It is often said that the gelcoat crust is a bit vulnerable to cracking. I saw no signs of possible impact, but the length of the crack seemed a bit more than. Step 3 now, once youve removed all hardware, toerails, and other paraphernalia. Magicezy hairline fix is a onepart, pretinted available in 10 colors sealant that allows you to complete the repair in seconds without having to grind out the. Wetsand the cured gelcoat with 320grit wetdry paper on a soft sanding block. The clear exterior coat on fiberglass boats is formed by a substance known as gelcoat. A thin layer of gel coat isnt structurally strong enough to prevent itself cracking off. If you see cracks take the gelcoat in that area down to the substraight. It is important to catalyze this cover layer at the recommended levels as over or undercatalyzation can cause various problems including premature yellowing, cracking and a reduced gloss. Either deepen the scratch using a small blade or grinder, or leave it.
Where the gel coat layer is too thick, as we often see in areas of a molded boat where it can easily accumulate such as corners or radii, the shrinking gel coat may create its own stress, resulting in cracks. All about fiberglass boat stress cracks fiberglass boat. This kits contents allow you to make repairs to your white, fiberglass bathtub, shower or shower pan. This is usually evidenced by a concentric ring pattern as opposed to random crisscross spider webbing. How to repair spider cracks in fiberglass boatlife. It gets pretty hot when the sun is on it, even in our mild pnw climate. This thicker gel coat cannot stand any flexing without showing cracks. One quick and easy way to repair gelcoat stress cracks yourself is by using magicezy hairline fix a purpose built diy repair solution for stress cracks in gelcoat and fiberglass. Try to keep your work area at or above 70f and free from moisture when working with gel coats. Know what the causes are and fix them,then finish off with repairing the gelcoat cracks and. Repairing hairline cracks and how to do repair gelcoat magicezy.
Use a rag to protect your fingers and to do a thorough job of removing dirt and debris that might have caught in the cracks. However, if maintained properly, a gelcoat layering easily outlasts a painted surface. How to fix spider cracks in fiberglass it still runs. Were wondering if they might have something to do with the dark colored hull and thermal expansion. Step 2 then toughen the laminate that contains the crack or cracks by solidifying it. If the gel coat is applied too thick it has a tendency to crack because of the difference in thermal expansion, resin will expand much more than the fiberglass substrate.
It happens because the grp is slightly flexible whereas the gel coat on top of it is not. Use a rag to swab the cleaner across the stain and then let it sit for 20 minutes. A special release film and norun polyester gel makes a slick. How to fix spider cracks, hairline cracks, and crazing in boat. Unless the scratch goes through to the glass matting it wont harm the boat. In this post, we are going to focus on scratches and cracks that are strictly cosmetic. So these cracks wont go through the hull, they must just be in the gel coat. It is necessary to first apply 12 14 mils of wet catalyzed gel coat.
Boatus magazines mark corke shows you how to easily repair those pesky spider cracks that show up in your boats fiberglass gelcoat. Aside from the durable shiny luster gelcoat adds to any fiberglass boat, most owners know little more than wash and wax it frequently. Hairline spider cracks must be opened wider and filled with an epoxy filler to be permanently repaired. This damage is often caused by slight flexing of the hull. Gel coat repair series cosmetic scratches or cracks. Depending on how bad the stain is, you may need to apply more than 1 coat. Gel coat hardened too quickly or with improper curing temperatures and conditions can also promote stress cracks in the gel coat itself. Does the gelcoat on your boat look chalky and old and need to be restored to shine once again. If structural damage is suspected, you should get your boat. Aquatic gelcoat repair kit in white35rkwh the home depot. Cold temperatures can lead to slow gel coat cure times, while moisture can cause pinholes, blisters and other imperfections in the gel coat. The easiest repair method is to sand the surface heavily and roll on two coats of epoxy primer followed by two coats of twopart linear.
