Hairline spider cracks must be opened wider and filled with an epoxy filler to be permanently repaired. How long it will last remains to be seen, but it certainly made for an easy repair. 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. 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 structural integrity. Prep the area removing all of the damaged gel coat keep the repair as small as possible. How to repair spider cracks on your fiberglass boat. Buy magicezy hairline fix navy blue boat gelcoat crack repair fills and colors fast. I repaire a chip in my gelcoat and the following cracks using this kit. However, as it dried and hardened, it was a darker shade and i now have a dark spot on my boat that im going to have to recover to match. Just fill the hole and level with tube end, allow to cure, and finish with the hairline crack repair. Here you can learn about what is needed to apply a gel coat. Oct 12, 2011 the quote includes removing the boat from the trailer, removing the strut, etc. 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. The 10 best gelcoat repair services near me with free estimates. There are many ways to repair cracks in fiberglasswhich ones the best. This damage is often caused by slight flexing of the hull. Most boats are still laidup with ortho or isophthalic polyester, but frequently theres a layer of vinylester, a hybrid of polyester and epoxy, right behind the gelcoat to improve osmosis.
Repairing minor damage to the gelcoat surface of your boat west. Once your boat is clean, walk along it, looking for cracks. Sometimes, they go deeper and threaten an underlying laminate, which in many cases is cored. How to repair boat gelcoat materials list boatus duration. Lets consider some advantages of gelcoat gelcoat is repairable. Repairing hairline cracks and how to do repair gelcoat magicezy. The topic of gelcoat is often a mystifying subject for boat owners. When the gelcoat surrounding a scratch is in good condition, the filler of choice is gelcoat paste, which provides both filler and finish in a single application but not a single step. Depending on the method of construction, layers of chopped mat and fiberglass cloth are then built up on top to form the hull, deck, and other molded parts. Please subscribe, leave a comment and give us a thumbs up.
Sep 28, 2018 follow along as i attempt to repair a damaged section of our boat s gel coat. To complicate the situation, i can see a very small amount of water weeping through the hull from the inside at the location of the two lower screws securing the ladder. Mar 29, 2019 once your boat is clean, walk along it, looking for cracks. This thicker gelcoat cannot stand any flexing without showing cracks. Jun 10, 2017 hairline spider cracks must be opened wider and filled with an epoxy filler to be permanently repaired. Jun 15, 2015 gelcoat crack repair is a pretty easy task. If the gelcoat is in good condition with no major cracking or crazing, the job is relatively straightforwardclean and prepare the surface, apply an epoxy primer, sand the primer, remove the.
How to fix spider cracks in fiberglass it still runs. You can successfully complete basic fiberglass boat repair by following these steps. There is a crack in the gelcoat in the bottom keel downt he center of the hull on either side of the daggerboard slot. Proper boat keeping is reflected in your boats overall appearance, and the gel coat is the most obvious indicator of your. We used it to repair two 316inch voids left by bubbles during layup. Before you add the gelcoat to the cracks, you will need to protect the area around them using painters tape. Allow the gelcoat to cure for a day or two, then wash the pva off with soapy water.
My friend pete shows us how to make a fiberglass paste to repair stress cracks in gel coat. May 23, 20 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. How to fix cracks in fiberglass gel coat using fiberglass. If the surface of your boat looks like a cracked eggshell, the gelcoat is suffering from crazing sometimes called alligatoring.
Discussion in fiberglass and composite boat building started. I am a neophyte to fiberglass repair and unsure of the strength. Although this usually starts off as a matter of cosmetics, in severe cases these surface cracks can grow, deepen, and eventually threaten your boat s structural integrity. It can be helpful to run your hand over the surface of your boat as you walk, since you might feei a crack. In other words, dont make a 40 mph powerboat from epoxy, then cover it with gel coat, as itll bust up and crack fairly quick, but if if the engine cover needs a repair, go for it, after beefing up the area. These hairline fractures also occur in boats of the mid 1970s vintage which often. Extensive spider cracking common on older boats is due to aging of the gelcoat. I didnt see any gelcoat damage, but after my progressive agent carefully inspected the boat very impressed with progressive.
Nov 14, 2017 from in this video we show how to make a flawless repair to a damaged fibreglass part using the east coast gelcoat repair kit. May 15, 2010 there is a crack in the gelcoat in the bottom keel downt he center of the hull on either side of the daggerboard slot. Sometimes, theyre merely cosmetic, meaning they dont penetrate the gelcoat. 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.
How to prepare your boat for painting a gelcoat sail. You can start with 220grit sandpaper and, for a really slick surface, finish with at least 400 or 600grit. How to repair gelcoat, fiberglass boat repair boating. Aug 15, 2018 traditional wisdom says to match repair resin with the original i.
