys must have started their New Years Eve celebrations a bit early.

Regarding cracks in the gel coat, in most cases, they are entirely normal. As PULLNIT recommended, check the reference section for the Gelcoat article. You should also find general specifications for your boat in that section (though they may not be for your exact year). Also, try expanding the threads to show all available back posts and use your browser's search function (look under Edit, Find) to search on terms such as gel coat, fiberglass, cracks, etc. It should bring you some useful information from previous discussions on this very topic, which has been discussed extensively on the forum.

Hope this information helps -- and Happy New Year!
--LKS, Chicago

Drisney posted 01-01-2002 02:07 PM ET (US)     Profile for Drisney  Send Email to Drisney     
Mea Culpa, Mea maxima Culpa......
I am sorry I really did not mean to offend simply a little humor since I knew someone else would direct you to the correct archives....hanging head in shame, skulking away
Dave
smcleod posted 01-01-2002 11:05 PM ET (US)     Profile for smcleod  Send Email to smcleod     
The initial replies to my first posting in this group made me feel like I had stumbled into an inhospitable private discussion group. Maybe I was just a little cranky because I froze my tail off fishing, without a bite, and my wife promptly chewed on my frozen tail when I walked in the door, for being gone so long. Funny what I'll sacrifice for a day in my WHALER!

Anyway thanks to all for the information. I consider this a great source of information on the greatest boat ever built and I will be sure to search the site and topic archives before posting repetitive/unnecessary topics in the future.

-Scott

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