Once it is, make sure that the brush doesnt have any loose bristles, and apply the gel coat carefully after following the directions on the gel coat package. Gel coat cracking is the result of some kind of induced stress. All about fiberglass boat stress cracks fiberglass boat repair. Confining work to the immediate repair area, continue wetsanding with 600grit paper until nearly even with surrounding gelcoat. In this report, they offer the magic fix for hairline gelcoat cracks. No problema little elbow grease, a buffer, some basic cleaning supplies, and a few hours of your time is all it. Sometimes, they go deeper and threaten an underlying. The number of boats that develop serious blister problems is extremely small. Spider cracks are nonstructural damage to the gelcoat of a boat. If the surface of your boat looks like a cracked eggshell, the gelcoat is suffering from crazing sometimes called alligatoring. Oct 11, 2017 the spraying part of this video will be out next week. A twopart system consisting of polyester resin and catalyst, gelcoats the first thing into the mold during manufacture. The good news is that, unlike crazing which happens randomly all over the boat, stress cracking can be fixed by indentifying and fixing the source of the stress,a nd then repairing the gel coat. In this case the cracks need to be examined closely, even chipped away at, to see if they extend through the gelcoats 0.
There are several reasons it might need to be repaired. Since 1968, west marine has grown to over 250 local stores, with knowledgeable associates happy to assist. The easiest repair method is to sand the surface heavily and roll on two coats of epoxy primer followed by two coats of twopart linear polyurethane. How to repair spiderweb cracks in fiberglass with gelcoat. Surface gelcoat scratches can be buffed with polishing compound, and deeper scratches can be filled. Step 4 as soon as the crack has been channeled out, wipe it clean. As it cures, gelcoat bonds to the layers of structural fiberglass laid on it to create a smooth, shiny. If the underside is accessible, laying up heavy glass to a well ground surface is the surest path to a. For more details on some of the things that can go wrong in the fiberglass during the manufacturing process please refer to the blistering article. Once the gelcoat has fully cured, sand the repair smooth wet sanding works particularly well with gelcoat.
How to repair gelcoat, fiberglass boat repair boating. Repairing gelcoat on fiberglass boat the topic of gelcoat is often a mystifying subject for boat owners. Gel coat cracking on 2000 tritonanyone else having this problem. Upon inspecting the underside, i noticed a crack in the gelcoat about 2 feet long on the bottom side of the hull under where a passenger seat would normally be located. Jul 06, 2016 gel coat is strong and durable but like any other finish, it can be subject to damage. If the gel coat does not completely cover the coat in one stroke, you should allow the first coat to harden into a sticky lump before applying a second mix. Mar 29, 2019 a gel acidbased stain remover will work best to remove stubborn stains. Wet sanded the surface with 220, 400 and 600 grit sand paper which got rid of the stains and etched areas from setting down tile cleaner. How to repair spider cracks on your fiberglass boat. Take care that they are completely mixed together, otherwise the hardener and gel coat will not set properly, and you will be left with a sticky mess for weeks. Magicezy hairline fix is a onepart, pretinted available in 10 colors sealant that allows you to complete the repair in seconds without having to grind out the existing damage. You can carefully cover the repair area with plastic film, such as saran wrap, to prevent this tack. It can be the result of aging or faulty application such as excessive catalization or hardeners. Even if you cant see all of this debris, it has the tendency to build up and lead to discoloration.
How to fix crazing in gelcoat, also known as spider cracks or stress cracks which plague countless boaters. Gel coat repairs and star cracks skuk sea kayaking uk. Most stress cracks occur in the gelcoat layer of fiberglass surfaces and can be repaired by yourself. We checked, the cracks are on both the port and starboard sides. I hate repairing large areas of crazed or cracked gel coat, its a great deal of work and if the cause of the crazing or cracking isnt taken care of then its sure to return. You can successfully complete basic fiberglass boat repair by following these steps. Its already recorded, i just need to edit it along with a dozen others on this cheoy lee project. Revised by boatus editors in april 2012 if the surface of your boat looks like a cracked eggshell, the gelcoat is suffering from crazing sometimes called alligatoring. The wax rises to the top to create an air tight barrier. A prior owner had fixed a few with evercoat gel coat scratch patch gel coat repair, with ugly results. Extensive spider cracking common on older boats is due to aging of the gelcoat. These hairline fractures also occur in boats of the mid 1970s vintage which often had thicker gel coat layers than newer boats.
Improper temperature and humidity can also cause problems in your gel coat. Typically, glitterflake is used in molding applications. Using sandpaper, you should be able to sand thoroughly into the depths of the crack so that the edges are smooth. I cannot see what you are referring to in the picture. A gel acidbased stain remover will work best to remove stubborn stains.
