Gel coat questions

JoeBailey · #1 (**permalink**) 09-03-2006

I am looking at a boat I am interested in buying. It is a 1979 C and C. On the deck gel coat there are some fine lines. These do not appear to be full thickness cracks but as a new buyer I am concerned these may become a problem. Can anyone out there tell me if they are problematic and if so what can be done about them. Your help is appreciated.

JB

hellosailor · #2 (**permalink**) 09-03-2006

Joe, spider cracks in the gelcoat only mean "look closely". They can be caused by the gel coat being somewhat stiffer and less elastic than the structural layers under them. Or, from something like a spinnaker pole being dropped and impacting the gel coat. Or, from the understructure flexing from being pounded, and the gelcoat cracks first.

If there is no sign of water penetration (IIRC most but not all C&C's will have a balsa cored deck, and not all areas are cored) the cracks can be opened up and filled in with no great fuss. But if you have doubts, you'll need a surveyor to confirm the integrity of the deck and hull. C&C made good boats but they were also usually raced and sailed hard, and that can make them worn after 30 years.

Gene T · #3 (**permalink**) 09-03-2006

I agree with hellosailor, and add that in the early days of fiberglass boat it was common to use too much gel-coat. Gel-coat is brittle and if too thick it will crack eventually. A surveyor can do a moisture check to tell if it has gone into the substrate. Generally this stuff is cosmetic only.

sailingdog · #4 (**permalink**) 09-04-2006

Crazing, or thin, hairline cracks are usually just cosmetic.

The real problem is if you see parallel cracks in high-stress areas of the hull—these generally indicate that the hull is flexing or hinging on a hard point, and these indicate eventual laminate failure in those areas.

Another area to look for stress cracks, that can be indicative of problems is near deck fittings, such as chainplates, toe rails, lifeline stanchions. Stress cracks coming from these areas may indicate that they are not properly backed and supported and that the laminate is damaged underneath the fitting.