Is there information and advice available on repairing these cracks. Grind out all the cracks in the gelcoat, regelcoat and put a new nonskid in. The gelcoat is pretty runny and you arent able to get much to stick with it being on the underside of the boat. Eventually they went to fixing the cracks the correct way of grinding out the gelcoat and lamination layers that were damaged. Heres an easy way to fix and color stress cracks in seconds and its so tough it comes with a 3 year durability guarantee magicezy hairline fix is a revolutionary precolored fiberglass and gelcoat repair product that fixes and colors fine stress cracks spider cracks, and hairline fractures fast in one application. Step 3 now, once youve removed all hardware, toerails, and other paraphernalia. For the most part, the cracks i had to fix were near the bottom of the drive hole, but i had a few damaged areas up in the red section of the deck where the boat had previously suffered some sort of hit likely smacked the dock and long cracks originating from where the pitot tubes had been installed by the dealer and the gelcoat had been terribly cracked in the process. They can occur in any form of fiberglass, including cars, boats and swimming pools. This damage is often caused by slight flexing of the hull. Gelcoat surface damage 1 dings 2 dents 3 gouges 4 small holes.
The kit will include a bonding agent, stir stick, small container, catalyst, spreader tool, color match paint and. As far as how they did in detail, not 100% sure, just know they laid down a sheet on another area that can take the pattern, then pull off in a couple days, then spray the gel and then apply a sheet of fibre. It was a quick way to make it look better for a while anyway, but the cracks always reappeared later. From what i know from reading posts here, i would need a dremel tool to create a gorge on the gelcoat crack before applying the gelcoat putty. A couple of summers ago, however, after returning from a sail i discovered that the cat bag from the inspection port was wet. How to repair spider cracks in fiberglass boatlife. Step 1 figure out what caused the cracks to begin with.
Spider cracks can indicate impact damage or serious structural problems that will need to be addressed to prevent spreading, but most often they result from relatively inflexible gelcoat that is too thick. It has been sitting on the hard in the sun for the past 30 years. You may be able to use a twopart epoxy to fix some cracks. Apply gelcoat with a putty knife or plastic spreader. The next thing to so is to carefully sand the surface of the repair using a rag and some acetone solvent. Gelcoat is a fiberglass resin that has had a pigment added to it. Nov 29, 2018 i ground out the cracks using a dremmel tool, then filled the cracks with color matched gelcoat material from spectrum color. How to fix spider cracks in fiberglass free online repair. 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.
You dont always have to have a 10 year old boat to be experiencing this problem. Thermal fatigue cracks when gelcoat repeatedly expands or contracts. We have this awesome boat that just cannot take enough of a beating, but the gelcoat in some spots seems to craze, or spider web. How to repair spider cracks on your fiberglass boat. The good news is that spider cracks can be far easier to handle once you know what to do. Heres an easy way to fix and color stress cracks in seconds and its so tough it comes with a 3 year durability guarantee magicezy hairline fix is a revolutionary precolored fiberglass and gelcoat repair product that fixes and colors fine stress cracks spider cracks, and hairline fractures fast in one application it penetrates deeply into the pores of even the finest. In such cases, grinding off the gelcoat for wholesale refinishing is the best approach.
Repairing minor damage to the gelcoat surface of your boat west. How to repair gelcoat, fiberglass boat repair boating. My hull just developed spider cracking on both sides,that go parallel about 5 inches in lenght,then web out 10 inches on both sides of the hull. Sometimes, however, spider cracks offer a path for water to get into contact with. The first step needs to be ensuring that your spider cracks are just that, and not a sign of a soggy core, or a broken support. Malibu had used two different colors of white in 2002. Honda was going to redo the gelcoat then they changed their mind. Spider cracks in gelcoat moderated discussion areas. These might be in a parallel pattern or a nondirectional pattern. When gelcoat is dry, sand the surface flush with the surrounding surface. Heres a small example of what things looked like before i started, cracks highlighted with a sharpie pen so theyre easier to see. How to fix spider cracks, hairline cracks, and crazing in boat gelcoat.
