Gelcoat Cracks at Tower Base

[Tigebert]

Is it normal to see some cracking in the gelcoat around the tower feet? Serious issue or normal wear?

I'm looking at a 2003 21i.

Thanks

[embo]

Seems to be a normal issue if the base is loose. Or maybe some mis-use. When I was looking at boats I got an estimate of up to $500 per connection. That was worst case senario but he said to be safe it would be around that price to get it fixed.

The biggest theme I have heard is just loose connections. Others may know better but that is what I was told. The $500 was also included some reinforcement if that needed to be installed to strengthen up the mount.

It wouldn't be a show stopper for me but it would make me look that much closer at the rest of the boat. For me, if that stuff starts happening, I will be taking care of it right away. I would think someone taking care of their boat would do the same but then maybe I am wrong. Just made me look harder at the boat when I was looking. Usually found more things that when all added up, didn't give me that warm fussy feeling I wanted when buying a boat. Just my opinion though. Good Luck Shopping and hopefully buying soon.

[IDBoating]

While shopping, I looked at a local 2005 22V. It had scary gelcoat cracking around both (older style, non-Alpha Z) tower bases AND the ski pylon. The rest of the boat was in nice shape, which made me worry a bit more about gelcoat issues on older Tiges.

[kko]

It is pretty common to see stress cracks around tower base. I see them all the time on every brand of boat. most of the time its just a cosmetic issue. My 03 had them when I bought it in 07. They never grew or caused any problems in 3yrs. but I went ahead and had them fixed because I did a complete wetsand and compound of my entire boat this year so i figured it would be a good time to get them fixed. Post a pic so we can see what your looking at.

[Tigebert]

It is pretty common to see stress cracks around tower base. I see them all the time on every brand of boat. most of the time its just a cosmetic issue. My 03 had them when I bought it in 07. They never grew or caused any problems in 3yrs. but I went ahead and had them fixed because I did a complete wetsand and compound of my entire boat this year so i figured it would be a good time to get them fixed. Post a pic so we can see what your looking at.

I'll see if I can post one. What did it cost to have them repaired?

[IDBoating]

It is pretty common to see stress cracks around tower base. I see them all the time on every brand of boat.

Which is another good reason NOT to use the tower to tow inflatables. Skis and boards only!

[chpthril]

Certainly not unique to Tige, or even the "Towboat" sector. I've seen them around cleats as well as bow rails where the owner uses them constantly to tie up or hang fenders. They are called stress cracks!

[islander033]

Which is another good reason NOT to use the tower to tow inflatables. Skis and boards only!

Words to live by^^^.

These gelcoat cracks can happen anywhere that a hole was made in the hull that wasn't chamfered properly to keep the bolt/screw from contacting the the gelcoat.

[IDBoating]

These gelcoat cracks can happen anywhere that a hole was made in the hull that wasn't chamfered properly to keep the bolt/screw from contacting the the gelcoat.

Agreed - which is why, in my article about installing wake towers, I was careful to illustrate and discuss chamfering the holes. As well as building proper backing plates to distribute the force over as large an area as possible.

[Shamus]

Is it normal to see some cracking in the gelcoat around the tower feet? Serious issue or normal wear?

I'm looking at a 2003 21i.

Thanks

What 21i are you looking at? I had one, it was a great boat...weight it right and you get a monster wave. The stadium seating was cool too. Great for pulling the kids on a ski trainer.

[kko]

The cost will depend on how big and deep they are. Thats why I asked to see a pic. Being I work at the dealer the guy gives me the good buddy deal. Plus I did the work on getting the tower up and out of his way plus he didnt really have to clean up after himself because I was going to be redoing the whole boat anyway....Long story short I would guess betwen 2-5 hundo depending how many cracks we are talking about and how much he would charge to take the tower up. But if the rest of the boat looks good I would not let the stress cracks keep you from the boat. Just factor the cost into your offer.

[Tigebert]

What 21i are you looking at? I had one, it was a great boat...weight it right and you get a monster wave. The stadium seating was cool too. Great for pulling the kids on a ski trainer.

It's a 2003 21i with 170 hours. We had an agreed price at 21.5K. I then found out about the gelcoat cracks and it has scared me away. He had towed his kids and their buddies on double tubes behind the boat. I'm worried it's a structural thing.

What do you think all? I'll try to post a link.

I think I would be more comfortable at the $20K mark.

[IDBoating]

We had an agreed price at 21.5K.... I'm worried it's a structural thing.... Ithink I would be more comfortable at the $20K mark.

If it's truly a structural thing, $1500 won't be enough to fix it. And that's how you should value it; if you want a discount for what you perceive to be a problem, the discount should be at least enough to fix it. A truly structural problem in a boat is going to cost you more than $1500.

[Shamus]

It's a 2003 21i with 170 hours. We had an agreed price at 21.5K. I then found out about the gelcoat cracks and it has scared me away. He had towed his kids and their buddies on double tubes behind the boat. I'm worried it's a structural thing.

What do you think all? I'll try to post a link.

I think I would be more comfortable at the $20K mark.

Oh yeah, towing double tubes off the tower is BAD...an 03, so it would have the metcraft tower as well. Did you check the boat out? Was the tower really loose? That may tell you something...21.5 isn't too bad for a 03 21i in good shape. I loved mine, it was a great boat...well still is acutally.

[kko]

My 03 has a metcraft tower but its not the one that they had all the problems with. So I would have to see the tower as well to make a call on that. IF it does have the crappy metcraft tower I would figure that into the offer as well. Because there is no way I would use the boat with that tower. I very seriously doubt the cracks are structual.They are so common its not even funny. Again if rest of the boat is nice I would still buy it. stress/spider cracks around the tower are not a big deal IMPO. They can be fixed and really cause no problems. Get the pics up and post a pic of the tower as well...I would be more concerned if it had the crappy metcraft tower than I would be about a few stress cracks thats for sure.