Buying a 225 Weekender

[Grgmrz]

Hi all,

I am buying a 2004 225 weekender and there are a few issues with the boat. Since I never owned a sea ray before, I would like some advice from you guys. Sent a surveyor to check the boat for me and found some hairline cracks, beneath the waterline port side on the bow (stem) tracking back over a one meter arc pattern. Surveyor said boat structure is fine and no visible repairs where made.

[/URL][/IMG]Is this normal? Is it safe to buy? Attached photo of actual boat cracks. Most of them are in the anti fouling.

Thanks in advance for your advice

 

[Little Ducky]

Something might have made a slight impact but it looks to me from your pictures it's just scratches/cracks in the paint not the hull itself. The paint just dried out and cracked.

That paint looks like it has seen better days.

 

[Grgmrz]

Thats what I thought, but the surveyor said one of them is in the gelcoat. Question is, if in the gelcoat, is it a major or minor fix? Will it be something I should worry in the future?

 

[lawndoctor]

My understanding is that hairline cracks are due to the gel coat being more rigid than the underlying structural fiberglass, so hairline cracks in the gel coat happen where there is flexion, and some limited flexion is normal. All the boats I have owned have had a few in small areas on the deck and dash, particularly where there are angles in the structure. I've not seen this on the hull, above or below the water line, so my two cents is I think you're right to be raising the question.

I don't know where you're located, but if you're in the NE and you decide not to go for this particular 225WE, let me know. I am going to list ours in the near future. We hate to let it go, and we've been procrastinating because of that, but we really can't keep two boats. It's located in the Philadelphia area, and it's an absolute gem.

Either way, best of luck, the 225WE is a great choice, and I'm sure you'll love yours like we have ours.

 

[Little Ducky]

If that's the only damage it can be easily repaired. I had a few hair line cracks around the hatch and some dock rash on my 2011 260 and it was repaired perfectly. Could not even tell.