Newbie questions about stress cracks - SO 409

[Elcano]

Hi,

can I please have your opinions about the stress cracks I found.





Thank you for your opinions.

Thomas

[Don Reaves]

I have a 2004 SO35, and it has the kinds of cracks that you show in your pictures. There are more, of course, because the boat is older, and they get dirty over time and become more apparent. However, they are almost always simply cosmetic. I have never detected any water coming through related to the cracks, even with my moisture meter.

There are ways to repair them, though I haven't really tried. It can be expensive if you have it done professionally, and there's no guarantee that they won't come back or appear elsewhere. So I have accepted them as a fact of life.

On the other hand, if the boat is still under warranty, it wouldn't hurt to try to get them fixed by the dealer or someone from the factory.

[Elcano]

Thanks Don, that sounds good. My main concern is water/humidity. Means I will observe them. Do you do regularly use your moisture meter on your boat and which model do you use?

[dbostrom]

Apr 5, 2022 16:53:20 GMT Don Reaves said:

.

On the other hand, if the boat is still under warranty, it wouldn't hurt to try to get them fixed by the dealer or someone from the factory.

Seems worth investigating if possible. Those cracks are in unusual places. Or, at least on our 2010 39i there is no crack that is not directly associated with a significant stress riser of one kind or another, such as traveler fixings, whereas yours include some that are in lightly loaded areas.

[Don Reaves]

Apr 5, 2022 17:42:33 GMT Elcano said:

Thanks Don, that sounds good. My main concern is water/humidity. Means I will observe them. Do you do regularly use your moisture meter on your boat and which model do you use?

I use a Klein Tools ET140. I got it early last season due to moisture found during a survey. The moisture was due to deck fittings, and not cracks. I used it regularly when I first got it, but have fallen out of the practice. I'll probably resume after the season begins shortly.