Gel coat surface cracks

You can start with 220grit sandpaper and, for a really slick surface, finish with at least 400 or 600grit. Ensure the cloth is also flush with the rest of the bathtub surface. Widening is done because most topcoats new gelcoat, primer for paint, epoxy overlay, fairing compound wont wick into the extremely thin cracks, they only bridge them. Small cracks forming, especially at the surface of the fiberglass 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. A thin layer of gel coat isnt structurally strong enough to prevent itself cracking off. Gel kote is a nonrun, nonsag formulation of flexible. When only bridged the cracks reappear in a short period of time. The surface shine of a gelcoat fiberglass swimming pool will lose its shine and become dull over time. They can occur in any form of fiberglass, including cars, boats and swimming pools. Over time, the gelcoat can fade, oxidize and become pitted and dented. Gel coat hardened too quickly or with improper curing temperatures and conditions can also promote stress cracks in the gel coat itself. Smooth out all the cracks and fractures in the gelcoat. Gelcoat is used for a protective layer over the fiberglass but also doubles as paint. Gel coat repairs and star cracks skuk sea kayaking uk.

Just grinding out the surface and laying up light cloth may do the trick. Before you begin your gel coat repair you will need to purchase catalyst methyl ethyl ketone peroxide from an. And since the gel coat of fiberglass pools is also nonporous, it offers more protection against chemical and water damage. Some other drawbacks to using gel coat fiberglass is the hardness of the gelcoat surface. There are many ways to repair cracks in fiberglasswhich ones the best. Hairline cracks stand out once black colored dirt gets in them once they return to approximately the gel coat colour they usually blend in well. This step is crucial because any dust or dirt will prevent the patch from bonding to the surface and it will simply come right back off. Magic fix for hairline cracks in gelcoat practical sailor. You can successfully complete basic fiberglass boat repair by following these steps. If the underside is accessible, laying up heavy glass to a well ground surface is the surest path to a. You can touch it up with a gel coat repair kit found here on iboats.

With gel coat cracks, you will basically be sanding away the entire layer that is cracked. Before you begin your gel coat repair you will need to purchase catalyst methyl ethyl ketone peroxide from an auto parts store, marina, or hardware store. Buffing, rubbingout, or fine wet sanding 600 grit can polish out some levels of surface crazing. Gelcoat oxidation can sometimes be repaired, but if the damage is extensive the gelcoat must be removed. Some other drawbacks to using gelcoatfiberglass is the hardness of the gelcoat surface. All of which are cheap to repair and usually only appear every 10 years or so. The next time youre cleaning and waxing your boat, take the time to look for small cracks, scratches and chips in its gel coat. 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. Glassmandan corvette tutorials corvette fiberglass. This damage is often caused by slight flexing of the hull.

I have a 1986 fiberglass chris craft that has scratches and small hairline cracks in the gel coat. The best way to repair a pool crack home guides sf gate. Sometimes, however, spider cracks offer a path for water to get into contact with the fiberglass structure under the gel coat. Finally, apply a coat of highquality marine polish and your repair is complete. Gel coat sticking to part if you find that your gel coat seems to be sticking to your part, this could be the result of an improper release of the mold surface. Once the gel coat has reached a full cure, progressively sand the area to a polish. How to fix spider cracks, hairline cracks, and crazing in boat.

Stress cracks, finishes and surface defects buyers. Gel coat is easy to use from application to sanding. Too long a period between gelcoating and laminating or dirt on gel coat surface, both of which can interfere with bond between gel coat and layup resin. How to apply gelcoat the endall guide fiberglass coatings.

You will mix in 1 oz per quart to the gelcoat, which will seal the surface from oxygen, causing the gelcoat to dry tackfree. Once youre sure youre dealing with these types of cracks in the outer gel coat of the fiberglass, your fix can be limited to. Numerous problems are starting to appear more and more frequent on the gel coat photos attached. Spider cracks are small, hairlike cracks that appear on the gelcoat of boats. Thin hairline cracks star cracks present a bigger problem.

I guess the pool was dropped about 20 feet from the crane. Small cracks forming, especially at the surface of the fiberglass. Repairing hairline cracks and how to do repair gelcoat. Feb 24, 2014 for clarification, are we talking about filling our new grooves with gel coat only, or filling with resin or epoxy or something else and then topcoat with gel coat by brush. Repairing hundreds of fiberglass cracks to get ready for. If you have a buffing compound with you, apply it to restore the glossy finish of the tub. Easy to use factory color repair paste for bath tubs, shower stalls and other surfaces for acrylic, gel coat, fiber glass, smc and most plastics. As the last stage, apply a coat of sealer to the area of the crack and wait for it to dry. Fortunately, this is only the surface layer, and if one polishes it away, at least some of the original shine can be restored. Pull the tape and sand the tape line smooth at the 400 grit. Hairline spider cracks must be opened wider and filled with an epoxy filler to be permanently repaired.

