Small Fiberglass Crack

[Ismael Breton]

While I was cleaning my boat yesterday I discovered this small 2x2 inch light spider crack on the hull of my boat. Not happy about it, but it seems harmless. I still would like to address it before the season officially begins. Is this a DIY or should I take it in to get it repaired?

If DIY, any suggestions on how to fix it?

 

[Bill D]

I've always thought this stuff looks interesting. If it works as well as they show in the video, it would be a great product. Might be worth a shot for $25.

http://www.magicezy.com/products/9-second-chip-fix/

 

[Matt Phillips]

If it's below the water line, definitely get it repaired. I'm not sure about the process for fixing it though.

The next-logical question becomes what caused it in the first place and how to stop it in the future. I can't tell from the picture where it may be on the boat, but a couple of suggestions are: first, look at what is directly opposite that spot inside the boat? That small spider crack looks to be coming from the inside out.

Second, if it's in the bow, just above the waterline and below the anchor locker, the most-likely culprit is an anchor that came loose and bounced off the inside of the hull.

Again, hard to tell from your picture, but worth investigating.

 

[Murf'n'surf]

Mr. Glassman has posted a link to a quick fix product. Given how flexible our hull sides are, these cracks may reappear after docking hard. This all depends on the location of the cracks -- hard to tell by the photo.

https://jetboaters.net/threads/hairline-cracks-spider-cracks.1590/

 

[Ismael Breton]

Thanks for the help. Before buying the magicezy I have sent a few pictures to the fiberglass shop to see what they'll quote me. Some of you have been asking about the size and location of the crack. I took a light switch frame and tape it to the boat. The crack is directly in the middle of the frame and it's about 1 1/2 x 1 1/2. I'm not sure what caused it to begin with.

 

[scokill]

That looks like it's from impact.

 

[SFThoen]

Has anyone had Yamaha cover a crack in the hull? I have a 2014 242 limited s, took it to Bimini and the anchor pretty much cracked all the way through pushing the gel coat and fiber glass all the way on the outside and it's now spider cracking all over!!! It keeps getting worse now as we are trailering it home.

 

[Murf'n'surf]

Has anyone had Yamaha cover a crack in the hull? I have a 2014 242 limited s, took it to Bimini and the anchor pretty much cracked all the way through pushing the gel coat and fiber glass all the way on the outside and it's now spider cracking all over!!! It keeps getting worse now as we are trailering it home.

I don't see why or how Yamaha would accept blame for that. Make sure you get the anchor out of the locker so it's not still bouncing in there.

 

[SFThoen]

We did already have. It started as just that smaller white spot but putting it on the trailer has made it much worse.

 

[Murf'n'surf]

The damage was already done to the under layers of fiberglass. Being on the trailer is just accelerating the visible damage in the gel coat because the glass behind it is damaged.

 

[SFThoen]

Looks like we will be most likely fixing it at home in the drive way! Gonna drop it off and see about warranty but planning for the worst.

 

[Murf'n'surf]

I would like to see a pic of the anchor locker inside.

 

[SFThoen]

I will get some more when we get home 4 hours to go!

 

[itsdgm]

Might be worth looking into your insurance. Get an estimate first.

I hope I'm wrong, but I'd imagine that there's a bit of glass work to do behind the damaged gel coat cracking.

 

[SFThoen]

Might be worth looking into your insurance. Get an estimate first.

I hope I'm wrong, but I'd imagine that there's a bit of glass work to do behind the damaged gel coat cracking.

Luckily the wife did paint and body work for 10 years so she can get it done, just not wanting to do the painting part.

 

[Murf'n'surf]

Looks like it will need to be ground out and new glass laid to strengthen from the inside.

 

[SFThoen]

Looks like it will need to be ground out and new glass laid to strengthen from the inside.

Yeah that's what we talked about, we actually cleaned it off at the last stop its not as bad as it looks in all the spots it's mainly just the gel coat spider cracking except for the spot the anchor pushed through. Shouldn't be too bad.

 

[Matt Phillips]

I don't see how Yamaha would cover that under warranty as they would likely only do so if there were a defect. Given that the anchor was bouncing around in there, they'd likely say that's damage caused by owner.

My recommendation is to not waste your time trying to claim a warranty, but go the insurance route and get it repaired.

 

[SFThoen]

That's the inside if the locker and the outside cleaned.

 

[McMark]

Yamaha covers gel coat cracks if there is a defect in the glass behind it such as a void or some other issue.