Mariah Z302 Hull Delamination Problems - Help? PSA
 

Hey everyone! My parents own a Mariah 202 (I forgot which year) and it's been a pretty nice boat for us. I've been looking to buy a boat of my own for the Great Lakes, and I've been exclusively looking at MCOB models. I stumbled across the Mariah Z302 models, and I love them. The only problem is, I keep finding them where they leak water. With further investigation, I keep finding that the hulls delaminate, starting near the stern and moving forward. I've known of at least 5 Z302's to do this..

Apparently, Mariah used foam to bond the outer shell and inner tubs. That foam is losing its hold, and creating a separation between the outer shell and inner tubs. Apparently, this is a massive job to fix, and 4 out of 5 fiberglass repair shops told me they don't want to touch it. The other has not been getting back to me.

Here is a link to another forum post, detailing the problem.There is a youtube video link in the thread as well. https://www.bandofboaters.com/forum/...999-mariah-302

Surely other people have known this to happen? Does anybody have a fix, or know of a fiberglass shop that has/will repair this problem? Any help or insight is appreciated.

If you're reading this and interested in buying a Mariah, specifically a Z302:
If there are no worthwhile answers on this thread of how to fix the problem, then as a PSA, I would recommend not buying a Z302 since it is fairly common for the hulls to severely delaminate.

Re: Mariah Z302 Hull Delamination Problems - Help? PSA
 

Hey man. Those videos of that 302 have been around for a few years now. They were posted on the fb group awhile back too I know you’re on there as well. This site is about dead too not many people come on here anymore. I would not say the 302s are common in having this problem. From 98-2001 there have been hundreds produced and the only time I have heard of this issue is in that one cheap boat for sale you posted. I’m not saying there aren’t others because there may be, but the 302, 275, and 245 we’re all mcobs and Mariah build all their boats the same way. One bad boat wouldn’t stop me from buying a 302 they are awesome boats, but remember, they are still over 20 years old now too. Just my 2 cents.

Re: Mariah Z302 Hull Delamination Problems - Help? PSA
 

It sounds like you’re aware of the delamination issues with the Mariah Z302 models. Given the foam bonding problem, it’s wise to proceed with caution. Many fiberglass repair shops may be reluctant to take on repairs due to the complexity.

If you’re looking for solutions, seek out specialized shops that have experience with hull repairs. If you’re considering a Z302 purchase, ensure a thorough inspection to avoid potential issues. If repairs seem daunting, exploring alternative MCOB models without these concerns might be a better route. Good luck! :)