Youll want to take care of any damage on the fiberglass first so you have a smooth surface to apply the gelcoat to. This is a little darker than a powder blue so you can see the white marks clear as day. Hi ed, provided the cracks are only the width of a hair i would try to apply only oyster first and see if it blends from the normal distance. Small cracks and nicks form in the gel coat surface and are a cosmetic repair. Spider cracks are nonstructural damage to the gel coat of a boat. Gelcoat surface damage 1 dings 2 dents 3 gouges 4 small holes. If you roll or brush your seconding coating, be sure to go the. How to fix spider cracks, hairline cracks, and crazing in boat gelcoat.

Once the gelcoat has fully cured, sand the repair smooth wet sanding works particularly well with gelcoat. Improper temperature and humidity can also cause problems in your gel coat. Epoxy filler, although a great product is not suitable for a gelcote top coat. Thanks for the reply and all the great information. Gelcoat is the protective coating that covers most fiberglass boats. Spider cracks are small, hairlike cracks that appear on the gel coat of boats. Oct 11, 2017 repairing hundreds of fiberglass cracks to get ready for spraying awlgrip paint. I talked to another contractor that said that was a lie that the pool needs to be blasted because the gelcoat will not adhere to epoxy. They usually form in areas where the fiberglass is under unusual stress such as rail stanchion and anchor pulpit attachment points, transom corners, and around hardware, or in areas. Use 80 grit sand paper or coarser when sanding the bondo. Any cracks that do show up are just surface cracks on the gel coat. This produce worked great to cover, perfect color, waxed right over, no problems. 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.

Polyester gel cotes will not chemically bond to epoxy. Repairing hundreds of fiberglass cracks to get ready for spraying awlgrip paint. These colors are matched to our composite canoe colors only. Laminate should be laid up sooner to obtain satisfactory bond with air exposed surface of gel coat b. That could very easily be pushed to the abuse category given it was caused by the trailer, whether that is the reason or not.

This thicker gel coat cannot stand any flexing without showing cracks. Paste kit has ample amount of color matched repair material to fill up to 37 cracks or 3 air pockets blisters or deep damage. Epoxy filler, although a great product is not suitable for a gel cote top coat. Gel coat repair kit fills in scratches and surface cracks on composite canoes or kayaks. Repairing hairline cracks and how to do repair gelcoat magicezy. How to repair spider cracks on your fiberglass boat. Now that the cracks are ready, mix your gelcoat repair kit and the hardener together. 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. Gel kote is a nonrun, nonsag formulation of flexible polyester resins to produce resiliency and toughness. The tape will help to ensure that your fresh layer of resin doesnt go too far across the surface. Gelcoat repair kit fills in scratches and surface cracks on composite canoes or kayaks. Sometimes, however, spider cracks offer a path for water to get into contact with. How to fix spider cracks in fiberglass it still runs. Glassmandan corvette tutorials corvette fiberglass body.

Spider cracks are a form of fiberglass damage that occurs from minor flexing or impacts. It is best to gel coat the finished fiberglass repairs. Add a cap full of sanding aid wax to the gel coat to seal the surface. The surface shine of a gel coat fiberglass swimming pool will lose its shine and become dull over time. Pool contaractor coming out tomorrow gel coat pool. He said he just needs to repair the existing cracks and then spray the gel coat on. Alligatoring 204 print through 204 excessive gel coat thickness 206 gel coat voids 206 mottling, uneven coloration 206 surface porosity 207. Repairing minor damage to the gelcoat surface of your boat west. If the surface of your boat looks like a cracked eggshell, the gelcoat is suffering from crazing sometimes called alligatoring. How to repair gelcoat, fiberglass boat repair boating. Cracks spreading out from the center, much as you would see in a spider web. The gel coat is in pretty rough shape cracked, chipped and pitted. It comes in many colors, and in most cases it has additives that make it resistant to ultraviolet rays. 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.