A miniature grinding tool like a dremel is ideal, but the sharp point of a can opener will work, too. Repairing hairline cracks and how to do repair gelcoat. You can start with 220grit sandpaper and, for a really slick surface, finish with at least 400 or 600grit. The tape will help to ensure that your fresh layer of resin doesnt go too far across the surface. Delamination is when the fiberglass layer pulls away from the rest of the underlayment and creates a bubble or soft spot. The spraying part of this video will be out next week. Vertical fissures sounds like stress cracking rather than simple crazing. Step 1 figure out what caused the cracks to begin with. Sometimes, theyre merely cosmetic, meaning they dont penetrate the gelcoat.
You may cover the cracks with just one application, but make sure that the product is sunk completely into the cracks before you consider that you have finished. These hairline fractures also occur in boats of the mid 1970s vintage which often had thicker gelcoat layers than newer boats. I have a 2001 tr21 that is starting to do the small stress cracks just in front and behind both consoles. Wear rubber gloves and eye protection before you apply the remover. Aug 05, 2008 vertical fissures sounds like stress cracking rather than simple crazing. Spider cracks are nonstructural damage to the gel coat of a boat. How to repairing fiberglass gel coat cracks in bathtubs, boats, cars automotive, bathrooms, paint whether you are getting ready to fix your bathtub, boat, truck cap or other fiberglass item that has seen some abuse you are probably going to need to replace its outer gel coat in the process. Achieve professionallooking results with the aquatic gelcoat repair kit. How to repair gelcoat, fiberglass boat repair boating magazine. Finally, apply a coat of highquality marine polish and your repair is complete. If the gel coat is thick in this corner as is often the case, the gel coat is more prone to cracking. The surface is sanded incredibly smooth and coated with a special gel.
Just grinding out the surface and laying up light cloth may do the trick. Jun 23, 2006 if the gel coat is thick in this corner as is often the case, the gel coat is more prone to cracking. Gelcoat is created from a special adhesivelike material that tends to dry into a hard, shelllike covering, soon after application. Repairing minor damage to the gelcoat surface of your boat. There will often be cracks in the glassfibre itself beneath the gel. Now that the cracks are ready, mix your gelcoat repair kit and the hardener together. Gelcoat crack and crazing repair moderated discussion areas. How to repairing fiberglass gel coat cracks in bathtubs. This kits contents allow you to make repairs to your white. After allowing the gel coat to cure overnight, you can smooth the area out with sandpaper, clean out the sanded area, and then both prime and paint the. In such cases, grinding off the gelcoat for wholesale refinishing is the best approach. Sitting in the hot sun in fla or az the dark colors can absorb a lot of heat it may get up to 140f and when the gel coat expands the fg restrains it and the thermal stress. In the case of very fresh, shallow crazing, sanding alone may remove some or all of the cracks.
If the underside is accessible, laying up heavy glass to a well ground surface is the surest path to a repair which will not recrack. Sand the fiberglass down until theres no shine left, so you know the gelcoats surface has been removed. You can also add pva after the gel coat starts to cure. If you dont open the crack, you wont be able to force the gelcoat into the repair area or expose enough surface area for the repair to adhere. Nov 03, 2008 i hate repairing large areas of crazed or cracked gel coat, its a great deal of work and if the cause of the crazing or cracking isnt taken care of then its sure to return. This is even more likely if the crazing is the result of a stone chip or a ding in the bodywork. If you have slight cracking in the gel coat that you are referring to it is generally cosmetic. Spider cracks are nonstructural damage to the gel coat of a boat spider web cracks in gelcoat. This stress can come from improper design, or it can be the result of imposed stresses from within, without, or both.
It is not practical to repair the gel coat, and in most cases it would be pointless. Yes, keep tape the clear packing tape works good over the cracks as moisture soaking in can result in further gel coat cracking, or even chipping away from the laminate. First of all gel coat is a polyester resin, and therefore is capable of absorbing moisture. Another option is to add wax to the final coat of gel coat. Spider cracks are nonstructural damage to the gelcoat of a boat spider web cracks in gelcoat. Gel coat cracking on 2000 tritonanyone else having this. Gelcoat blisters wouldnt be more than a cosmetic concern, if theyre treated and not ignored. Repairing hundreds of fiberglass cracks to get ready for spraying. May 27, 2009 the other cause of gelcoat cracking is impact. Magic fix for hairline cracks in gelcoat practical sailor. The repair technique recently rediscovered by l h g in the boston whaler literature sounds. Dear nh, i need to refinish my cultured marble bathroom counter tops. Dec 29, 2017 know what the causes are and fix them,then finish off with repairing the gelcoat cracks and. Blend coloring agents to achieve a match to almost any color.
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