Cracking around inside fixed portlight

[Walsh0575]

I recently acquired my first boat (Express 35 Goman/Killing 1987) and have been spending lots of time getting acquainted. I noticed there is some cracking around the inside of the port side aft fixed portlight. See photo. The crack doesn't leak (as far as I can tell). How concerned should I be about this? How should it be fixed?

At its thickest point it's probably half a centimeter.

 

[dlochner]

Hi and welcome to SBO.

I'm assuming the photo is from the inside of the boat, in which case I would not be too worried.

The cabin top and the interior head liner are 2 separate pieces. Typically when the boat is built the headliner is put on first and then the cabin top. Often a fiberglass putty is used between the two and in places like the port it is used as filler between the cabin top and headliner. It is not structural.

Over time parts of the boat move and twist ever so slightly, this can cause the filler to crack as well as the expansion and contraction from temperature changes. Polyester putty can shrink over time, also a source of cracks. The cracks you have are likely the result of one or both of these conditions.

Go sailing, enjoy your boat and someday when you have some gelcoat for another repair, clean up he cracks and surrounding surfaces and apply the gel coat to hide the cracks.

Enjoy your new boat!

 

[Walsh0575]

Thank you!

 

[ggrizzard]

I might suggest you take some measurements of the window depth on the cracked face
and compare that to another port of similar size on the boat.
It's hard for my eyes to evaluate from a pic, but you may have or had an internal water leak
that froze in the past and and caused the crack.
Just a thought.

 

[jssailem]

on Dave's observation of the issue.
While not an issue as long as no leaks, it would be a item I would check on periodically. It is likely due to the flexing of the hull and internal headliner.

You can apply a polysulfide caulk to the area just to limit any condensation or moisture finding it's weigh into the small space. Something like BoatLIFE Life-Calk comes to mind. It is a long lasting, permanently flexible marine polysulfide sealant that can be sanded, painted and used above and below the waterline. Tack-free in 1 to 3 days, curing in 7-10 days (weather dependent)