5 Most-Common Problems With Crownline Boats (Explained)

Crownline Boats are solid and heavy boat ideal for offshore fishing, wake boarding, and recreation.

They perform well and have a solid reputation for performance with Fin Assisted Safe Turn (F.A.S.T.).

When you are in the market for a new Crownline Boat, then you have come to the right place. We will explain the common issues with Crownline Boats, including concerns expressed by Crownline owners.

We have done the work for you by reviewing all the information about Crownline Boats to see what problems you might find.

RELATED: Are Crownline Boats Reliable?

1) Cosmetic Problems

Many boat owners mention that they have cracks in the gel coat on their boats.

This is mainly a cosmetic issue that does not allow water in; however, some boat owners do not like it.

You can correct cracks in the gel coat on your own, but some steps are more complex than others.

1. You must wash and dry your boat.
2. Then, gouge small cracks until they are wide enough to fill with gelcoat paste.
3. It would be best if you considered a miniature grinding tool to open up the crack to get the gelcoat in.
4. Sand the area lights and clean it again with acetone.
5. Once you match the color of your gelcoat, mix up a batch of the gelcoat to fill in the areas with the paste using a putty knife.
6. You want to ensure you get out all the air holes and overfill the hole.
7. You have to wrap the area to keep the air out of the area because it will not cure properly.
8. Sand the area again and finish with a high quality polish.

2) Replacement Parts

At some point, you may need a replacement part for your Crownline Boat.

Typically, Crownline keeps parts for boats that have been manufactured within the last five years.

Crownline does not sell parts directly to boat owners for do-it-yourself work. Instead, they instruct you to contact the dealer network to obtain the parts you need from a certified service center.

If you have a boat that is older than five years, there are two potential online providers. You may be able to find a stock that has been discontinued through them.

However, if you cannot find the parts you need through these online dealers, you may have to use owners’ forums to find the parts you need. These active forums may be able to help you find the parts you need.

3) Honoring The Warranty

Crownline offers an excellent warranty on their boats. However, many boat owners have left online reviews stating that it is challenging to get Crownline to honor their warranty.

Crownline may not perform specific work described in their warranty or examine claims. The most significant problem seems to be with communication. The dealers in the network do not communicate with each other.

Crownline does not communicate directly with its boat owners. Instead, they go through the dealers’ network, and this is where most of the problems arise.

4) Older Model Boats (Pre-2008)

The company shut down in 2008 when they were building boats. However, from the early 2000s until about 2008, there were some common problems boat owners found.

The hulls from boats built during these eight years are considered to have a rough ride in choppy or wavy water regardless of their size of them.

The quality of the fiberglass was inconsistent. The resin used on the fiberglass was not completely saturated, which made the fiberglass brittle. Some of these boats cannot sustain brushing against the dock as the gunwale gets crushed and the fiberglass work is exposed.

Boats built in these years have a balsa core. As long as the wood core is properly encased by fiberglass, the boat will not have any problems. However, it is possible that the core is not encased properly.

5) Rough Ride In Choppy Water

When the chop or waves pick up, a Crownline has a rough ride.

The F.A.S.T. tab system helps to reduce the roughness of the ride. However, a Crownline has a heavier hull which means that the rough ride cannot always be avoided.

Crownline is known to have overbuilt hulls, which improves the durability of their fiberglass.

General Pros and Cons for the Crownline Boat

 

Pros

Crownline Boats are built with recreation and luxury in mind.

Even though Crownline may not be focused on speed, and they have a heavier hull, they have unique engineering to reduce a rough ride.

They have Fin Assisted Safe Turn (F.A.S.T.) engineering, which reduces drag with vented chines and eliminates rough handling that is a result of chines because they added tabs to the hull.

The Crownline bites into corners and is sensitive to trim. However, even when you reduce the power, you can glide for a short period of time because of the aeration.

Current models do not have wood below or above the waterline.

 

Cons

• Communication issues cause problems honoring the warranty.
• Some cosmetic issues.
• Difficulty getting parts for boats over five years old.

What Do the Reviews Say?

The Crownline is a durable and well made boat that is known for luxury and comfort.

Despite all of the benefits with a Crownline, there are some common problems, including bubbling in the arches.

“I took the boat in for its 100 hour check up on 10/20/21 and pointed out to the dealer some bubbling in the finish on the arch. They said Crownline had denied this on several other arches that had the same problem, but they would submit it. The dealer just got back to me and said Crownline would not cover corrosion.”

[Source: Consumeraffairs.com]

“I have waxed and detailed this boat three times since purchase and hand wash it after every outing. The dealer told me they even had one that was delivered brand new with the bubbling on the arch.”
[Source: Consumeraffairs.com]

 

What is the Resale Value on the Crownline Boat?

Crownline holds its value better than average when compared to its competition.

Year	Price
2015 21 S.S. Sterndrive	$46,730 (new)
2015 21 S.S. Sterndrive	$38,200 (used)
2015 330 SY	$256,610 (new)
2015 330 SY	$217,500 (used)

 

• A 21 S.S. sterndrive cost $46,730 for a new model in 2015. That same boat has a resale price that is an average value of $38,200. This is a 19% depreciation.
• A 330 SY, which is a 33 foot cabin cruiser brand new in 2015, had a price tag of $256,610. It has a resale price that averages $217,500. This is a 15% depreciation.
• Crownline builds 34 different models, all of which can be customized per your own needs and wants.
• Of these, there are 11 types of outboards and 12 types of a sterndrive. They all range from 19 feet to 30 feet.
• The Outboard starts at $39,995, and the Sterndrive starts at $47,995.
• Crownline builds five types of center consoles that start around $49,000. These boats range from 20 feet to 28 feet.
• There are three cruiser series models that start at around $109,995. They range from 26 feet to 35 feet.
• Crownline builds wake surf boats starting around $74,995 and ranging from 22 feet to 28 feet.

Sources:

WestMarine, Boatbase,