Small cracks in gel coat, should I worry?

[JasonS]

I was waxing the hull of my boat today when I came across a small bunch of length wise cracks. Then about two feet from that, I found another set of small cracks. I tried to upload a pic but I keep getting an error. The cracks are not straight across but in the shape of a banana. They are just hairline cracks but I don't know if I should be worried?

 

[JasonS]

 

[BurgundyS24]

Shouldn't be too worrisome. I have them all over. Then again I have a 88. How old is your boat? Usually just stress cracks. If it's a newer boat I'd be concerned.


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[JasonS]

2006 240 sundeck

 

[Lazy Daze]

It looks to be some kind of impact damage, Jason. Gelcoat is not very flexible. BUT, that doesn't necessarily mean there's any damage further than what you see - ie, the glass. In most cases, this is just cosmetic. Rap on it with your knuckles and the edge of a nickel. Compare the sound to the area above and below, left and right.

 

[BurgundyS24]

Where is it on the boat?


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[JasonS]

Right side just below the sea ray logo

 

[MD185SportGuy]

That definitely looks like impact damage to me - from a hard layup to a pier or such. I ran across my neighbor out on the water about a month ago, I won't get into details but suffice to say I had no ability to drag them back but everyone on his boat had been drinking. A storm came up and we all made our way back to the ramp, and the guy driving his boat back slammed a pier hard enough that I heard the sickening "crack" from my boat about 30 feet away. Sure enough, in his gelcoat you can see a bunch of cracks identical to yours above, just above the rail. His has a definite tone change when you tap it with metal, so there is more damage lurking behind there - but the gelcoat is identical.