9 replies to this topic

[Not$oCoolX]

Currnelty I am the proud owner of a Speedster 200 c/w wakeboard tower and I have been absolutely loving it. Unfortunately I have had a few difficulties. The cover is designed with clips to fit around the tower when it is raised so there is no need to remove or fold down the tower to cover the boat. These snaps continually break. The boat has also CRACKED believe it or not. On both sides of the boat running from the cup holder to the top of the molding the boat has cracked. Dealer has no explanation or fix for the problem. Anyone ever have a problem like this with any new boat? Dealer is consulting with the factory. Anyone want to buy a speedster 160 in canada?

[tiggerman]

Sounds like a bad thing to me... stress cracks? I would love to hear what Bombardier has to say about this!

[Hawaii Kai]

Currnelty I am the proud owner of a Speedster 200 c/w wakeboard tower and I have been absolutely loving it. Unfortunately I have had a few difficulties. The cover is designed with clips to fit around the tower when it is raised so there is no need to remove or fold down the tower to cover the boat. These snaps continually break. The boat has also CRACKED believe it or not. On both sides of the boat running from the cup holder to the top of the molding the boat has cracked. Dealer has no explanation or fix for the problem. Anyone ever have a problem like this with any new boat? Dealer is consulting with the factory. Anyone want to buy a speedster 160 in canada?

Please keep us posted on this one, I'm looking a getting this boat next year.

[tiggerman]

Currnelty I am the proud owner of a Speedster 200 c/w wakeboard tower and I have been absolutely loving it. Unfortunately I have had a few difficulties. The cover is designed with clips to fit around the tower when it is raised so there is no need to remove or fold down the tower to cover the boat. These snaps continually break. The boat has also CRACKED believe it or not. On both sides of the boat running from the cup holder to the top of the molding the boat has cracked. Dealer has no explanation or fix for the problem. Anyone ever have a problem like this with any new boat? Dealer is consulting with the factory. Anyone want to buy a speedster 160 in canada?

Heard anything from Seadoo yet?

[Not$oCoolX]

Full warranty! Here is the catch. In Alberta we have about 5 months of prime weather at most. Having my boat in the shop for 3 months does not sit well with me. The dealer would allow me to use the boat for summer with the cracks seeing as how they have dubbed them as "cosmetic". Cracks get worst my summer is fubar cracks stay the same I get free winter storage.

[tiggerman]

Very nice..... Got my fingers crossed they stay the same.......

[Not$oCoolX]

After boating this weekend I now have spider cracks leading into the engine compartment from the ski poll which has never been used and also cracks leading from the front rail anchor points. Dealer involved AGAIN.

[tiggerman]

That's not good man....... so many gelcoat issues

[Boatsw/Gusto]

Currnelty I am the proud owner of a Speedster 200 c/w wakeboard tower and I have been absolutely loving it. Unfortunately I have had a few difficulties. The cover is designed with clips to fit around the tower when it is raised so there is no need to remove or fold down the tower to cover the boat. These snaps continually break. The boat has also CRACKED believe it or not. On both sides of the boat running from the cup holder to the top of the molding the boat has cracked. Dealer has no explanation or fix for the problem. Anyone ever have a problem like this with any new boat? Dealer is consulting with the factory. Anyone want to buy a speedster 160 in canada?

I am a Sea Doo dealer in Georgia Boats with Gusto web site. We have not seen the cracks in the Sea Doo but have seen "spider cracks" before in other boats. (CYA Lawyer statement to follow. We are located in a warmer climate with mild winters. Check with your local dealer or gel coat specialist before attempting any suggestions.) It sounds like you have a cosmetic spider crack not a fiberglass issue. If it is a cosmetic issue this is what we do:

TYPES OF SPIDERS WE HAVE SEEN:

1) LONG GROWING CRACK (MOST COMMON AND WHATS IN THE EMAIL) - A crack that runs long and splinters off like a windshield crack on a car.
Usually are caused Three ways: 1) When a screw is drilled though gelcoat it SHOULD be drilled and wallowed out. This will eliminate the screw threads from cracking or puckering the gelcoat. 2) A Bolt is over tightened on a cleat or tower thus "pinching" the gel coat causing it to crack. 3) Someone ties docking lines to something that is not a cleat. Wakeboat towers, ski pylons are design for certain types of stress. If you tie a docking line them the sideways pull and sudden jerks that happen at docks can cause a crack where the support is bolted into the boat.

The type of cracks start small but grow as the boat is moved or driven (especially Jet boats because they are so maneuverable they create "heavy G forces". This is why many owners do not see them until after they have driven awhile.

HOW TO FIX AND/OR STOP:
The quick fix is to drill a SMALL hole at the end of the spider line. This will stop it from growing. Then fill the SMALL hole with silicone and wait until the off-season to do the final fix.

FINAL FIX: You will need to grind out along the crack. Sand the area lightly you are working on. You then put in filler in the grove let it cure then sand until smooth. Apply gelcoat, sand apply gelcoat again and wet sand. Feather in color as best you can.

2) SPIDERWEB CRACK - Is a crack that shows up in the middle of the gelcoat. It looks like a web and can grow rapidly. These usually occur because the gel coat did not cure properly and had air or something in it. The blemish will crack with stress (driving boat or during transport it).

HOW TO FIX AND/OR STOP:
There isn't a good quick fix to this. The entire area needs to be ground wound (sanded down. Then follow the steps above.

NOTE: Usually you can not just paint over a spider crack. If it is not stopped it will continue. If you just try to cover it up it always seems to come back.

MOST COMMON REASON WE’VE SEEN RECENTLY:

The new 3-4 passengers towables can cause the stress gel coat cracks. Towers and Ski pylons are created to handle certain amount of stress. The new BIG towables from manufactures like SportStuff create significant stress to boats. If a BIG towable hits a BIG wave/wake and goes into or under water its like dropping a 400+lbs anchor. The sudden jerk can cause the tower/pylon to flex thus causing the gel coat to crack.

I hope this helps with your situation and other owners. I will forward your concern to Sea Doo Customer Service and Production via email and follow up at our dealer meeting this fall.

[Kevin Leclair]

Thanks for the very detailed post! I am sure this will help a lot of people out.

P.S. - Welcome to the site!