Gelcoat Crazing/Cracking

[TrawlerCrawler]

How serious can gelcoat cracks be in letting water seep into cored surfaces?

I'm considering a Sabreline 36 trawler (built from 1989-1988ish). Someone in another thread claimed that 4 out of 4 Sabreline 36's he looked at had gel coat cracks and that 3 of the 4 boats suffered significant water absorbtion into the balsa core, effectively making the boat "sink" in the water.

Call me crazy but I was under the impression that gelcoat cracks/crazing was generally a cosmetic condition that usually didn't penetrate the glass substrate or core. Also, I thought that Sabrelines were pretty well-made boats and the two 36's I've seen (both 1989 vintage) looked from the naked eye to be okay. Contrast that with the older Trawlers with wooden windowframes and teak decks which have many more opportunities for leaks (I know, I have one).

Can any surveyors set me straight about this condition in general and/or as it relates to the Sabreline 36?

Much appreciated.

 

[JoeBTB]

I have a Cape Dory - a reputable manufacturer, but known for gel coat crazing. My surveyor and that of every other Cape Dory owner I've spoken to has called them cosmetic only.

 

[C team]

Most are cosmetic only. I would not be too concerned.

 

[Al_Prisco]

TrawlerCrawler, If the vessel is cored. Crazing is a problem! There are many sold glass hulls out there that show signs of crazing with no major concerns. Have the vessel checked with a meter and find out just how bad the damaged area is.

 

[fmoor]

quote:

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Originally posted by Al_Prisco

TrawlerCrawler, If the vessel is cored. Crazing is a problem! There are many sold glass hulls out there that show signs of crazing with no major concerns. Have the vessel checked with a meter and find out just how bad the damaged area is.

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Well let me reason this out... since gel coat lets water pass through (primary cause of blisters) would standing water penetrate the gelcoat on the deck? I will take door number one. Behind door number we see a big YES..

If the cracks are only in the gelcoat and don't go through the upper layer of glass, water will not get to the core..

Next I wonder what would happen to the core if there was no gel coat at all covering the glass.. It would be ugly. But the core would be intact till the UV deteriorated the fiberglass and rosins.. in about 50-75 years or so..

So typically crazing and gel coat cracks are not a problem for the core.

However I must say.. I have seen more than one gel coat cracked deck caused by flexing, and what did I find underneath it.. an already deteriorated core. Me thinks this is a case where the chicken (rotten core) came before the egg...(gel cracking).

So as Al said always use a meter to check it out.. Almost 99% incorrectly believe that gel coat is waterproof.. it is permeable to water.

Happy Holidays everyone..Fred