Gel coat repairs and star cracks skuk sea kayaking uk. To achieve a glossy finish, you must apply magicezy hairline fix also used for small hairline cracks as a top coat. Confining work to the immediate repair area, continue wetsanding with 600grit paper until nearly even. Feb 24, 2014 my big worry would be having it grab and dance over the adjoining areas of gel coat. You can carefully cover the repair area with plastic film, such as saran wrap, to prevent this tack.
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 hairline cracks and how to do repair gelcoat magicezy. If the gel coat is too thick, the permanent fix is to grind the gel coat down to the frp lay up. Sometimes, theyre merely cosmetic, meaning they dont penetrate the gelcoat. How to prepare your boat for painting a gelcoat sail. Force out any air holes and be sure to overfill, as gel coat has a tendency to shrink as it cures. Heres how to do that put about 34 oz of gelcoat into a paper cup, or enough to do the whole job. The next time youre cleaning and waxing your boat, take the time to look for small cracks, scratches and chips in its gel coat. Gel coat repair series cosmetic scratches or cracks. Tips with fiberglass and gelcoat repair methods by john. Stress cracks, spider cracks, and hairline cracks in the decks of older boats are, of course, not. Unless the cracks are there due to a one time event like hitting a dock, they are there because the laminate underneath is flexing more than the gel coat can accommodate as it is quite brittle. Our customers have complemented us on how well it works.
A thin layer of gel coat isnt structurally strong enough to prevent itself cracking off. If that is too painful, take a dremel tool or similar and open the cracks up so you can get a. Start by wiping down the area with acetone and sanding the damaged gel coat down to the fiberglass. Small cracks forming, especially at the surface of the fiberglass. How to repair gelcoat, fiberglass boat repair boating magazine. That being said, for the home repair job of a gel coat only crack, using the stock color gel coat would be easier, filling the sanded out area. How to repair a gelcoat scratch, cracks or hole when looking at a scratch in the gelcoat, you need to determine whether it is a surface scratch or a deep scratch. There are many variables which can influence how much you will need, but generally, one tube of 9 second chip fix will repair 1520 5mm diameter x 3mm deep chips. 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. These are the easiest cracks to fix as theyre not very deep. Once youre sure youre dealing with these types of cracks in. Gelcoat is the protective coating that covers most fiberglass boats. The problem is if the cracks arent removed theres a very good chance theyll be back soon. If not managed, these small cosmetic annoyances can.
When looking at a scratch in the gelcoat, you need to determine whether it is a surface scratch or a deep scratch. However, gelcoat cracking is an indication of underlying. Step 1 figure out what caused the cracks to begin with. Crazing is an incredibly common issue on modern fiberglass boats, and although it. The majority will be used for the initial fill, and here a filler powder is added to bulk out the gel coat so it stays put, making sure the colour remains the same. Unless the cracks are there due to a one time event like hitting a dock, they are there because the laminate underneath is flexing more than the gel coat can accommodate as it is quite. This problem is sometimes severe, as we have seen with a number of old boston whalers. Once the gel coat has reached a full cure, progressively sand the area to a polish. The majority will be used for the initial fill, and here a filler. Once mixed, the colourmatched batch is then split, with some being kept back for the finishing coat. Most stress cracks occur in the gelcoat layer of fiberglass surfaces and can be repaired by yourself.
There are several reasons it might need to be repaired. Gel coat is semirigid and fiberglass has some flex. This diy is not difficult and could save you a lot of money by. Tips with fiberglass and gelcoat repair methods by john gabriel. Extensive spider cracking common on older boats is due to aging of the gelcoat. Nov 03, 2008 a nagging concern for me is a method to repair crazing in aged gel coat surfaces. A prior owner had fixed a few with evercoat gel coat scratch patch gel coat repair, with ugly results. This kit has everything you need to do filling in of chips and cracks in gel coat. The gelcoat can then be sanded smooth, finer and finer to 1500. I really dont recommend this except the smallest of hairline cracks on the older, thick gel coat boats. Gelcoat cracks interior extensive repair technique. Learn how to treat wearinduced spider cracks that appear along the hull of your dinghy. Make sure you over fill the repair and that the gelcoat goes outside the. If you dont get your gelcoat from im, youll need to to check the color match on the gel coat.
If you have used gelcoat on your boat, then you may find that removing any screws from the decking will result in an extralarge and visible hole. That being said, for the home repair job of a gelcoat only crack, using the stock color gelcoat would be easier, filling the sanded out area. Jun 06, 2018 learn how to treat wearinduced spider cracks that appear along the hull of your dinghy. The gelcoat will bridge the cracks rather than filling them, and the crazing will soon return. The owners dont want to junk these boats, in fact they are very interested in making them new. You have enough time to get it filled into the chips before it sets up, but ya. Start by wiping down the area with acetone and sanding the damaged gelcoat down to the fiberglass. I have a feeling they just sanded down some and resprayed when. When looking at cracks you may find that there are generally two different types. Do your own fiberglass and gelcoat repair with epoxy resins, filler.
