MacGregorSailors.com

G'day all.

In the last few weeks I've noticed some hairline cracks in the gelcoat of our 2011 . I'm pretty sure they weren't there prior to Christmas and the boat has been under a tarp when not in use. Note we're in Australia, so Dec/Jan is hot rather than cold.

See photo.



Has anyone else encountered gelcoat cracks such as these? They look to be cosmetic, but I have very limited experience with fibreglass.

All advice most welcome.

Cheers,
Graeme

I have some around the mast step on the port side. The deck is reinforced by cardboard-like corrugation of the fiberglass cloth on the underside, just not enough IMO. I saw somewhere, maybe the production video, where they squirt lines of foam on the laqyup, then glass over the resulting humps to give rigidity, I wish they had made just a few more. The cracks are just in the gelcoat and are cosmetic, I'm pretty sure. I've been mulling over ways to reinforce this area without cutting the liner, I've got nothing so far. It looks like you have the same thing. I'm pretty sure they are caused by weight, not temp fluctuations.

no worries, cosmetic only