Cracked gelcoat at tower base

[Phil L.]

Hi,

I just purchased a pre-owned 2021 GS22. The boat looks amazing and we can't wait to get it in the water.

I noticed that the gelcoat is cracked at the base of the tower on both sides. I linked two pictures. I was wondering if this was something to be concerned about ? I know that the repairs will be done under warranty, but I want to be sure to fix the problem. Not just put a band aid over it. What could cause a crack like this on such a recent boat ?

thanks for your input.

[greggmck]

Most gel coat cracks are cosmetic and do not represent a structural concern. However this crack is right at the base of the tower AND runs down a significant length of the gunnel so I would be concerned. Given the age of the boat it should certainly be covered under warranty. However if it were my boat I would seek out a reputable shop that does fiberglass repair for an independant opinion and estimate before I took it to the dealer. This way you will know if your dealer trys to dismiss it as a cosmetic crack. In any event if you continue to use the boat take detailed measurements and note if the crack increases in length after use.

[GMLIII]

Look like a significant amount of pressure was put on the gunnel area. If the boat was kept in a boat lift just wondering if the boat was raised too high in the lift where the top of the tower hit the lift cable pipe causing and enormous amount of pressure on the tower and gunnels areas of the boat hence the stress gelcoat cracks.

[Scooter G]

I like GMLIII's analogy, or something to that effect. Pulling a tube and 3 wakeboarders at the same time. There are 4 welds on each side of the tower, 2 per tube. I would do a very close visable inspection for any hairline cracking around the welds. Does the tower raise, lower, and latch without any alignment issues? I would also be pulling interior covers to inspect the bones, the fiberglass on the inside gunwale for any signs of stress. The tower takes a load of pounding when you're 210 lbs and carving in for a tantrum, but they are very well mounted on the SN ships, and gel cracks when it's stressed, but that doesn't always mean strructural damage. My old Supra had a decent amount of spider webbing in the gel around the tower mounts. Probably because we would pull 2 wakeboarders and the film crew behind the action in a tube. You would have never known it after the "fix".

[greggmck]

There are a number of ways the tower could have been stressed. Towing too many riders on a tube (this is called out in the warning on the tower), towing a disabled boat from the tower, backing it into a garage that was too low, when the owner forgot to put the tower down, or hitting an overhead structure in a parking lot, etc.

[Scooter G]

Comon really, backing into a garage and casing the tower, who would do that???

Umm, guilty.
You only do that once in a lifetime, crying out loud...