Our test boat has had a few spider cracks since a few months after she. I am enclosing pics prior to the marinetex repair, which appear to show the fiberglass being intact and only gelcoat damage. Dec 06, 2017 similar to marine tex, it was easy to use and can be finished using the crack repair product. Before getting into the actual repair, its important to understand what gelcoat is. Crazing in gelcoat, also known as spider cracks or stress cracks, plagues countless boaters. Just fixed a guys boat that his girlfriend took out and tied up to a dock with a bolt sticking out tore up about a 4 long. Magicezy hairline fix navy blue boat gelcoat crack repair fills. The first job in any gelcoat repair is to check the damage closely, both inside and out. In some cases, homeowners insurance wont cover damage caused by plumbing repair done by an unlicensed handyman. Surface scratches can be buffed out of gelcoat with polishing compound, but deep scratches must be filled. In fiberglass boat repair the repair area may have hardness very similar to the original laminate and you can accidentally change the shape of the surrounding area.
Youtube gelcoat repair and youll get an idea of what work is involved. If you are looking to do some diy gelcoat repairs, this brief primer will help achieve adequate repair. Magic fix for hairline cracks in gelcoat practical sailor. Sometimes a hard knock can cause delamination within the hull, in which case a more serious repair will need to be carried out first. Gelcoat repair in maryland and delaware nicks boat work. The fiberglass seems to be intact underneath the gelcoat its as if the gelcoat simply split and left a gap where you can see the glass underneath. The reference material i found on the boat says that it has a weight of about 550 lbs overall. Well i noticed a wet spot on the ground and looked up and noticed that the one part of the crack was. However, as it dried and hardened, it was a darker shade. Gelcoat does not cure properly when exposed to air. Once the gelcoat has fully cured, sand the repair smooth wet sanding works particularly well with gelcoat.
The 10 best gelcoat repair services near me with free. Repairing minor damage to the gelcoat surface of your boat. I matched my teal striping on my boat to a tee when it was wet and mixing. The next time youre cleaning and waxing your boat, take the time to look for small cracks, scratches and chips in its gel coat. Then applying 3 or 4 layers of fiberglass to repair.
Check out a previous blog post about boat cleaning products, too. It can be helpful to run your hand over the surface of your boat as you walk, since you might feei a crack before you see it. Department of labor, most plumbers learn their trade through a four or fiveyear apprenticeship with 2,000 hours of paid onthejob training. Stress cracks, spider cracks, and hairline cracks in the decks of older boats are, of course, not rare.
Wait for several hours and then lightly spray pva polyvinyl alcohol the pva serves as an air barrier, allowing the gelcoat to fully cure. Magicezy hairline fix oyster white boat gelcoat crack repair fills and colors fast. Your gel coat may be tough, but it will succumb to the constant battering of the marine environment over time. 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. Let it cure completely, then sand the crack again for a smooth finish. The next thing to so is to carefully sand the surface of the repair using a rag and some acetone solvent. Sanding is the most delicate process of this whole repair.
In other words, dont make a 40 mph powerboat from epoxy, then cover it with gel coat, as itll bust up. How to repair gelcoat, chips, scrapes and gouges yourself. 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. To maintain your gel coat and your hulls integrity, follow this simple gel coat repair guide. Finally, apply a coat of highquality marine polish and your repair is complete. How to fix spider cracks, hairline cracks, and crazing in boat. Aside from the durable shiny luster gelcoat adds to any fiberglass boat, most owners know little more than wash and wax it frequently. Repairing hairline cracks and how to do repair gelcoat. We were surfing at the time we hit the submerged oject, so speeds were very low and visually, i hadnt even noticed the gel cracks. Catalyze the gelcoat and brush onto the exposed fiberglass area. Gelcoat is the first thing sprayed into a female mold when a boat is built, usually to a thickness of. The process involves cleaning the area, wet sanding the crack using medium grit sandpaper and filling the crack with pigmented gelcoat paste. Use a nail, dipped in the gelcoat, to scratch around in the repair assuring good adhesion and filling all the voids.
Spider cracks are nonstructural damage to the gelcoat of a boat. Follow along as i attempt to repair a damaged section of our boats gel coat. How to fix spider cracks, hairline cracks, and crazing in boat gelcoat materials list boatus duration. Sometimes a hard knock can cause delamination within the. Wipe away any other dirt and debris that is laying close to the crack. The number of boats that develop serious blister problems is extremely small. Most of their costs are in wetsanding and polishing the repaired areas.
New gelcoat can be applied directly to existing gelcoat without primer. Boatus magazines mark corke shows you how to easily repair those pesky spider cracks that show up in your boats fiberglass gelcoat. 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. Make sure you over fill the repair and that the gelcoat goes outside the edges. A miniature grinding tool like a dremel is ideal, but the sharp point of a can opener will work, too. 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.
Also, older fiberglass boats tend to have a thicker application of gelcoat which means they are more susceptible to cracking. Similar to marine tex, it was easy to use and can be finished using the crack repair product. This technique can be used on any fiberglass boats or kit cars. If you find small, hairline cracks in your boat, you can repair it yourself by using epoxy. These hairline fractures also occur in boats of the mid 1970s vintage which often had thicker gelcoat layers than newer boats.