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Author Topic:   Decline In Quality of Gel Coat and Finish

David1877 posted 06-08-2007 05:05 PM ET (US)
Fellow Whaler enthusiasts. I have owned three Boston Whaler boats. The first Dauntless I bought new in about 1995, and the second was a 2001 Dauntless. I now own a 2005 Eastport. Have any of you noted a change in the quality of the gel coat or finish? I don't think the quality is what it once was.
highanddry posted 06-10-2007 08:29 AM ET (US)
Our Nantucketis just about perfect inside and out. So far beyond most of the boats we look at it is not even fair.
tombro posted 06-10-2007 12:58 PM ET (US)
I would have to concur with H&D.
BarryGreen posted 06-11-2007 09:22 AM ET (US)
I have owned a number of what I consider "very high end" boats, and my 2005 Conquest matches or exceeds their level of quality. Fit and gel coat finish are essentially flawless.
Barry
David1877 posted 06-11-2007 12:32 PM ET (US)
Thanks for you posts.
I bought my boat late July of last year. After about three months of use, the finish lost that creamy brilliance. I never had that issue with my other boats, even after years of use. This boat seems to require more maintenance to maintain the finish.
The transom on this boat was white/chalky at the end of last season. I keep it in Lake Michigan but it was not in the water for extended periods. The hull is ok, but not the transom. The transom bounced back with a coat of maguires, but this seems uusual.

lurkynot posted 06-11-2007 11:05 PM ET (US)
I have the 2001 18 Dauntless. I think the gelcoat has a white/chalky appearance on the sides of the boat. The surface behind the stern box has virtually virgin "gelcoat" I definitely notice the difference. The other complaint I have is in the air voids between the glass and the gelcoat finish. There have been more than a couple of areas that have collapsed from localized pressure such as a cooler resting on the gunwale or the fuel nozzle chipping out the area around the filler opening. The glass was not rolled out in the mold in my opinion. I have been busy filling these areas this season. Does anyone know if this would be something Boston Whaler might cover?
gbcbu posted 06-12-2007 05:58 AM ET (US)
I'm a new 2006 170 Montauk owner and this is the first year having purchased the boat this past winter. I'm finding this discussion extremely interesting. I hope there will be more input.
Lurkynot if your boat has a 10 year warranty like the Montauk I'd have it back to the dealer. What are voids between glass and gelcoat? Is this a serious defect? Sure sounds it and if so exercise that 10 year warranty.
lurkynot posted 06-12-2007 07:29 AM ET (US)
gbcbu, it is when the mold is prepped and the 1st step is to spray the actual surface of the boat - gelcoat followed by the woven glass rolled over the gelcoat. In the areas of my gunwhales where the top surface rolls over the side to the floor at the radii there is a gap between the gelcoat and underlying woven glass of about 1/8". This is not a local thing because the areas that did collapse were on opposite sides of the boat. Almost mirrored from one another about the console.
highanddry posted 06-12-2007 08:04 AM ET (US)
When we first picked up our boat it was chalky looking and not evenly glossy. It had been sitting in a covered lift for a year and a half. The dealer detailed it and it looked fine. Once home it still just did not seem right so I buffed and waxed it using 3M products. It buffed to a smooth deep gloss and has remianed so since. I think that the mold release wax permeates the most upper portion of the gell coat or clings to it tenaciously so that it creates a mottled and weathered appearence. Maybe you should detail the glass with a good product. As to voids in the glass and things like that--no---this is a solid boat.
Yiddil posted 06-12-2007 10:03 AM ET (US)
My NAntucket DAs BOat is as perfect as the day i got her:)
I must say I looked at a eastport a while back and reported here I was not impressed with the spit and polish of that boat, dont want to start a fight, I just didnt like it thats all...seemed as though it just didnt have the finish of other whalers of that year......
but me thinks the spitt and polish of later models is quite good and not any less than classic models.....
gbcbu posted 06-12-2007 01:52 PM ET (US)
Lurkynot: I'd seriously think about exercising your 10 warranty. That sounds to me like a serious defect...there are many more experienced individuals on this site that hopefully will reply...but if there aren't supposed to be voids then something big time seems wrong...just my 2 cents. Good luck.
lurkynot posted 06-12-2007 02:34 PM ET (US)
I would like to follow up on that, however it will probably be an end of the season thing. I am afraid Whaler will require a dealer look at it which is fair. However the dealer will require an appointment and dropping it off and picking it up would more than likely take some on the water time away from me. The boating season here in Michigan is way to short to begin with.

