Boat gelcoat crack repair

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. Youtube gelcoat repair and youll get an idea of what work is involved. Mar 29, 2019 once your boat is clean, walk along it, looking for cracks. Allow the gelcoat to cure for a day or two, then wash the pva off with soapy water. If you are looking to do some diy gelcoat repairs, this brief primer will help achieve adequate repair. Department of labor, most plumbers learn their trade. 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. Check out a previous blog post about boat cleaning products, too. Crazing in gelcoat, also known as spider cracks or stress cracks, plagues countless boaters and is an incredibly common issue on modern fiberglass boats. How to repair gelcoat, fiberglass boat repair boating magazine. 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.

Just fill the hole and level with tube end, allow to cure, and finish with the hairline crack repair. Once the gelcoat has fully cured, sand the repair smooth wet sanding works particularly well with gelcoat. How to fix cracks in fiberglass gel coat using 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 can grow, deepen, and eventually threaten your boats structural integrity. Magicezy hairline fix navy blue boat gelcoat crack repair fills. Boatus magazines mark corke shows you how to easily repair those pesky spider cracks that show up in your boats fiberglass gelcoat. Repairing hairline cracks and how to do repair gelcoat. It can be helpful to run your hand over the surface of your boat as you walk, since you might feei a crack. 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. Most of their costs are in wetsanding and polishing the repaired areas. How to repair gelcoat, fiberglass boat repair boating. How long it will last remains to be seen, but it certainly made for an easy repair. In some cases, homeowners insurance wont cover damage caused by plumbing repair done by an unlicensed handyman.

Use a nail, dipped in the gelcoat, to scratch around in the repair assuring good adhesion and filling all the voids. The process involves cleaning the area, wet sanding the crack using medium grit sandpaper and filling the crack with pigmented gelcoat paste. 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. 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. If the surface of your boat looks like a cracked eggshell, the gelcoat is suffering from crazing sometimes called alligatoring. These hairline fractures also occur in boats of the mid 1970s vintage which often had thicker gelcoat layers than newer boats.

Please subscribe, leave a comment and give us a thumbs up. Make sure you over fill the repair and that the gelcoat goes outside the edges. There is a crack in the gelcoat in the bottom keel downt he center of the hull on either side of the daggerboard slot. Spider cracks are nonstructural damage to the gelcoat of a boat. Proper boat keeping is reflected in your boats overall appearance, and the gel coat is the most obvious indicator of your. Here you can learn about what is needed to apply a gel coat. Wipe away any other dirt and debris that is laying close to the crack. In other words, dont make a 40 mph powerboat from epoxy, then cover it with gel coat, as itll bust up. The topic of gelcoat is often a mystifying subject for boat owners. Sanding is the most delicate process of this whole repair. These hairline fractures also occur in boats of the mid 1970s vintage which often. Gelcoat repair in maryland and delaware nicks boat work. However, as it dried and hardened, it was a darker shade. 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.

Gelcoat blisters wouldnt be more than a cosmetic concern, if theyre treated and not ignored. I didnt see any gelcoat damage, but after my progressive agent carefully inspected the boat very impressed with progressive. Dec 06, 2017 similar to marine tex, it was easy to use and can be finished using the crack repair product. Since 1968, west marine has grown to over 250 local stores, with knowledgeable associates happy to assist. The 10 best gelcoat repair services near me with free. Magicezy hairline fix oyster white boat gelcoat crack repair fills and colors fast. Sometimes a hard knock can cause delamination within the. New gelcoat can be applied directly to existing gelcoat without primer. 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. Aside from the durable shiny luster gelcoat adds to any fiberglass boat, most owners know little more than wash and wax it frequently.

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. Prep the area removing all of the damaged gel coat keep the repair as small as possible. This damage is often caused by slight flexing of the hull. Aug 15, 2018 traditional wisdom says to match repair resin with the original i. Repairing minor damage to the gelcoat surface of your boat west. The first job in any gelcoat repair is to check the damage closely, both inside and out. Before getting into the actual repair, its important to understand what gelcoat is. Oct 12, 2011 the quote includes removing the boat from the trailer, removing the strut, etc.

