Looking for some advice before tomorrow morning...

[Danny C]

OK, So I drove 7.5 hrs to southern Arkansas today to check out a used Chaparral. Upon inspection, most of the items that need some work are to be expected from a 12 year old boat: gas struts no longer holding up engine hatch, couple of small nicks in fiberglass, ect. The engine looks immaculate, almost brand new even with 400 hrs on it. I actually asked the dealer if the took town the engine and repainted everything. After spending all day with the dealer and even speaking with the competitors before the trip down. I really trust that they are being honest with the boat condition ect.

My biggest issue is that there are three spots on the hull, each is about the size of 2 dinner plates. It is basically a dark discoloration that has been blended (very well i might add) into the gellcoat. Initially I was convinced it was fiberglass patching to some major damage in the boat, which is a dealbeaker. But after crawling into places no man should fit, I was able to get behind the hull and there was no sign of any repair on the back side. Satisfied that it is not a structural issue, I was happier, but now need to find out what it is going to take to get rid of these eyesore spots. One gellcoat person I talked to thought it was maybe a pour matched color (or over catalyzed) gellcoat that is covering the hull and may be able to be sanded off and fixed with minimal effort.

I am not opposed to walking away, but I feel like at the current price, I may be walking away from a pretty good deal just for some superficial things that may not cost too much to remedy. (<$1000) Other than this, I love the boat and even better, I feel like the dealer is trustworthy which goes a long way with me.

Any thought as to what the spots are? I will attach the best pic I could take, but it is very hard to take a good pic of the spot. It is much more noticeable in person. The other pic s of a very thin scratch on the bottom of the hull right near the plug. Looks to be fixable with some gelcoat repair gel stuff.

 

[Danny C]

By the way, couldn't take it out on the water today due to bad weather. Dealer put me and my wife up a the local hotel and we will try again first thing in the morning...

 

[Scott Danforth]

Most likely gel coat repair from dock rash ( not tying boat off properly where boat beats itself against dock and dock hardware)

This is an extremely common repair

 

[ondarvr]

Like already said, it's a common repair, matching gel coat is difficult, so even minor repairs are frequently very noticable.

 

[hosteter]

If you like the boat and everithing is in good condition take it and then repair the gelcoat when is out of water.

 

[frantically relaxing]

Any idea when they cleaned it last, and what they used? I ask because I learned the hard way that if you use Castrol Super-clean - and I would assume Purple Power- on fiberglass, it will turn it yellow, and scare the hell out of you! I assume it's the lye in them. HOWEVER, within 3 days, the 'glass will return to it's normal color... I've done this with a couple of boats, and our old '91 Winnebago cleaning bugs. It's spooky, and about the same color as those blotches in your pics, but the white comes back.Not saying that's the problem, but it's possible-- Have you asked them about it?
As for your like-new engine, I'll bet a buck it's a Volvo! This is what our '03 Chap's engine looked like when I sold it last month, 466 hours on the clock. Our replacement Regal's twin 4.3's look every bit as good (and run as good) with 530 hours...

 

[Danny C]

Ok, so does anyone know what it takes to get it all blended in? Would I have to re-gel the whole boat? One guy offered to paint it with automotive paint for $1000 as a cheaper alternative to re-geling. I was hoping that those certain spots could be redone by someone with better expertise and blended back in professionally.

FR: Its been there for at least a week now although the dealers at one point suggested maybe someone used the wrong chemical on it. I will take your buck. Its a Merc. (see pic). But man, your engine looks great!

 

[redneck joe]

Its cosmetic i wouldn't worry on it.

 

[mr 88]

Pretty much all marine engines look clean regardless of hours. They are not sitting under a hood of a car picking up road grime day in and day out, so don't put that clean look as something special. I don't like the blisters and was wondering if that is the only place that is has them,are there any on the bottom of the hull.

 

[roffey]

my 2 cents are, a dealer who is willing to put you up for the night so that you can water test a boat indicates he is sure you will like and he is a stand up guy. Speaks volumes to me and it sound like the issues with the boat are cosmetic. As far as a clean motor goes, any good detailer can make a dirty old motor look new, don't be fooled.

 

[roffey]

No Title

My detailer at work..

 

[Danny C]

What blisters are you referring to? I didn't notice any. If you're referring to the picture with the scratch, that is water drops

 

[Bayou Dave]

Any idea when they cleaned it last, and what they used? I ask because I learned the hard way that if you use Castrol Super-clean - and I would assume Purple Power- on fiberglass, it will turn it yellow, and scare the hell out of you! I assume it's the lye in them. HOWEVER, within 3 days, the 'glass will return to it's normal color... I've done this with a couple of boats, and our old '91 Winnebago cleaning bugs. It's spooky, and about the same color as those blotches in your pics, but the white comes back.Not saying that's the problem, but it's possible-- Have you asked them about it?
As for your like-new engine, I'll bet a buck it's a Volvo! This is what our '03 Chap's engine looked like when I sold it last month, 466 hours on the clock. Our replacement Regal's twin 4.3's look every bit as good (and run as good) with 530 hours...

Sorry to take this off topic. If that engine caught on fire how would you get to the fire extinguisher to put it out?

 

[ondarvr]

The first pic of the discolored repair shows up in better detail for me today than it did yesterday, kind of odd. But there are cracks in the repair, so it could be more than just a little dock rash, you may want to look into it further. You said you couldn't see any damage on the inside, but I assume the inside has gel coat on it, so it could hide any problems within the laminate. If those are water droplets in that same pic then it's not a problem, if they're blisters it is.

 

[roffey]

Sorry to take this off topic. If that engine caught on fire how would you get to the fire extinguisher to put it out?

If that boat is anything like mine, I have two extinguishers. One in the motor bay and one at the helm.

 

[Maclin]

My detailer at work..

Hey roffey,

Be sure you know exactly where your detailer is before you button it up and head to the lake...

pretty cute, great pic

 

[Maclin]

Danny C, good luck, hope the weather cooperates and you get a good trial.

 

[SkiDad]

I think it's automatic

 

[Ned L]

Sorry to take this off topic. If that engine caught on fire how would you get to the fire extinguisher to put it out?

Yep,... That is a fully automatic extinguisher, no need to get to it and no need to open the engine compartment. --- Better than a hand held extinguisher.

--Hope things are going well.

 

[Old Ironmaker]

Sorry to take this off topic. If that engine caught on fire how would you get to the fire extinguisher to put it out?

I did't notice that, good point. In fact I had put my extinguisher at the back of my boat then realized if the engine was ablaze I wouldn't want to get that close to the OB and gas tank if it was on fire. I think if my boat was on fire the first thing I would do is jump over board. It would have to happen to see how one reacts I guess. Many a "safety man" standing by on a job at our plant ran away when the stuff hit the fan. You never know until it happens.

A red extinguisher isn't legal here in Ontario if the vessel requires one. Only required if you have a fixed tank. It has to be white which is marine approved. You can have as many red units you wish but need a white one.