I'm looking at a 13 foot Boston Whaler as a second/auxilary boat. Went to look at it yesterday and got a question. It's a 1968 sport model but it's got a number of spider cracks in the gelcoat in the sole and sort of fishscale looking cracks along the gunwale. I realize it's a 1968 model but the price is right, should I be concerned about the cracks?
Spider crack in gelcoat
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My Tartan27 from 1967 has similar gelcoat issues
on the freeboard (above the water line). I believe that this kind of gelcoat deterioration is not a serious condition but it can allow moisture to get through to the fiberglass (FRP) which will weaken over time in the presence of moisture. You can do nothing about this or you could give it a good waxing or you could lightly sand the gelcoat with 220-320 grit paper and re-apply gelcoat to the worst areas (better yet the whole thing). After the gelcoat hardens you will need to sand it down with 320-400-500-600 grit wet/dry sandpaper to get that smooth surface a boat should have. Reapplying gelcoat would be the most lasting solution and the most costly in time and money. You could also use a good quality paint for the sole and insides of the boat but this will not last as long as a layer of new gelcoat and will require maintenance every couple of years. Try to bargain the price down a few hundred so you can afford to buy the materials to address this issue. Otherwise, it is a Whaler and wont sink (supposedly).
on the freeboard (above the water line). I believe that this kind of gelcoat deterioration is not a serious condition but it can allow moisture to get through to the fiberglass (FRP) which will weaken over time in the presence of moisture. You can do nothing about this or you could give it a good waxing or you could lightly sand the gelcoat with 220-320 grit paper and re-apply gelcoat to the worst areas (better yet the whole thing). After the gelcoat hardens you will need to sand it down with 320-400-500-600 grit wet/dry sandpaper to get that smooth surface a boat should have. Reapplying gelcoat would be the most lasting solution and the most costly in time and money. You could also use a good quality paint for the sole and insides of the boat but this will not last as long as a layer of new gelcoat and will require maintenance every couple of years. Try to bargain the price down a few hundred so you can afford to buy the materials to address this issue. Otherwise, it is a Whaler and wont sink (supposedly).
cptn trolley
cptn tolley (or is it trolley)'s creeping crack sealer is the item you want to use to seal up gelcoat cracks. It is available at most chandlers.
cptn tolley (or is it trolley)'s creeping crack sealer is the item you want to use to seal up gelcoat cracks. It is available at most chandlers.
1/2 a whaler
I wouldn't worry much about it beyond what was said about moisture particularly with a Whaler. I was on Lake Union here in Seattle on Sunday and the Whaler dealer has a boat sawn in half that they motor around on the lake with to show the stability. Pretty funny to watch but it proves its point. Good luck!
I wouldn't worry much about it beyond what was said about moisture particularly with a Whaler. I was on Lake Union here in Seattle on Sunday and the Whaler dealer has a boat sawn in half that they motor around on the lake with to show the stability. Pretty funny to watch but it proves its point. Good luck!
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