Stress Cracks

[RajunBassCajun]

Hello good people, I am new to this link and also somewhat new to the joys of owning a Champion. I was wondering if any of you Champion owners have been having any problems with stress cracks. I purchased the second 200 elite to be pulled from the mold in 2006 and love the boat; but I am somewhat turned off by appearance of stress cracks. Is this a normal occurrence in Champion boats or did I get a lemon. Had the first batch appear in the driver side console and at the ice chest near the floor. Got them fixed and now showing up on the rod ramp, what gives?

[Basser56]

My 2000 203 has a few stress cracks in it, but I'm kind of rough on a boat so its to be expected. They are only cosmetic and don't affect the integrity of the boat. It's a tool to catch fish, and I use it as such.

[blazer taz]

Should have bought a blazer.  One day you might break the 70 mph mark with that lead sled.Try putting nos on and see if that works. If not i will tie a rope on to your boat for the next club tournament and try to pull you. that might work. ha ha ha. love ya bro............

[cjr4497]

i have a 1995 181elite that my father bought back in 1995. it took about 5 years for stress cracks to start showing up. that boat has gotten the hell beat out of it though. banging around in tree studded lakes in high winds has taken its toll on the way she looks but i don't care. she still runs like a champion!

[Wildcat26]

I got stress cracks on my Skeeter at the back passenger corner two feet up the side and across the back. The boat is a 2005, I had had the cracks for a while but did not mention it to the dealer until last summer.  He made an appointment with the factory, they took the boat back grind down a few feet of the back and sides and rebuilt the area.

They had the boat for 6 weeks but I was out of the country for 3 of those weeks so I did not miss much fishing.

I am extremely pleased with the job.  Boat looks great and no stress cracks have returned.

[clarker2000]

Not sure exactly what causes them on some boats vs. others.  I run my boat in the chesapeake 2003 187dcx Champion and not one single stress crack anywhere.  I have had 2 skeeters and 1 sprint and they had cracks all over.  Not dissing those brands.  I think its really the luck of the draw.  As long as the structural integrity isnt comprimised then its no big deal, just a little ugly thats all. 

To the guy with the blazer, I would love to see you on the chesapeake with 30 mph plus winds.  Pretty sure you arent going where I will be.   

[MicUltraMan]

I run a '98 187DX and don't have any stress cracks and that's being in Toledo Bend and Sam Rayburn in 6+ footers slamming around like crazy.  A guy in our club bought a used 2006 206 practically brand new (still had the blue coating on the raised white letters on the original marathon tires). After about 6 months running the same type water as I run, he's got stress cracks about every foot down each side of the top cap from bow to stern. Has talked to Champ w/ no success and has now had to go legal on them hoping for more results.  He's very disappointed w/ the cracks but loves the rough water capabilities and piece of mind to be able to get in when the weather is bad. Personally, I think it's just the luck of the draw.  You know what the say don't buy a vehicle that was built on a Friday or Monday.. Friday - employees are thinking about the weekend and Monday they're recovering.

[NRG]

Stress / Spider cracks are pretty common on most boats, fiberglass flexes , and over time the gel coat will show stress / spider cracks.. Ive seen maybe 6 boats out of hundreds that didn't have some somewhere over time .. common area is the front bow and around box lids .. they are usually cosmetic .. but sometimes they are more than cosmetic .. there is little that can be done for them .. and even if you do pay to have fixed they will most likely come back in time in the same areas.

Some boats are built more rigid than others and can handle the stress better ..  but those that are more rigid are also generally heavier boats .. older wood construction boats 80's thru the 90s are more prone to get them but sometimes even new boats get some.. sometimes a stringer that is coming loose causes the problem .. more flex caused by lack of support due to a loose composite or rotted wood stringer.

If the boat is under warranty Id be taking it back to dealer or factory to have the issue checked out .. on a boat less than 5 yrs old .. could be a de-laminating stringer or other in hull support causing the issue!

But it happens to most boats over time, some more some less