The difference between crack filling and crack sealing. Wetsand the cured gelcoat with 320grit wetdry paper on a soft sanding block. I dont think its practical to completely strip the gel coat and lay new glass. But for our purposes were going to look at filling. The gelcoat seals the fiberglass and can be left alone or painted over. There are many ways to repair cracks in fiberglasswhich ones the best. If its just a small white or off white repair rayplex has repair kits with a simple color guide for matching. 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.
If structural damage is suspected, you should get your boat. Jun 06, 2016 when looking at cracks you may find that there are generally two different types. Confining work to the immediate repair area, continue wetsanding with 600grit paper until nearly even with surrounding gelcoat. How to fix crazing in gelcoat, also known as spider cracks or stress cracks which. The gel coat cracks are simply cracks in the cosmetic layer thats put over the top to keep the rv looking shiny. Step 3 now, once youve removed all hardware, toerails, and other paraphernalia.
Sealcoating and crack filling is a fraction of the cost of repairing or replacing asphalt pavement. When finished you couldnt see where the repair was made. The process involves cleaning the area, wet sanding the crack using medium grit sandpaper and filling the crack with pigmented gelcoat paste. Once the surface is clean and dry, mark off the repair area with masking tape.
Aug 18, 2011 hi i just bought a 1978 thompson 18 boat and i want to restore it but i dont know if i need to re gel coat it or just paint it. For small scratches cabosil mixed with the gelcoat to a peanut butter. When all the cracks are gouged out, theres no magic, mystery, spraying or anything else fancy just fill the grooves with gel coat using a small artists paint brush. Repairing hairline cracks and how to do repair gelcoat. Often the best option for nonworking cracks with moderate to no edge deterioration. 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. It had severe cracks that went thru the hood by the gauge cluster. Hairline spider cracks must be opened wider and filled with an epoxy filler to be permanently repaired. I have the oem seadoo gelcoat repair kit coming in tomorrow and wanted to make sure you guys who have done simple gelcoat repairs before think this prep is good to go. 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. There are spider vein cracks everywhere and there are scratches and on the bottom some chips but not deep enough that you can see the hull.
In contrast to crack sealing, crack filling treats pavement that doesnt show significant movement. Repairing minor damage to the gelcoat surface of your boat west. Next, gouge out small, narrow cracks and scratches that are too deep to remove with rubbing compound until they are wide enough to fill with gelcoat paste. Deep repairs that are beyond the superficial scratch will need some filler before gelcoat application. If not managed, these small cosmetic annoyances can lead to bigger problems down the road. Scraping a wide v is kind of like stop drilling a hole you are spreading the stress over more area, and have a better chance of a lasting repair. Do your own fiberglass and gelcoat repair with epoxy resins, filler, sealants, and. Gelcoat can also be rolled or applied by foam brush in patch areas, but spraying tends to yield best results with the least amount of followup sanding. Repairing minor damage to the gelcoat surface of your boat.
But for the cracks you can take a screw driver and widen them by gouging it, then filling it with gel coat or they make a gel paste good for this. Gel coat is easy to use and looks great when finished. In this case the cracks need to be examined closely, even chipped away at, to see if they extend through the gelcoats 0. How to repair gelcoat, chips, scrapes and gouges yourself. Used this product to make a repair to boat gel coat after fixing some minor fiber glass damage. Stress cracks, spider cracks, and hairline cracks in the decks of older boats are, of course, not rare. Step 2 then toughen the laminate that contains the crack or cracks by solidifying it. By the way, localized crazing as opposed to all over the boat is almost always due to flexing of the underlying. The tape will help to ensure that your fresh layer of resin doesnt go too far across the surface. And unfortunately, unless you intend to paint over the repair, colour matching the gel coat is a real challenge, and a job best left for the professionals.
Gelcoat surface crack repairdoes this prep look good. Allow the gelcoat to cure for a day or two, then wash the pva off with soapy water. Cracks spreading out from the center, much as you would see in a spider web. The gel coat cracks are simply cracks in the cosmetic layer. This is used in the same way as body filler, but is much stronger and has better gap filling properties. In this post, we are going to focus on scratches and cracks that are strictly cosmetic. There are many variables which can influence how much you will need, but generally, one. The other repair for spider cracks involves a little more work. Your gel coat may be tough, but it will succumb to the constant. Rayplex has a great web page that will give you all the information you need to get a good gel coat match. Most people are unwilling to have a large and unsightly screw hole in their boat deck, so it is clear that it needs to be removed before it can spread into a crack in the gelcoat. Spraying base coat clear coat systems with pearl or metallic colors and your repair has a halo or brighter in color at the blend, try a european blend, this works well with most base coats systems, it allows the pearls or metallics to all lay down equally rather than lay on end at the blend line.