I got about 30 gelcoat cracks on it, just tiny line cracks on the top part of the hull only. An older class c minihome i once owned also had cracks at both lower corners of the window in the center of the back wall. Sometimes, however, spider cracks offer a path for water to get into contact with the fiberglass structure under the gelcoat. With time, it is possible that gelcoat can become cracked, simply through wear and tear or a specific incidence of damage. Both delamination and cracks are very expensive and sometimes impossible to properly repair unless the complete sidewall of the unit is removed and replaced. My westsail, still in kit form, has spider cracks all over the deck. We have this awesome boat that just cannot take enough of a beating, but. Spider cracks are a form of fiberglass damage that occurs from minor flexing or. Inspite of this hairline cracks are not unusual on boats. Before you can start to fix crazing, clear the area of any obstructions and remove all hardware that covers or obscures any part of the cracks. 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.
Boat gelcoat stress cracks are a common problem within the marine world when it comes to fiberglass gelcoat boats, a. The lower 14 of the transom was rotted, allowing the outer skin to flex. I flew up to tokyo yesterday and back on the 15th, so will take some pics for ya then. Using highbuild primer to repair fiberglass crazing.
Dec 29, 2017 in this case the cracks need to be examined closely. I found a bunch of spider cracks on the bottom of the boat. Grind out all the cracks in the gelcoat, re gelcoat and put a new nonskid in. I believe hes descibing crazing and spidering not actual flex caused depth cracks. You should add a layer of scuffing to the cracks at a wider point than you would need. These cracks are generally cosmetic, and indicate flexing of the hull. When looking at cracks you may find that there are generally two different types. This thicker gelcoat cannot stand any flexing without showing cracks. I didnt hit any thing but did some wave jumping 1 to 3 waves. Using sandpaper, you should be able to sand thoroughly into the depths of the crack so that the edges are smooth.
Ive had my 1971 sunfish for more than five years, and for the first three it never leaked a drop. Repairing hundreds of fiberglass cracks to get ready for spraying awlgrip paint. Fixing gel coat spider cracks 2002 malibu vlx share your completed boat projects. All gelcoat is, is nonreinforced tinted fiberglass. Cosmetic gelcoat surface damage 1 small scratches 2 hairlinespider cracks 3 gelcoat chips. It developed these probably 4 years ago and ive had no issues with water entry or gelcoat chipping, bubbling or peeling away. It is starting to show its age with stress cracks from being dropped on portages, etc. These types of cracks are no the same as impact or flex cracks and only go so deep into the gelcoating and would not require digging out to repair. Step 2 then toughen the laminate that contains the crack or cracks by solidifying it.
How to repair spiderweb cracks in fiberglass with gelcoat. Thoroughly wash and dry the area, and remove all obvious surface contaminants with a rag dipped in a strong solvent like acetone. Crazing in gelcoat, also known as spider cracks or stress cracks, plagues countless boaters. If you want them gone, take the time to do the job right and do the boat justice. The cracks are called spider cracks, and they are normal for a gel coat finished boat.
If not managed, these small cosmetic annoyances can lead to bigger problems down the road. How to fix spider cracks, hairline cracks, and crazing in boat. Spider cracks are nonstructural damage to the gelcoat of a boat. The gelcoat is clear, and i really dont want to paint the. It can be difficult to diagnose spider cracks, especially when youre not aware of them. Extensive spider cracking common on older boats is due to aging of the gelcoat. One manufacturer use to just sand and polish spider cracks especially on runabouts with metal flake gelcoat.
Jul 17, 2017 buff out the repaired area, using the orbiter sander, a buffing wheel and buffing compound. How to fix spider cracks in fiberglass it still runs. Cracks from larger issuesa winch, for example, that was inadequately mountedwill need to be. Magic fix for hairline cracks in gelcoat practical sailor. Fixing leak and repairing gelcoat and gelcoat cracks. In most cases this is true, however it is important to seal them correctly otherwise water may penetrate into the fiberglass and cause more serious damage. Boatus magazines mark corke shows you how to easily repair those pesky spider cracks that show up in your boats fiberglass gelcoat. Sand the damaged area with 100grit sandpaper to roughen the surface. I have a bell northstar blackgold canoe that is now about 19 years old.
Fixing them can involve more than just slapping on some gelcoat, however, and that is where we come in. Measure a small amount of gelcoat, which is a thick form of fiberglass resin. Gelcoat thickness will be greater as will layers of cloth underneath. Structural flexing may not the only cause of spider cracks. Solid surface repair kits are also available, but some deep cracks require a. Jun 06, 2018 learn how to treat wearinduced spider cracks that appear along the hull of your dinghy. You can successfully complete basic fiberglass boat repair by following these steps. Repairing hairline cracks and how to do repair gelcoat magicezy. Spider cracks are small, hairlike cracks that appear on the gelcoat of boats. Ralph, since you got me interested in gelcoat repair one or two per year, i believe you would have some answers for me. If it is applied too thickly, expansion and contraction of the hull due to temp will cause gel coat cracking. Learn how to treat wearinduced spider cracks that appear along the hull of your dinghy. There are many ways to repair cracks in fiberglasswhich ones the best.
