Show off your stress cracks...

[MaxOut]

I have a 2007 Parker 2520sl with 300 hrs and have noticed quite a few stress cracks. I was curious to see some older/other Parker's stress marks to see where common problems may be. This would be a good reference for Parker and Parker owners to use in determining what is normal wear and tear and what isn't. None of mine seem to be structural just cosmetic but none the less bothersome to me. I will post some pictures once I get my camera back from the misses. My son received his first holy communion this weekend and I am not touching the camera until she gives me the green light :wink: .

 

[DaleH]

I have a 2007 Parker 2520sl with 300 hrs and have noticed quite a few stress cracks.

FWIW, I have a '92 vintage and off the top of my head ... I cannot tell you where my boat has ONE stress crack. The primary reason (as per the opinions from one of the best gelcoat guys in the Boston area and from a friend who's a PhD Chemical Engineering) is the Issue #1 to follow, as I had posted long ago in response to a similar inquiry.
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We are seeing far more gelcoat issues on boats today (ALL brands) than we ever did in the past primarily due to 2 issues - (1) the gelcoat makeup itself and (2) financial pressures at companies, causing "time" issues.

Issue #1 occurred due to ever evolving EPA changes for chemicals that out-gas as a byproduct of the production of or during the use of the gelcoat or hardener. Much of this has been EPA mandated emissions of volatile organic compounds. My friend who has a f'glass company and specializes in boat repairs (where I get this info) has showed me colored hulls by premium boat companies, which have chalked in as little as 3 years. In my friend's opinion ... the gelcoat we have today is junk compared to what it was years ago. I bet Parker uses the best they can ... this is an issue they cannot control and it even plagues PPG, the largest player in the gelcoat world.

[Edit 06May08: This poorer quality gelcoat, even from the large makers like PPG, also results in more stress cracks]

Issue #2 can happen when boats are popped out of the mold too soon. If you look at a few year old Angler and see long longitudinal stress cracks around all of the deck hardware ... this is because the hardware was torqued down the day the hull came out of the mold. Boats used to sit in the mold to cure for at least a week.

Boat companies can't afford to do that today. Though the surface glass might be cured, inside the layup, the mix is still "green" or not fully cured, which can take up to a week. Companies cannot afford a boat to sit idle that long - just is.

But I would bet that Parker leaves their boats in the molds longer than anyone else in the business and doesn't torque deck hardware down until fully cured. That's just my guess ... as their boats are just so darn tough!

 

[MaxOut]

To add to my previous post none of my stress cracks are around the hardware only around some bends and curves. Two are on the helm...I spoke with the dealer and they said Parker only covers structural cracks nothing cosmetic? The week I purchased the boat the cracks on the helm were addressed by the dealer and they said they would grind them out and re-finish. I opted against it because I was afraid it would end up in worse condition. They noted it and said they would address it later if I desired or if it gets worse. That was OK with me. I just wish there wasn't more popping up. I agree the EPA reg's are probably the main cause but just curious what is acceptable by Parkers standards and not. I'm not trying to start a Parker bashing post only identify areas of improvement.

 

[DaleH]

To add to my previous post none of my stress cracks are around the hardware only around some bends and curves.

I am not surprised. One other point I didn’t add is that gelcoat cracks because it’s tensile strength is much, much harder than the underlying substrate (which is stronger). The substrate or structure flexes … but the gelcoat being so hard … it can only flex within reason, otherwise – yes – you will get a COSMETIC stress crack.

Now, the million dollar question.Can a stress crack be indicative of a structural problem? Sure it can! Stress cracks on a deck could be a ‘symptom’ of a structural ‘problem’ where a stringer has let go from the inside of the hull, causing the deck to flex more than it was designed to do. In regards to that Angler boat I mentioned previously, the WHOLE darn boat was nothing but series of stress cracks so huge you could stand a dime up in most of them and they exceed as foot long in some cases.

Personally, I do believe we see more cosmetic stress cracks on the boats made today (any or all brands) than we ever did in the past. Layups today are also thinner, maybe stronger due to techniques like vacuum bagging … but again, if allowed to bend past its rupture point, gelcoat will crack. Thinner layups might be stronger, but that doesn’t mean they don’t flex MORE.

 

[Bryan 2530]

My 2003 vintage has one that I know of. And I know for a fact that the previous owner did more than his fair of offshore trips with it while he owned it. (500+ hours) Sad to see the stresscracking becoming an issue with newer boats, maybe it is the cheaper gelcoat. Probably made in China or something.

That was one of the reasons I bought my 2530 because there was no stress cracking that I could see.

 

[tommyr904]

mine has some along the roof lip above the door.250 hour's.

 

[grouperjim]

No stress cracks yet. 250 hrs......about 125 offshore fishing/125 cruising the intracoastal with the family.

I think that sometimes longer hulls are more prone to stress cracks due to more flexing. I've owned the CC and PH 23 hulls which seem seem to be extremely stiff.

On the John F. Kennedy there were certain open passageways that extended fore and aft nearly the length of the carrier. In rough seas, looking down the corridor, you would not believe all the twisting and flexing.......it was truly incredible.

 

[MaxOut]

mine has some along the roof lip above the door.250 hour's.

I have that one..

 

[Megabyte]

mine has some along the roof lip above the door.250 hour's.

I have that one..

Nothing in that area on mine.

 

[Ranger Tim]

Cracks in each corner of the cockpit floor. They run towards center about 1-2 feet. Just too lazy to do anything about it. I have talked with the dealer and with a factory rep and they are very interested but I don't think it's that critical, so I'm not too concerned. Weird though, the hull is pristine. Someday I'll get it to the dealer for them to evaluate.

 

[John_Madison CT]

6 year old 2520DV here and no stress cracks.

 

[rplas48]

I have a 2006 2120SC and have one small, fine crack 2 inches long where the starboard battery box meets the deck at the bend. Ground it out and repaired and it was only in the gel coat.

Ray