How to repair spider cracks in fiberglass boatlife. Now that the cracks are ready, mix your gelcoat repair kit and the hardener together. If your gel coat already shows signs of aging, its time to repair it or to reapply a fresh layer to revitalize your boats look. There are far to many small cracks to consider grooving and filling each crack and wholesale removal of large areas of gelcoat. Repairing hundreds of fiberglass cracks to get ready for.
Mar 26, 2019 next, using a putty knife, fill the areas to be repaired with the paste youve mixed. Step 4 as soon as the crack has been channeled out, wipe it clean. The problem with stress cracks in gel coat is that polyester gel coat and the underlying fiberglass have different coefficients of expansion. Try not to remove any of the fiberglass resin or cloth. 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.
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. I watched a lot of videos and research and was told to actually take a dremel grinder and actually deepen the crack so that the. I have been searching the repair forum but have not been about to locate a tread for the technique of resolving this particular issue. Small holes, cracks and dents in most grp, metal or wooden surfaces can be filled with this gelcoat filler, which is available in over 80 colours you can also make a repair dough by mixing lay up resin and chopped glassfibre strands. If your damage is more serious than this, you will need to take steps to temporarily restore the correct while you make the fiberglass repairs. Just fill the hole and level with tube end, allow to cure, and finish with the hairline crack repair. Grind deeper wider and apply multiple strips if repairing corner rounds. Over time, the gelcoat can fade, oxidize and become pitted and. By the way, localized crazing as opposed to all over the boat is almost always due to flexing of the underlying laminate. Sep 05, 2012 learn how to repair a gelcoat scratch. In this case, you must stiffen the affected area before you can successfully repair the crazing. When youre finished filling, seal the repair off from the air with a pva curing agent or a piece of plastic wrap or wax paper. Jul 06, 2016 gel coat is strong and durable but like any other finish, it can be subject to damage.
But for our purposes were going to look at filling and fairing two gashes one simple, one awkward so they sand back smooth. Sand the area with grit paper on a da sander, working up through. So i built up the underneath side with some new mat and resin. If you find small, hairline cracks in your boat, you can repair it yourself by using epoxy. How to fix spider cracks in fiberglass it still runs. Gouges and blisters will require both filler and gel coat, while scratches and crazing can typically be repaired with gel coat alone. May 27, 2009 i dont know about the cowling since i have a minifish little sister of the sunfish. I have a feeling they just sanded down some and resprayed when under warranty. If your part was originally made with polyester resin, polyester filling compounds and gel coat are suitable for the repair. The next thing to so is to carefully sand the surface of the repair using a rag and some acetone solvent. How to repair gelcoat, fiberglass boat repair boating. Extend each coat farther than the previous one, with the last coat out to the tape line. Mar 09, 2016 examples of nonworking cracks include longitudinal, diagonal and alligator cracks.
Magic fix for hairline cracks in gelcoat practical sailor. Use a nail, dipped in the gelcoat, to scratch around in the repair assuring good adhesion and filling all the voids. Using sandpaper, you should be able to sand thoroughly into the depths of the crack so that the edges are smooth. How to repair cracks and chips in damaged gelcoat duration. The dealer stated on repair order that all cracks were extensive and major grinding and filling were required for repairs. Stress cracks should always be dish ground and fiberglass laminated using 2 or 3 strips of biaxial cloth with matt sewed on the back. How to repair spider cracks on your fiberglass boat. The gel coat can then be sanded smooth, finer and finer to 1500 grit and then polished out. You should add a layer of scuffing to the cracks at a wider point than you would need. 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.
Thanks for letting me know about the west marine kit and spectrum gel coat. Crazing can be from poor cure, gel coat being too thick, or too much flex in the laminate. For areas with deep cracking or crazing, start with 36 to 60grit sandpaper and apply a highsolids epoxy, such as awlgrip hullgard. Gelcoat crazing hairline cracks crazing in a gelcoat surface are often considered a cosmetic problem, and are treated as such. Boatus magazines mark corke takes you through the steps necessary to repair gelcoat on your own boat. Crazing in gelcoat, also known as spider cracks or stress cracks, plagues countless boaters. Fiberglass epoxy is available at most boat supply stores. Do not attempt to widen the crackthe fix will seep into very thin cracks. Repairing hundreds of fiberglass cracks to get ready for spraying awlgrip paint. The reason being is that surface scratches can easily be buffed with a rubbing compound as opposed to deep scratches which take a couple more steps. Add the tiniest amount of sienna you can just a tiny drop and and mix well. The key to effective crack filling and sealing is to repair and fill the cracks while they are small, as crack filling. They then direct you to carefully fill, level, and wipe around the crack.
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