Gel coat cracks
Posted: Sat Jan 04, 2020 1:04 pm
Hello all,
Have a 2014 220 bought in 2015. Having issues with gel coat cracks since day 1. All the cracks are in cockpit area. Have had the same 3 repaired 3 years in a row under warranty and now gel is out of warranty cobalt told dealer they are not going to repair the same 3 again under warranty. Dealer told me it would cost me 2500.00 to repair. I would think it is more of a structural problem causing repeat cracking in same areas? When I bought this boat I bought into the compromise nothing notion cobalt preaches. It took the salesman almost 3 years to get into a 220 and when I did I think it was the biggest mistake I have made. Very disappointing with the brand. The 19 year old boat I traded in had no gel coat cracks, and nothing was wrong with it. I regret trading it in on a new boat. The bad experience all started on delivery I'm may of 2015. While out on delivery water test when boat was under load but not on plane at about 2000 rpm the engine was spark knocking and missing. Took back to dock and sent back to dealer. They had to water test to duplicate due to being under a load, found engine timing was way off. Adjusted and gave back to me. All good till end of season found 3 areas of gel cracked. Repairs with winterization. Come spring summer 2016 5 miles out in Lake Michigan hit a small wave engine shuts off. Found blown ign breaker. Reset start engine blows breaker In 3 seconds, try 2 more times same results. Get towed back to port, drop off at dealer, found main ign wire rubbed through on top if steering column support. New wire run and insulated brace all good till fall 2016, bring for winterization same gel coat cracks. Repaired under warranty again. Spring 2017 dealer gets boat running for season take boat out for 2 hour run open engine cover when done puddle fresh engine oil under engine. Return to dealer front crank seal walked out replaced front cover had to pull motor have to remove oil pan to replace cover. Dealer gave loaner boat due to diag authorization and repairs took 3 weeks. Got boat back fall of 2017 winterize and same 3 gel coat cracks repaired again. Come 2018 surprise no problems. Get winterization done this winter 2019 same gel cracks. Dealer check with cobalt cobalt says no more warranty. I was patient with cobalt for the first 4 years now I'm pissed off I do not expect to pay 2500.00 every year to repair gel coat cracks that have been repaired 3 other times. It sounds like the cracks will come back every year. I'd say that is a structural problem not a gel coat issue and since hull and deck have a 10 year warranty it should be covered defect. In my opinion. Any thoughts as how to pursue this? Other than writing cobalt with all tha history I've had on the pos sitting in my garage? All service , winterize , maintenance, repairs have been done by my selling dealer. They told me to get in contact with cobalt myself since they may respond to owners request than the servicing dealer themselves. I've heard things have gone to *** At cobalt since malibu bought them out.
Have a 2014 220 bought in 2015. Having issues with gel coat cracks since day 1. All the cracks are in cockpit area. Have had the same 3 repaired 3 years in a row under warranty and now gel is out of warranty cobalt told dealer they are not going to repair the same 3 again under warranty. Dealer told me it would cost me 2500.00 to repair. I would think it is more of a structural problem causing repeat cracking in same areas? When I bought this boat I bought into the compromise nothing notion cobalt preaches. It took the salesman almost 3 years to get into a 220 and when I did I think it was the biggest mistake I have made. Very disappointing with the brand. The 19 year old boat I traded in had no gel coat cracks, and nothing was wrong with it. I regret trading it in on a new boat. The bad experience all started on delivery I'm may of 2015. While out on delivery water test when boat was under load but not on plane at about 2000 rpm the engine was spark knocking and missing. Took back to dock and sent back to dealer. They had to water test to duplicate due to being under a load, found engine timing was way off. Adjusted and gave back to me. All good till end of season found 3 areas of gel cracked. Repairs with winterization. Come spring summer 2016 5 miles out in Lake Michigan hit a small wave engine shuts off. Found blown ign breaker. Reset start engine blows breaker In 3 seconds, try 2 more times same results. Get towed back to port, drop off at dealer, found main ign wire rubbed through on top if steering column support. New wire run and insulated brace all good till fall 2016, bring for winterization same gel coat cracks. Repaired under warranty again. Spring 2017 dealer gets boat running for season take boat out for 2 hour run open engine cover when done puddle fresh engine oil under engine. Return to dealer front crank seal walked out replaced front cover had to pull motor have to remove oil pan to replace cover. Dealer gave loaner boat due to diag authorization and repairs took 3 weeks. Got boat back fall of 2017 winterize and same 3 gel coat cracks repaired again. Come 2018 surprise no problems. Get winterization done this winter 2019 same gel cracks. Dealer check with cobalt cobalt says no more warranty. I was patient with cobalt for the first 4 years now I'm pissed off I do not expect to pay 2500.00 every year to repair gel coat cracks that have been repaired 3 other times. It sounds like the cracks will come back every year. I'd say that is a structural problem not a gel coat issue and since hull and deck have a 10 year warranty it should be covered defect. In my opinion. Any thoughts as how to pursue this? Other than writing cobalt with all tha history I've had on the pos sitting in my garage? All service , winterize , maintenance, repairs have been done by my selling dealer. They told me to get in contact with cobalt myself since they may respond to owners request than the servicing dealer themselves. I've heard things have gone to *** At cobalt since malibu bought them out.
