Stress Cracks

Are stress cracks just a fact of life? I'm noticing more and more of them on my 285. Boat is 7 years old and I'm not rough on it.

More than likely its just crazing that you are seeing and not stress cracks. Crazing can occur at any flex point on a boat, and can sometimes be contributed to the gel coat being a little too thick in those areas, as well as heating and cooling over time. Its a fact of life on a lot of older boats. Mine has quite a few on the top cop and some in the corners. I take very good care of my boat and its garage kept. My boat is white so they don't stand out, but its just a cosmetic thing. A fiberglass place would be able to tell you if its just crazing or actually is stress cracks

Apparently some get them and some don't. My 2002 Javelin / Stratos 200 F&S is really like new. After 5 years of perfect gelcoat on the cap and hull, took the cover off after a long winter, (she has to stay outside) and there were about a half a dozen stress cracks in the top crown of the cap in different places around the boat.

I was heart broke. However, after living with them for a few years and putting them in perspective, it does not bother me as much.

After doing some reading here, I found that if they get the gelcoat a little too thick it can cause it and also boats which sit out side under a cover all year seem to get them more. Not sure about my gelcoat thickness but the outside year round applies to me.

With a royal blue cover, winter temps followed by bright sun could make enough of a temp change to fast that it could cause a problem. Thats the only thing I can think of.

Hope yours are not too bad.