I have a 2005 r12x with 7 hours on it, bought brand new leftover this year. Cracks right through the gelcoat, especially if they originate at slide corners, are. This is usually evidenced by a concentric ring pattern as opposed to random crisscross spider webbing. Gelcoat doesnt flex at the same rate as the underlying fiberglass layer fiberglass is more flexible, so stress cracks appeared all over. Spider cracks are a form of fiberglass damage that occurs from minor flexing or impacts. Cracked resin solid surface sinks should be repaired right away to prevent leaks. In this case the cracks need to be examined closely, even chipped away at, to see if they extend through the gelcoats 0. The next time youre cleaning and waxing your boat, take the time to look for small cracks, scratches and chips in its gel coat. How to fix spider cracks in fiberglass free online.
Hairline spider cracks must be opened wider and filled with an epoxy filler to be permanently repaired. In this case the cracks need to be examined closely. The cracks are purely cosemetic, and not structural to the boat. Step 4 as soon as the crack has been channeled out, wipe it clean. These are the easiest cracks to fix as theyre not very deep.
The epoxy fills and seals the cracks, and the polyurethane restores the color and gloss. Though smooth and relatively durable, gelcoat, like any finish, is prone to dings and scratches. Dec 06, 2017 spider cracks can indicate impact damage or serious structural problems that will need to be addressed to prevent spreading, but most often they result from relatively inflexible gelcoat that is too thick. When the area is dry, smooth the surface with sandpaper. The crack ran from the corner of the kitchen window at an angle down toward an access panel. Hairline cracks, stress cracks or spider cracks star cracks that occur in gelcoat surfaces on fiberglass boats or other water craft are often seen as a cosmetic issue. I am doing lots of reserch and want to do this rjght so i need to be clear on which processes to. Heres everything youll need to know to repair these cracks. Fiberglass fenders, need advicehairline crack repair. Fixing gel coat spider cracks 2002 malibu vlx fiberglass. Learn how to treat wearinduced spider cracks that appear along the. These hairline fractures also occur in boats of the mid 1970s vintage which often had thicker gelcoat layers than newer boats.
Cracks spreading out from the center, much as you would see in a spider web once youre sure youre dealing with these types of cracks in the outer gel coat of the fiberglass, your fix can be limited to the fiberglass exterior. Repairing hundreds of fiberglass cracks to get ready for. I have seen some spider cracks in other boats lead to gelcoat deterioration bubbled and chipped off where the cracks let water behind the gelcoat and therefore compromising the integrity of the hull, but not in my case. They all happened in the first 3 weeks after i got my ski. I had a 1993 winnebago motorhome that had a crack develop as i was preparing for a trip from minnesota to arizona one february. What wont work is to paint over the crazing with new gelcoat. Stress by thermal expansion or when bulkheads and liners were installed can cause minor flexing. Spider cracks can indicate impact damage or serious structural. Nov 15, 2018 spider cracks are a thorn in many boaters side.
Crazing is an incredibly common issue on modern fiberglass boats, and although it usually starts off as a matter of cosmetics, in severe cases these. Radial cracks spider cracks, star cracks caused by impact or by a fixture bolt that puts strain on a certain area of a boat and cracks occur around the hole. If you dont want to use paint, you can grind away most of the crazed gelcoat and replace it with a fresh application of colormatching gelcoat paste. Cracks can also spread out and further damage the sink. I dont really care, its just cosmetic and i havent seen any new ones since. You may want to apply colored gelcoat enamel over the repaired area, so the repair wont be so noticeable. How to repair cracks and chips in damaged gelcoat duration. May 27, 2009 the other cause of gelcoat cracking is impact. Crazing is an incredibly common issue on modern fiberglass boats, and although it usually starts off as a matter of cosmetics, in severe cases these surface cracks can grow, deepen, and eventually threaten your boats. They seem to appear out of nowhere, and for no reason. Repairing hairline cracks and how to do repair gelcoat. Jun 06, 2016 when looking at cracks you may find that there are generally two different types. The location of the cracking is the center of the hull,about 5 inches down from the bump molding. How to fix crazing in gelcoat, also known as spider cracks or stress cracks which plague countless boaters.
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