Thoughts on Source of Damage

[jonw9]

I picked my boat up last week after being stored for the winter at the marina. As I was rubbing on some Boat Bling this weekend I noticed a discolored area on the rail, with 2 cracks around it.

As I am not terribly familiar with the winter wrapping process, does anybody have a thought as to the source of this problem. I will certainly be taking it up with the marina, but wanted to stop in here as well.

The discoloration did not show up too well, but it looks like a slightly darker orange across the flat of the rail, like something was there. Also forgive my thumb in the shots.

 

[tomfoolery]

I have had many boats. To me it looks as though someone tried to snap on cover and missed the snap itself causing damage to gelcoat.
I might add the gel is very soft on these boats....

 

[Bruce]

Does the area flex at all when you press on the snap?

 

[jonw9]

I could maybe see that on the smaller "U" shaped crack, be the upper one goes around the edge and I don't see how a snap could possibly do that. Especially since it was the same snap, unless the used a hammer install the cover.

 

[Bruce]

Hairline cracks in gelcoat are not unusual and are easily repaired. My concern is with why they are occurring. If something in the area is soft then that needs to be repaired. I would guess that the greatest force in the area is from installing the snap.

 

[Scarabtech]

It almost looks like a gelcoat repair. It could also be that the 2014 models had numerous issues with gelcoat cracks due to a supplier issue. We sent several boats vacation to the factory for repair and the replaced a couple of decks and several hull and decks.