light shining through new fibreglass hull

[Still_Dreamin]

Gday

I have purchased a new fibreglass boat and whilst lying down in the half cabin I noticed that there appears to be areas of different thickness in the hull. I say this because some areas are lighter than surrounding glass. At first I thought this was explained by the two tone hull but upon closer inspection it was occurring in the same colour of the hull. My question is should I be worried?

Brendan

[Apollo]

Without knowing where it is, it would be normal that the glass would be thicker in areas where more load or strength is required. Examples of this are areas where load is higher due to an area where people would expect to stand or a fitting to be placed.

[Chimo]

What breed of boat is it?

Hope your trailer is well set up with plenty of evenly spaced support and / or you stay on good roads.:P

C
C

[Noelm]

I think you are referring to places where you can 'see through" the glass when it is light outside, is this the case? if so, then, don't worry, it is normal. I raised this issue some time ago and a few did not believe me, while others have seen this.

[WalrusLike]

Does it correlate with strong points?

I don't think you should worry anyway because topside strength must be ok or they would have issues with their boats.

Also the boat builders are spraying the glass on to a mould so it might not be a case of 'it's too thin in that spot', but rather 'it's all ok but some bits got a tad extra thickness'.

Your on the boat.... What do you reckon?

[johncar]

Seems pretty normal, every glass boat I have owned has been like that.

[chop duster]

means the gelcoat on the outside or the flowcoat on the inside may be a little thinner in the locations the light is brighter. Fibreglass itself is to some degree transparent and not necessarily waterproof hence the coating applied... hope this makes sense, and not knowing your situation without more details, is relevant.

[chop duster]

A picture would speak a thousand words and help us put your mind to ease...

[Horse]

Chop duster is on the money. Fibreglass is transluscent and its the thickness of the Gelcoat on the outside and the flowcoat on the inside that stops the light

[Still_Dreamin]

The boat is a Tournament 1750 and I will take some pics next time it is out in the sun. The build of the boat seems excellent but having only ever had alloy this is a new phenomenom to me. It is as Noelm described. Walruslike, it doesn't flex at all when pressed against so I guess it is ok.

[WalrusLike]

I am getting tired of reading about all the people who stepped on their Tournament topsides and fell through, hit the hull and kept going till they hit the 50 fathom mark. 😄

Nah... I reckon it's most unlikely there is anything wrong with those sweet looking boats.

[Lucky 1]

My boat is the same (6.3 Sea Legend). Particularly in the morning sun when it hits the bow. I don't think its a problem.

[tenzing]

My boat is the same (6.3 Sea Legend). Particularly in the morning sun when it hits the bow. I don't think its a problem.
Yeah Mine too.
Exactly the same as Lucky above . seafarer victory
Cheers
Brendan

[Kdog]

Yep, add me to the list as well (Yalta Odessa 615 )

[Lancair]

Yep mine is the same, Tournament 1800.
I raised the issue with the GM of Tournament during another discussion and its normal, flowcoat inside is sprayed on to a uniform colour, may be some thinner spots allowing more light through, nothing to worry about, the glass is the same thickness in the same areas.

[centrefire]

Had a tinny once that was a little thin... Could shine a torch with two six year old D cells through, on a really dark night.

[WalrusLike]

I had a look today... Same thing on mine. In fact it reminded me of our Cole23 sailboat from 30 years ago. It was strong as anything. That hull was built like a brick outhouse.

Also I recall now that when I was considering Baysport boats someone was saying they can't be strong because you can see through the fibreglass. If this is what they were referring to, then they were wrong about strength.

[googarra]

Glass is translucent, very much so. But glass is where the strenght is. Gelcoat, if thin, can let a lot of light through, no big deal. Lack of gelcoat, or just thin in some areas, this is the norm with most boats