Catalyze the gelcoat and brush onto the exposed fiberglass area. 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. Sometimes, theyre merely cosmetic, meaning they dont penetrate the gelcoat. I am a neophyte to fiberglass repair and unsure of the strength. The reference material i found on the boat says that it has a weight of about 550 lbs overall. Sep 28, 2018 follow along as i attempt to repair a damaged section of our boat s gel coat. Well i noticed a wet spot on the ground and looked up and noticed that the one part of the crack was. Sometimes a hard knock can cause delamination within the hull, in which case a more serious repair will need to be carried out first. The 10 best gelcoat repair services near me with free estimates.

How to repair gelcoat, chips, scrapes and gouges yourself. To maintain your gel coat and your hulls integrity, follow this simple gel coat repair guide. There are many ways to repair cracks in fiberglasswhich ones the best. You can successfully complete basic fiberglass boat repair by following these steps. I am enclosing pics prior to the marinetex repair, which appear to show the fiberglass being intact and only gelcoat damage. 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.

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. 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. 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. Also, older fiberglass boats tend to have a thicker application of gelcoat which means they are more susceptible to cracking.

Surface scratches can be buffed out of gelcoat with polishing compound, but deep scratches must be filled. Let it cure completely, then sand the crack again for a smooth finish. How to repair spider cracks on your fiberglass boat. Wait for several hours and then lightly spray pva polyvinyl alcohol the pva serves as an air barrier, allowing the gelcoat to fully cure. Surface gelcoat scratches can be buffed with polishing compound, and deeper scratches can be filled. Repairing minor damage to the gelcoat surface of your boat. 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. You can start with 220grit sandpaper and, for a really slick surface, finish with at least 400 or 600grit. 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.

Gelcoat does not cure properly when exposed to air. Stress cracks, spider cracks, and hairline cracks in the decks of older boats are, of course, not rare. Sometimes, they go deeper and threaten an underlying laminate, which in many cases is cored. Once your boat is clean, walk along it, looking for cracks. Similar to marine tex, it was easy to use and can be finished using the crack repair product. Discussion in fiberglass and composite boat building started.

How to fix spider cracks in fiberglass it still runs. Department of labor, most plumbers learn their trade through a four or fiveyear apprenticeship with 2,000 hours of paid onthejob training. Repairing hairline cracks and how to do repair gelcoat magicezy. Buy magicezy hairline fix navy blue boat gelcoat crack repair fills and colors fast. 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. 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. The next time youre cleaning and waxing your boat, take the time to look for small cracks, scratches and chips in its gel coat. This thicker gelcoat cannot stand any flexing without showing cracks. The number of boats that develop serious blister problems is extremely small. The next thing to so is to carefully sand the surface of the repair using a rag and some acetone solvent.

My friend pete shows us how to make a fiberglass paste to repair stress cracks in gel coat. Your gel coat may be tough, but it will succumb to the constant battering of the marine environment over time. 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. Crazing in gelcoat, also known as spider cracks or stress cracks, plagues countless boaters. If you find small, hairline cracks in your boat, you can repair it yourself by using epoxy. How to prepare your boat for painting a gelcoat sail.

This technique can be used on any fiberglass boats or kit cars. Then applying 3 or 4 layers of fiberglass to repair. Jun 15, 2015 gelcoat crack repair is a pretty easy task. 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. Hairline spider cracks must be opened wider and filled with an epoxy filler to be permanently repaired. I repaire a chip in my gelcoat and the following cracks using this kit. Finally, apply a coat of highquality marine polish and your repair is complete. Extensive spider cracking common on older boats is due to aging of the gelcoat. Magic fix for hairline cracks in gelcoat practical sailor.

Our test boat has had a few spider cracks since a few months after she. 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. Before you add the gelcoat to the cracks, you will need to protect the area around them using painters tape. We used it to repair two 316inch voids left by bubbles during layup. A miniature grinding tool like a dremel is ideal, but the sharp point of a can opener will work, too. Gelcoat is the first thing sprayed into a female mold when a boat is built, usually to a thickness of. 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. How to repair boat gelcoat materials list boatus duration. Lets consider some advantages of gelcoat gelcoat is repairable. How to fix spider cracks, hairline cracks, and crazing in boat. Jun 10, 2017 hairline spider cracks must be opened wider and filled with an epoxy filler to be permanently repaired. 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. 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.