Hey guys, I just got a 1996 scarab 43 foot and on the top deck edges there's cracking for about 4 feet on each side starting from behind the windshield to about the side vents in the back along the top edge of the cap. It appears to be stress cracking in the gel coat approximately every 2 inches in that area running sideways to the length of the boat. There's also some slight cracking around the edges of the instruments panel cowling. I know I should snap some pictures when I have a chance but in the meantime I figured I would post and see if anyone else has this issue with their scarab. I had a scarab 30 previously and it had the same type of cracking so I'm not sure if it is normal. Thanks in advance for any experience or insight on the matter. The floors stringers and transom are solid, and no cracking anywhere on the hull of the boat just the cap.

if you know the structure of the boat is solid thats at least some piece of mind. can you catch the crack with a finger nail or a piece or paper?

Barely with the finger nail it can be felt in some of the spots. I think the boat was stuffed pretty hard on a wave early on because I bought the boat from the second owner who bought the boat 3 years after it was purchased from the original owner and the pictures even from 99 it had the cracking in those place from pictures he had taken and don't appear to have spread. Also the engine compartment cover has stress lines those can't be snagged with your nail. Its as if the gel coat is or was to thick. I'm kind of baffled because like I said the hull below the cap shows no issues along with the transom and stringers.

Well that's good, some people will argue but I don't normally worry too much if you can't catch them with a nail. I'm painting a checkmate right now for a customer and it had stress cracks all over the deck, but I took my grinder to them and the gel was so damn thick that it was just gel cracks. After I went through one layer of gel the cracks were gone. Every boat that is actually run like it was made to be will have stress cracks unless it's a lake boat and only ran for evening cruises if you know what I mean

Without seeing it one can only guess and that's all it would be. I will tell u this and it's definitely a fact and that is more often then not the cracks you are seeing didn't come from being on the water, they came from being trailered down the road !! Ive been in this business for a very long time and I have all but proved that most stress cracks come from being trailered and it's because the trailer company uses the boat to make their weak trailer strong.

Just to let you know Wellcraft used way too much gelcote on there decks almost every Wellcraft I have seen has stress cracks in the deck. the pleasure boats don't have enuff structure so they tend to flex a little and with thick gelcote it cracks but not the fiber underneath . But just don't grind them down and fill with bondo they will be back

Thanks for the replies. I know some trailers are weak in there framing, I don't see this one being the cause as its extremely stout and have never witnessed in flex while towing as I have with other boats I've owned and seen.

I also have heard wellcraft did use to much gel coat as well before and am assumed that's why this one and the other wellcraft I had owned previously showed the same issues. I had taken off some paneling to gain access and never saw any cracking into the fiberglass from the underside. So atleast I have a piece of mind with that. What would be the proper way to have someone repair this to last is my only next question?

Thanks

We grind them out and put back mat with epoxy resign we over fill the spot and grind back flush. Prime and then Gel cote

Is this boat a 43 with Eagles on it and american flag ?

Yup