2018 Freedom 215 Gel Coat Chipping Off

[NCFreedom]

I was just wondering if anyone else has seen the gel coat chipping where the two colors meet on the side of the hull. Did Grady-White or the dealer warranty the repair? I am the second owner, so I am hoping they will fix this under warranty, but I am not sure.

 

[Ky Grady]

That almost looks like a bad prep on barrier coating chipping off, or previous owner has painted the bottom for some reason. If that was a factory two tone gelcoat, I don't think it would be seperated like that, it would be all one layer, layed up together in the mold.

 

[NCFreedom]

The bottom has not been painted. It is the original gel coat. It is chipping where the two colors join.

 

[Halfhitch]

You say it is the original gel coat but in the original post you said you are the second owner. I agree with KY Grady, in that it is probably a repaired area that was done improperly. For me it would be a job for a fiberglass pro. That's an area that needs to look good.

 

[Ky Grady]

I still say that's not factory. Grady wouldn't have a hard line like that where the two colors meet. The colors would meet in the gelcoat application in the mold, it would be a smooth transition between the two colors.

 

[DennisG01]

I still say that's not factory. Grady wouldn't have a hard line like that where the two colors meet. The colors would meet in the gelcoat application in the mold, it would be a smooth transition between the two colors.

Yup. That's not factory. As KY said, that's not the way it's done in the factory. My guess is that the boat was originally bottom painted (or this was a large scale repair), then the previous owner had it blasted off and re-gelcoated (obviously not a good prep job). That "hard line" is where the person that applied the gelcoat ran a strip of masking tape.

They're not going to warranty something where an owner caused the problem. UNLESS it was a dealer that made that repair - in that case, first talk to that dealer directly.

 

[Ky Grady]

From my dealer in Charleston. She sent me these pics this morning after I explained what was going on. There is no hardline between the two colors, smooth transition.

 

[NCFreedom]

Thank you for all of the comments, explanations, and pictures. I have one of the best gel coat repair shops in the area about 4 miles from where I keep the boat. I will take it to him and see what his suggestions are to fix it. The boat was previously kept in the water all of the time, so it previously having bottom paint is a good possibly. Then when they blasted off the bottom paint this caused the hard line in the sea grass color from where it was tapped off. Looks like someone did a poor repair job on the gel coat. Thank you.

 

[DennisG01]

Then when they blasted off the bottom paint this caused the hard line in the sea grass color from where it was tapped off.

Just for clarification... blasting off the bottom paint would not have created that hard line. The BP was sitting on top of the existing gel - taking that off would just have gotten back to the original level. That line was created when the NEW gelcoat was applied on top of the old/existing gelcoat, thereby sitting proud of the existing gelcoat. But, yes, a poor (quick) gelcoating job is the culprit.

 

[Ky Grady]

You're welcome!!

We weren't trying to be difficult on you, we just knew that wasn't a factory Grady-White finish. Something has been done to the bottom of your boat that's not correct. I'd reach back out to the dealer you bought it from and see if there is a warranty period for the coating. If it was done by them, maybe they'll step up and make it right, or at least split it with you.

 

[NCFreedom]

Just for clarification... blasting off the bottom paint would not have created that hard line. The BP was sitting on top of the existing gel - taking that off would just have gotten back to the original level. That line was created when the NEW gelcoat was applied on top of the old/existing gelcoat, thereby sitting proud of the existing gelcoat. But, yes, a poor (quick) gelcoating job is the culprit.

Thank you for the clarification.

 

[Fishtales]

That sux. Good luck with it...

 

[NCFreedom]

I am happy to report that Grady White, through my local dealer, fixed my gel coat chipping issue. A local boat building guy came to the dealer and fixed the issue. It wasn’t a perfect repair, but it is not chipping anymore. We’ll see how long the repair holds up.