Im looking at a 2007 TR186. The boat sat in the weather for quite and will need some TLC to get the shine back.
This will be my first fiberglass bass boat (previously had an alum.) and Im concerned about some cracks in the top cap as shown in the attached picture.
Would you consider these stress cracks? Cracks in the paint or gel coat?
And is this something I should be overly concerned about or is it par for the course on a 13 year old fiber glass boat?
Thanks for any input.IMG_0460.JPG
Looks cosmetic only to me. White shows those well. Any crack gets dirt down in it and the contrast between the gel and the dirt is what you are actually seeing. If it doesn't bother you to see it, I wouldn't worry.
They don’t look all that concerning to me on their own, but for where they’re at they sort of do. I expect this in the splash well, or by the console where you’d expect stress/torque on the hull to be the most severe. Back there where those are is pretty weird as there shouldn’t be much stress in that area from normal operation. It makes me wonder if something else is wrong. Specifically I’m wondering about a wreck or some other pretty hard collision...
I’m no fiberglass expert, but have seen my share of stress cracks. I don’t think I’ve ever seen them there.
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I’m with Drew on this. Splash well and mid section topcap cracks are normal, but that area shouldn’t be seeing any under “normal” conditions. Look it over real close. Check inside and down the side of the hull also. Just seems a little weird.
2008 BULLET 21XD 2007 Merc 300xs
Looks like a weak hull , those cracks are from flexing .There is a good reason some boats costs more than others .
Doesn’t cracks happen due to a “stiff” hull? Or uneven gel? I don’t know, just had a fiberglass guy tell me that once.Originally Posted by LTZ25
He was making excuses . Flexing hulls cause cracks . Weak stringers cause flexing in weak hull .
Good observation and advice.
If it were me i would keep shopping. Love the tritons. There should be more out there.
You can’t tell by the pic if anything is wrong with the hull....I see boats with way more cracks than this and they’re fine. I’ve also seen shorter cracks than this and it was coming from a transom issue....
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Have someone that knows what they are doing check it out before you buy. Like posted above the stress cracks are in a weird place. If it is just a top cap issue it is nothing to worry about. Could have taken a side whack on a bridge pylon or something.
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Looks cosmetic to me. Most likely over exposure to UV made the gel in those areas brittle. And flex just cracked it.
You'd be surprised how much all of our boats flex.
It’s not your boat. I would have zero concerns but I know what you mean.
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I'd have a hard time buying a boat looking like that. My OCD nature would kick in every time I walked by it.
Q: Should You be worried?
A: Would worrying fix the cracks? If You like the boat and the thing hanging off the back that propels said boat checks out; offer the amount, less the amount that would stop You from unnecessary worry, and there You are. Worry brings about unneeded stress, the stress will rob You of Your most valuable asset, Your 'time' as will worrying about shit You cannot control.
Bye the way the cracks all flow mostly in the same direction, It looks like a impact from the boat smacking a dock or pole. Its probably fine but I would have them just check it out at a Fiberglass Shop just to be sure.
Stroker DC21 Mercury 250 XB
My exact thought looking at the fact their all in the same area and all in the same direction.
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Seven years ago I completely restored a white 2006 TR186. I replaced all carpet, seats, polished and buffed out the hull. I had a few very small cracks, (nothing like in the picture). When completed, I fished every weekend for 9 months and easily sold the boat. Just saying. I can't tell how deep your cracks are from the picture.
I wouldn't buy it myself. As stated, there are just too many good boats out there for sale.
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