Gel coat cracks

[Galaxy24]

I purchased a 2013 Z1 last year. We put 63 hours on it last season and it is always garaged. When I was waxing it last weekend getting it ready for this summer I found two areas where there are gel coat cracks. This is very disappointing to me. I understand that they are going to occur after time, in fact my previous boat had several of them after after 23 years and we'll over a 1000 hours but they were very small. These are long and they bifurcate. Below are pictures of the cracks.

image.jpg
This one is located by the observer seat

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This one is located on the hull beside the runner

What is your take? Am I overly concerned or is this something that I shouldn't make a big deal about?

Thank you.

[luke]

I would take it up with your dealer while its under warranty and see if they will fix it in the off season!

[harv]

I've owned a few different brands... Tige' was the only boat I owned to get gel coat cracks. Do the warranty work in the off season. Chances are you'll get many more cracks throughout this summer.

[Wickedcummins]

I've owned a few different brands... Tige' was the only boat I owned to get gel coat cracks. Do the warranty work in the off season. Chances are you'll get many more cracks throughout this summer.

What brands have you owned that did not get gel coat cracks?

Ya that sucks you got only 60 hours and are seeing cracks already

[boardman74]

Definitely something to keep an eye on. Gel coat cracks usually indicate flex. I'd get with your dealer right away so they can document it and figure out a course of action.

[atthelake]

Definitely something to keep an eye on. Gel coat cracks usually indicate flex. I'd get with your dealer right away so they can document it and figure out a course of action.

Agree. They don't look like too much to worry about, as of right now, but definitely get them checked out. I'd be going sooner than later!!

[trent]

Noticed gel coat cracks on my boat end of last season. They were all contained within the interior of the boat. Similar to locations in your pictures. I was told they would not be covered under warranty.I hope you have better luck then I did.

[WorktoLive]

When I was shopping for boats every boat i looked at had gel coat cracks, those being: Supra 21v, Mastercraft X-2 & X-30, Sanger V215 & V230, Centurion, even my Tige had some.

I think the only two boats I saw w/o gel coat cracks were Nautiques & a MB B-52. To be honest I didnt detail inspect those boats.

I'd be dissapointed though if after 63 hours I had cracks.

[Galaxy24]

Thanks for the input guys. I'm very disappointed that they have happened so early. I understand they are going to happen over time. The one that has me the most concerned is the one next to the runner. As boardman says it indicates flex. To have flex like that next to a runner makes me nervous. From what I'm hearing taking the avenue of warranty doesn't sound very promising. I will contact the dealer and see what they have to say. At least get a paper trail going if it escalates into anything bigger.

[Dave S]

I had cracks on my Z1 after the first year. I spoke to my dealer and Tige wouldn't warranty it, they said it happens on all boats, of course I am going back a few years, not sure if this was verbatim, but generally speaking of course. I can say, being around boats for 30+ years I can't think of a boat that hasn't had cracks, more referred to as stress cracks. The boat will flex.

[lorney]

I hope you have better luck than me. The response I got was "Gelcoat and cracking is excluded from warranty coverage". Maybe your dealer will be able to get Tige to cover it. My dealer tried and Tige wasn't budging on their policy. I had less hours than you when I first let them know. I think it was 4 months after purchase and around 50 hours. Let us know how you make out.

[talltigeguy]

I thought that gelcoat cracks were covered for 1 year?

I guess not: http://www.tige.com/warranty/tige_ma...ranty12.13.pdf

It says right there that they won't cover gelcoat. I think that is lame.

Kudos to Tige for having it clearly and easily found on their website. I can't find warranty details on Malibu or MC websites..although I do think those guys do cover gelcoat cracks.

[Galaxy24]

Thanks for the link talltigeguy. I'm going to mention it to the dealer and get their input. Curious to see what they say. I'm not expecting much unfortunately.

[dom w. forte]

Gel coat cracks ussually start from areas where something is bolted to that area like we see them spread from windshield , cup holders, towers, cleats,Gel coat is like window glass any chip when drilling can spread like a rock chip , impact a dock at the rub rail also can start a crack, but Ive only ever seen one boat that the gel coat continued on into the structure its usualy a surface thing only.

[JLG]

my 01 20i had several spots i had to repair over the years where it would just flake off where little pin holes would start in it. Under the pin hole area the gel coat would have air gaps between it and the fiberglass, so obviously a factory build issue with this particular boat. The gel coat would peel kinda like a hard boiled egg in various spots and was very frustrating as Fiberglass shops are scarce and charge a #### ton to fix em. This boat had hairline cracks all over the interior also so i'm guessing it was just a lemon of a gel coat job. MY 07 22ve has very little if any stress cracks and seems to be holding up. I know when I spent the coin to get a new diesel pickup that every little thing that was wrong with it was covered in the factory warranty, including my leather seats that cracked. was not told it was a "Normal wear and tear item" so yes it would puzzle a person on why this wouldn't be covered with the kinda coin you just dropped on that boat!!
I know I purchase brand new vehicles because of the warranty, and normally trade when the warranty is up. It would make a person second guess owning a new boat with so called "Warranty" when the fine print is longer than the actual coverage items in the warranty itself. Definitely no incentive IMO