New boat hull gel coat issue?

[Mjolsen74]

Have a question for some boater experts.. was washing boat this weekend and noticed that the front deep V Hull has gel coat missing/chipped.

Boat is one month old with 10 hours. 4-5 fresh water lakes and river days and 2 inter coastal days. All but one I’ve anchored in 4-6 foot of water and one day I was anchored but some fool drove over my anchor line at a beach and I had to “beach” it since I only had one anchor left. It was barely on a sandy beach (no rocks or shells) for about 2 hours.

I can’t imagine this gelcoat issue could be remotely related to that...? Took boat in for 10 hour service and showed them too.. of course they immediately say “oh you can’t imagine what we see from a “small sandbar” as if I did this.. they did end up saying they would check it and review with warranty ..

To me it looks like a potential gelcoat defect. What are y’alls thoughts?

Mike

 

[haknslash]

Yes sand is an abrasive and can cause those scratches you see all the way down the hull. The chips are likely from a rock hidden under the sand you hit while beaching. Don’t beach a boat unless you have a keel guard and even then I’m never a fan of beaching.

Saw so many boats beaches this weekend and I cringe at the thought of them just getting pounded by boat wakes and in general rough waters. Not worth it. These boats you should use the swim platform and put the stern facing the beach but not touching bottom and give the keel or rudder room to move up and down with the waves without touching bottom.

 

[Mjolsen74]

Yes sand is an abrasive and can cause those scratches you see all the way down the hull. The chips are likely from a rock hidden under the sand you hit while beaching. Don’t beach a boat unless you have a keel guard and even then I’m never a fan of beaching.

Saw so many boats beaches this weekend and I cringe at the thought of them just getting pounded by boat wakes and in general rough waters. Not worth it. These boats you should use the swim platform and put the stern facing the beach but not touching bottom and give the keel or rudder room to move up and down with the waves without touching bottom.

that is exactly how I do it.. back up.. I can't imagine how sand could do that much "chipping" in two hours.. and trust me.. there are no rocks there where. No waves pushing or pounding boat. I am very protective of how I moor and anchor.

 

[swatski]

and trust me.. there are no rocks there where

Oh yes there are, pebbles and sand will inflict damage like this very quickly.
It is possible there were voids under gelcoat that made is worse - this does look like more damage one would expect, but who knows.

That’s is why we do not beach these boats, the new FRP hulls are paper thin and scratch when you look at them.
The good news is - the boats are very light. And never rot because there is no core.

This looks like an easy fix with gel coat paste, since there was no serious structural impact.

—

 

[seanmclean]

Unfortunately that definitely looks like your doing. That's a lot of scratching on the hull too for only one time, so chances are there were quite a few stones and whatnot where you beached. Fix it up with a spectrum gelcoat kit and get a keel guard.

 

[biffdotorg]

Fill in to cover the fiberglass, and throw on a keelshield. Then you won't have to worry about the color match of the fill.

 

[captras]

Seal the area, then use some gelcoat repair. Cant tell for sure, but it looks like it would be covered by Keel Guard, or a similar product, so color is not an issue. I agree with the above though, I NEVER beach my boat. I do have the Keel Guard. Back it in to about 1.5-2 feet depth, anchor it, and not have to worry, even if there are some waves/wake to contend with. The Keel Guard takes some time and prep, but it is well worth it and they stand behind their products.

 

[Neutron]

I put keel guard on all my watercraft when new so that wont happen.
10 hours and the hull is that scratched up, yikes that was some beaching

 

[Recoveringfiberglassaddic]

I am with others on their takes, but there is one thing that is bothering me. The obviously sanded/scratched areas are a much light blue. Along the keel line is a much darker blue.
Maybe it's just the camera or the angle and light/exposure but to me it looks like keel was repaired(poorly) with a mismatched gelcoat. Possible it didnt release from the mold due to bad prep and was repaired at some point on the line. PURELY SPECULATION.

Just a thought/idea and would need more pics in better light to confirm, but to me that dark blue on the keel should look a LOT mor like the sanded light blue on either side of it. Also that guy that wants manufacturers to honor their warranty.

+1 for a KeelGaurd when its sorted out.