Aging fiberglass boat and a strange dream

[joeyr]

I am the proud owner of a 1977 Fiberglass Grew. 200SS. (kind of unknown) a great boat with many many hour on it. I found it in a field with literally shrubs growing inside it. many hour getting back in the water.

I had a dream the other night I was launching her for the first time this year and she broke in half!! so this got me thinking. how old is too old for a fiber glass boat? and if you know what are the signs of fiberglass getting too old. She get into rough water at time on Lake Nipissing in Northern Ontario.

 

[Bondo]

and if you know what are the signs of fiberglass getting too old.

Ayuh,..... Donno,..... My oldest barge is a 1961, 'n it's still just fine,.....

 

[mickyryan]

i have heard the original fiberglass boats made for military are still around , if i recall they were heavy things 100 % glass
I think it is extremely rare for a glass boat to crack in half , old or new i only heard it happening from someone air born off a 10 foot wave and slamming it, even then it was a older boat with bad wood /no wood left stringers, but then it could have been a story since i didn't see it first hand

 

[Woodonglass]

Failing Fiberglass has more to do with how it was made in the beginning than it does with age. Bad Layups will show up with cracking, Crazing, Bubbling etc. If the gelcoat shows these signs then it's a good guess that the underlying glass is having issues.

 

[mickyryan]

to add what wood said , in freeze thaw climates, i heard water can get trapped in a bad layup shattering it as it freazes and you will see it just another reason to live in florida