gelcoat cracks on bottom

[Valentina]

Hi, I'm considering to purchase a 240 model. One thing that bothers me about a boat I looked ar recently is multiple hairline cracks on bottom - I MEAN MULTIPLE and some flaking of gelcoat too.
Is it a common thing for 88-89 models?
I heard - flaking like that occurs if a manufacturer sprayed a mold with gelcoat first and laminated glass over it later but with a bit too much delay. Is your bottom cracking?
Is it , possibly, due to improper trailering/storing a boat?
thanks
V

 

[Whim Sea]

Hi, I'm considering to purchase a 240 model. One thing that bothers me about a boat I looked ar recently is multiple hairline cracks on bottom - I MEAN MULTIPLE and some flaking of gelcoat too.
Is it a common thing for 88-89 models?
I heard - flaking like that occurs if a manufacturer sprayed a mold with gelcoat first and laminated glass over it later but with a bit too much delay. Is your bottom cracking?
Is it , possibly, due to improper trailering/storing a boat?
thanks
V

Good Morning
Working on a rebuild of a O'Day 23 and found a company with all kinds of help on repair at 0 cost. Free is for me it is West System and look a Fiberglass boat Repair & Maintenance section. Under section 2 Repairing minor cracks and holes, I don't know if this is a problem with your boats but they do talk about this problem. Hope this will help
Dusty

 

[Joe11688]

Hi, I'm considering to purchase a 240 model. One thing that bothers me about a boat I looked ar recently is multiple hairline cracks on bottom - I MEAN MULTIPLE and some flaking of gelcoat too.
Is it a common thing for 88-89 models?
I heard - flaking like that occurs if a manufacturer sprayed a mold with gelcoat first and laminated glass over it later but with a bit too much delay. Is your bottom cracking?
Is it , possibly, due to improper trailering/storing a boat?
thanks
V

It might be wise to have a marine surveyor look at this boat before you make the purchase. With that said, it is pretty common for hairline Gelcoat cracks to show up in the cockpit near the bulkhead on these boats. My O'Day 222 has them. You could have a boatyard apply a new barrier coat to the bottom and apply any kind of bottom coat that they recommend for the waters that you will be sailing in. I keep my boat in saltwater and I use Super Ship Bottom ablative bottom paint. It doesn't require any primer. The bottom needs to be de-waxed with Acetone and sanded, and that's it.