Sep 05, 2017 your second coat will consist of the same amount of catalyst, but if you are doing one more coat, your next coat will include sanding aid, or wax. Starburst cracks 199 gel coat breakouts 200 drawing conclusions 200 bottom crazing 201 cracking on hull sides 202 cracking on decks and superstructures 203 surface irregularities 204. Gelcoat oxidation can sometimes be repaired, but if the damage is. Jun 10, 2017 how to fix cracks in fiberglass gel coat using fiberglass resin duration. For clarification, are we talking about filling our new grooves with gel coat only, or filling with resin or epoxy or something else and then topcoat with gel coat by brush. Your second coat will consist of the same amount of catalyst, but if you are doing one more coat, your next coat will include sanding aid, or wax. Repairing minor damage to the gelcoat surface of your boat. This product provides easy permanent repairs on hairline cracks, small scratches and chips in fiberglass.

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. A palm sander significantly speeds up this process. These hairline fractures also occur in boats of the mid 1970s vintage which often had thicker gelcoat layers than newer boats. As for painting above the waterline, the light blue interior and white exterior gel coat need refinishing. The body parts, doors, hood, deck lid, and trunk lid would be optional as deemed necessary. When the gel coat does become chalky, thats because the plastic on the surface, after being bombarded by ultraviolet rays from the sun, has disappeared, leaving only the pigment. Youll want to make sure it is not structural, check for softness or flex in the area. When sure of the look and feel of the cloth, apply a second epoxy gel coat. How to repair spider cracks in fiberglass boatlife. Just fill in the crack, let is set and scrape off the excess with the enclosed spreader. How to repair a hairline crack in a fiberglass tub diy. The gelcoat seals the fiberglass and can be left alone or painted over. Small cracks form in the outer surface of the fiberglass, spreading out from a central point like a spiderweb. Cold temperatures can lead to slow gel coat cure times, while moisture can cause pinholes, blisters and other imperfections in the gel coat.

A prior owner had fixed a few with evercoat gel coat scratch patch gel coat repair, with ugly results. This in the fourth gel coat scratch patch ive tried. The time required for this job will obviously vary quite a bit depending on the number of cracks and how widespread they are, but should take no more than three hours per square foot of repair area. Seeing the backup pattern through your gel coat layer could either be an indication of inadequate thickness in the gel coat, or improperly cured gel coat. I would be more concerned with the structural integrity of the boat. 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. Either deepen the scratch using a small blade or grinder, or leave it. 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. If the gel coat is thick in this corner as is often the case, the gel coat is more prone to cracking. Cosmetic gelcoat surface damage 1 small scratches 2 hairlinespider cracks 3 gelcoat chips.

My plan is to remove the many coats of antifouling paint below the waterline, then apply three coats of the west system epoxy and repaint it. 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. These hairline fractures also occur in boats of the mid 1970s vintage which often had thicker gel coat layers than newer boats. Tile cracks and pool equipment cracks pool epoxy putty is convenient for repairing. I want to learn this art of fiberglass work so im subd. Boatus magazines mark corke shows you how to easily repair those pesky spider cracks that show up in your boats fiberglass gelcoat. Use to fill gouges, chips, scrapes and deep scratches in the fiberglass gel coat.

Robert i forgot to add that the gel coat is a marine blue. He said he needed to put fiberglass in the cracks of the fiberglass walls and at the seams in the bottom. All about fiberglass boat stress cracks fiberglass boat. May 27, 2009 widening is done because most topcoats new gelcoat, primer for paint, epoxy overlay, fairing compound wont wick into the extremely thin cracks, they only bridge them. Too long a period between gel coating and laminating or dirt on gel coat surface, both of which can interfere with bond between gel coat and layup resin. Buff the surface with a white, mediumcut rubbing compound. If the gel coat is not chipped but only spider webbed, wash the bad areas with acetone, scuff with 320 grit, blow clean and use a small finish roller to apply several coats of gelcoat thinned with about 20% styrene. Click to expand the cracks ive been repairning couple per year are the small annoying spider cracks which appear in the damndest places and appear to have no stress. Unless the scratch goes through to the glass matting it wont harm the boat. How to gel coat a fiberglass swimming pool home guides.

All about fiberglass boat stress cracks fiberglass boat repair. When the gel coat is completely dry, sand the surface smooth, blending the edges and apply a finish gel coat. How to fix cracks in fiberglass gel coat using fiberglass resin duration. Painting over cracked and chipped gel coat moderated. Spider cracks in gelcoat moderated discussion areas. These cracks are generally cosmetic, and indicate flexing of the hull. Fiberglass surface cracks probably in the gel coat. Since 1968, west marine has grown to over 250 local stores, with knowledgeable associates happy to assist. How to repair gelcoat, fiberglass boat repair boating magazine. Spider cracks are nonstructural damage to the gelcoat of a boat. It can also contain wax to give it a marblelike finish. How to gel coat a fiberglass swimming pool home guides sf. Polyester gelcotes will not chemically bond to epoxy.