25 Outlaw Problem
 

I am looking for other peoples opinion on what to do. I have a 2000 25 Outlaw that we have had since new, every year we experience stress cracks in the cockpit corners. Three times now we have had them fixed from a reputable Baja repair shop and just like before three or four rides into the season they reappear. Is any one else having this problem? What should we do?

Fairly common to get stress cracks in the corners or joints in Bajas--and a lot of other brands as well. The corners just don't have enough reinforcement and flex at that point.

No chance Chris - Baja does not operate their factory on Fridays.:D

I guess they know better.

I, too, have a 25OL(it's a 2001) and fortunately, I have not one crack after almost 200 hours.

I would investigate why the deck is either:
1)Flexing excessively or
2)Maybe the gelcoat is too thick and bacame brittle.

PROBLEM JUST GOT WORSE
 

Ok, we were running in about a 2 foot chop and one of the stress cracks went from a minor stress crack to a full blown out crack. I can now watch the the crack open and close as we are running. I am afraid that if it doesn't get fixed soon that it will extend below the faring and down to the rub rail. I will post pics as my wife down loads them.

Does any one have baja's customer service number.

I have had minor stress cracks on every Baja I've had, but nothing more than a minor stress area, Baja will not consider it structural unless the boat is inoperable, or someone is in danger, at least thats what they told me

BINGO! MY DEAL HAS 28 HRS- JUST SEEN THE FIRST ONE...RIGHT BELOW THE DRIVERS FOOTREST....F IN BAJA'S

hUh?

Stress cracks are fairly common in most go fast boats that see any kind of decent size water. I would not worry about them, however that one you can see open and close sounds a litttle more serious. Hopefully Baja will help out.

man my 1997 29 outlaw is crack free, my 2000 H2X i sold was also crack free, miss that little boat

I think it all depends on how hard you run them in rough water

Sorry to butt in, but, stress cracks do not open and close before your eyes. Most boats that are run in big water will get stress cracks in the Gel.....eventually. But a crack that opens enough for you to see the movement points to a bigger problem.

Just my .02.

I have to agree.

This is JB's wife....

That is exactly what we're worried about.

Baja has told us twice now that they're willing to repair the crack....um NO! There is something structually wrong! Within 2 years the hull warantee is void and we'll have to pay for all these repairs ourselves, let alone run the risk of the boat breaking in half, which is a very real possibility if this isn't repaired properly. Every year it's getting more and more difficult to get them to do the right thing. They keep covering the cracks and it just cracks again, except now they're bigger. There's a clue here!!!! Ya know, I'd understand it if we were running in 8 to 10 foot waves and beating the boat up. We're talking 2 foot chop here - the boat is supposedly made to do that...well, except ours. The boat is well taken care of, not left in the water, washed every time we pull it out (after use), even stored in a heated barn for the winter. Honestly, we couldn't do any more. As for operation of the boat, he's a really good driver, knows how to use the trim tabs, sets the boat down nicely if you hit an occasional swell (backs off on the throttle so you don't go crashing into the next wave). He knows how to drive, we know how to maintain the boat and take really good care of it. I'm so frustrated, they should be really glad they're dealing with him and not me. I probably would have called Elliot Spitzer already.

Not to be a jerk but we're in a poker run next weekend that is covered in Poker Runs America. We're the pace boat (clean water up there :) ) ....if they don't step up to the plate, they're going to get ALL KINDS of publicity.

Here's a pic of the crack.

Or not....I'll try again using a link from a host site.

Okay - I suck...here's a link. Kinda scary that I'm supposedly the expert in the family at this. LOL

http://www.imagestation.com/album/?id=4289719879

Hello Bonnie.
I'm interested in seeing those pics. The link you provided returns a message saying that the "Image is temporarily unavailable." Just a haeds-up.

By the sounds of it, the cracks in the corners, I would think that the cockpit sole is not properly supported from underneath. This would allow the floor basin to rise and fall with load and inertial forces leading to the cracks in the corners. There sure sounds like a larger problem underlying the cracking.

Others have said it, spider cracks and gel coat stress cracks are not uncommon, but they are limited to being superficial only.

Hey BD,

I saw the pic before it went kapuut. The crack is not on the floor. It is on the top of the gunwale at about the 1:00 postion from the throttle. Starts to run under the plexiglass fairing.

I'm adjusting the on line album...I screwed something up. If you mail me direct, I'll sent you the pics direct. [email protected] (but don't tell anybody my e-mail addy, it's a secret) LOL

BD,

Crack is near the arrow in this picture but this is not her boat.

Thanks 29 Outlaw, I took it the wrong way from the original post...

Bonnie, You have mail.

This is Bonnie -

Well, Baja sent someone out to look at the boat. I guess the newest plan is to give them the boat this fall so they can do a series of tests to see what's going on. At least they're listening and doing something about it. I was beginning to have doubts, but maybe they were just trying to make sure we weren't gold diggers or something.

Glad to hear that you got some action out of them. After reviewing the pics, it is obvious that there is great flexing of your boat causing the cracks in the corners. It would almost appear that the whole cockpit liner is loose or something.

Keep us informed of what happens. Good luck!

Thanks! :)