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Author	Topic: Decline In Quality of Gel Coat and Finish
David1877	posted 06-08-2007 05:05 PM ET (US) Fellow Whaler enthusiasts. I have owned three Boston Whaler boats. The first Dauntless I bought new in about 1995, and the second was a 2001 Dauntless. I now own a 2005 Eastport. Have any of you noted a change in the quality of the gel coat or finish? I don't think the quality is what it once was.
highanddry	posted 06-10-2007 08:29 AM ET (US) Our Nantucketis just about perfect inside and out. So far beyond most of the boats we look at it is not even fair.
tombro	posted 06-10-2007 12:58 PM ET (US) I would have to concur with H&D.
BarryGreen	posted 06-11-2007 09:22 AM ET (US) I have owned a number of what I consider "very high end" boats, and my 2005 Conquest matches or exceeds their level of quality. Fit and gel coat finish are essentially flawless. Barry
David1877	posted 06-11-2007 12:32 PM ET (US) Thanks for you posts. I bought my boat late July of last year. After about three months of use, the finish lost that creamy brilliance. I never had that issue with my other boats, even after years of use. This boat seems to require more maintenance to maintain the finish. The transom on this boat was white/chalky at the end of last season. I keep it in Lake Michigan but it was not in the water for extended periods. The hull is ok, but not the transom. The transom bounced back with a coat of maguires, but this seems uusual.
lurkynot	posted 06-11-2007 11:05 PM ET (US) I have the 2001 18 Dauntless. I think the gelcoat has a white/chalky appearance on the sides of the boat. The surface behind the stern box has virtually virgin "gelcoat" I definitely notice the difference. The other complaint I have is in the air voids between the glass and the gelcoat finish. There have been more than a couple of areas that have collapsed from localized pressure such as a cooler resting on the gunwale or the fuel nozzle chipping out the area around the filler opening. The glass was not rolled out in the mold in my opinion. I have been busy filling these areas this season. Does anyone know if this would be something Boston Whaler might cover?
gbcbu	posted 06-12-2007 05:58 AM ET (US) I'm a new 2006 170 Montauk owner and this is the first year having purchased the boat this past winter. I'm finding this discussion extremely interesting. I hope there will be more input. Lurkynot if your boat has a 10 year warranty like the Montauk I'd have it back to the dealer. What are voids between glass and gelcoat? Is this a serious defect? Sure sounds it and if so exercise that 10 year warranty.
lurkynot	posted 06-12-2007 07:29 AM ET (US) gbcbu, it is when the mold is prepped and the 1st step is to spray the actual surface of the boat - gelcoat followed by the woven glass rolled over the gelcoat. In the areas of my gunwhales where the top surface rolls over the side to the floor at the radii there is a gap between the gelcoat and underlying woven glass of about 1/8". This is not a local thing because the areas that did collapse were on opposite sides of the boat. Almost mirrored from one another about the console.
highanddry	posted 06-12-2007 08:04 AM ET (US) When we first picked up our boat it was chalky looking and not evenly glossy. It had been sitting in a covered lift for a year and a half. The dealer detailed it and it looked fine. Once home it still just did not seem right so I buffed and waxed it using 3M products. It buffed to a smooth deep gloss and has remianed so since. I think that the mold release wax permeates the most upper portion of the gell coat or clings to it tenaciously so that it creates a mottled and weathered appearence. Maybe you should detail the glass with a good product. As to voids in the glass and things like that--no---this is a solid boat.
Yiddil	posted 06-12-2007 10:03 AM ET (US) My NAntucket DAs BOat is as perfect as the day i got her:) I must say I looked at a eastport a while back and reported here I was not impressed with the spit and polish of that boat, dont want to start a fight, I just didnt like it thats all...seemed as though it just didnt have the finish of other whalers of that year...... but me thinks the spitt and polish of later models is quite good and not any less than classic models.....
gbcbu	posted 06-12-2007 01:52 PM ET (US) Lurkynot: I'd seriously think about exercising your 10 warranty. That sounds to me like a serious defect...there are many more experienced individuals on this site that hopefully will reply...but if there aren't supposed to be voids then something big time seems wrong...just my 2 cents. Good luck.
lurkynot	posted 06-12-2007 02:34 PM ET (US) I would like to follow up on that, however it will probably be an end of the season thing. I am afraid Whaler will require a dealer look at it which is fair. However the dealer will require an appointment and dropping it off and picking it up would more than likely take some on the water time away from me. The boating season here in Michigan is way to short to begin with.