How to fix a hole on a fiberglass boat complete diy guide. Spider cracks in gelcoat moderated discussion areas. You might notice that over time your gelcoat might start to show spider web looking cracks which would indicate a weakness in the underlying fiberglass. How to fix spider cracks in fiberglass it still runs. The cracks are called spider cracks, and they are normal for a gel coat finished boat. Looking to purchase a 2004 holiday rambler with dark blue full body paint. Spider cracks in hull boat talk chaparral boats owners. Hairline spider cracks must be opened wider and filled with an epoxy filler to be permanently repaired. Gelcote international 6 neal drive peterborough, on k9j 6x7 canada t. The procedure is quick, as in minutes, and when complete you will never know there were cracks. Try not to remove any of the fiberglass resin or cloth. Spider cracks tend to occur in gelcoat where there is a concentration of stress. Magicezy hairline fix quickly and easily repairs gelcoat cracks on your boatwithout having to grind them out.
It is caused by an impact or stress with enough force to crack the surface, but not the glass beneath. Sometimes the damage is only repairable with a paint job. I restored a black gold bell wildfire that had a lot of fine spider cracks in the clear polyester gel coat. Provides a longlasting repair guaranteed to seal and protect for years. 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. The cracks are purely cosemetic, and not structural to the boat. Crazing appears as very small micro cracks that look like a spider web on the acrylic surface. 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. I didnt hit any thing but did some wave jumping 1 to 3. Gelcoat repairs which includes an instructive video that covers gelcoat restoration, scratch repair, and polishing and. Step 2 then toughen the laminate that contains the crack or cracks by solidifying it.
I see these all over the motorhome but only if i look close and the sun is right. We tried west marine gel coat scratch patch, and although very careful, the. Fortunately, spider cracks are not difficult to repair. If there has been any rain or heavy morning dew during the drying period, pump it out or mop it up asap. Our painter has tried two fixes on test areas 1 compounding, sanding and repainting and 2 putting on a semigloss coat to fill the cracks and repainting with flat.
Grind out all the cracks in the gelcoat, re gelcoat and put a new nonskid in. Paint checkingspider web cracks beginning rving escapees. Crazing appears as very small microcracks that look like a spider web on the acrylic surface. Otherwise clean them out, polish up the boat as best you can and live with them. Webbing solution gelcoat additive webbing solution is an additive to gel coat or paint that is used to create a surface with a spider web or spattered effect to it.
The gelcoat is clear, and i really dont want to paint the. Jun 01, 2015 looking to purchase a 2004 holiday rambler with dark blue full body paint. 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. I have a rear lip before, and after an accident into some dirt it ripped off. I have a bell northstar blackgold canoe that is now about 19 years old. Now, before you simply fix them, you want to make sure the reason the cracks are there isnt because something is just broken underneath the fiberglass, causing flexing. If you are trying to save money and are going to buff it your self make sure you have experience if you only knew how many times over the years i have been called to fix what a rookie has done.
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. All gelcoat is, is nonreinforced tinted fiberglass. Jun 10, 2017 hairline spider cracks must be opened wider and filled with an epoxy filler to be permanently repaired. The stress tends to pull apart the tightly coiled polymer chains. Unless you want to lay down a real heavy rubber type coating like rhinoliner the options are to live with the cracks or grind out the cracks with a dremel tool, fill them with fiberglass bondo and smooth them out, and then paint over it with a good topside paint, or re. Chris craft seahawk is developing spider web cracks in the gelcoat. Hi guys, i just looked at a fully restored 20 bertram yesterday and the boat was having the bottom redone. For numerous thin spider web cracks the easiest fix is to sand the cockpit sole, side decks, etc. How to prepare your boat for painting a gelcoat 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. Is there information and advice available on repairing these cracks. Im thinks that there was stress on the rear bumper and no theres like a spider web cracking on the clearcoat. They all happened in the first 3 weeks after i got my ski. Craft seahawk is developing spider web cracks in the.
It is starting to show its age with stress cracks from being dropped on portages, etc. Mar 26, 2019 if the cracks radiate from the base of loadbearing equipment like a cleat or stanchion, there is probably a problem with the installation that deserves attention before repairing the gelcoat. How to prepare your boat for painting a gelcoat sail. The reason glass is often brittle is because of microscopic cracks within, and on the surface of the glass. It also repairs cracks in ceramic tiles and scratches on household appliances. 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. When i look at the sidewalls really close and in the right sunlight, i can see a bunch of small little like spider web cracks. Using highbuild primer to repair fiberglass crazing. The gelcoat will not tolerate flex and therefore you develop stress cracks at the stress points. Spider cracks in hull boat talk chaparral boats owners club. This condition makes it easier for solvent molecules to penetrate the molecular structure of the acrylic and diffuse throughout the polymer chains.
The other repair for spider cracks involves a little more work. Or you could use a universal repair kit from somewhere else. 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. The effect is dependent upon the air pressure of the spray gun that you use to apply itsetting the spray gun to 10 to 15 psi creates a spider web effect, air pressure between. Learn how to treat wearinduced spider cracks that appear along the hull of your dinghy. Magicezy hairline fix is a colored sealant used to quickly and easily repair fine stress cracks spider cracks and hairline fractures. Hairline fix is the easiest, most durable way to repair scratches, scrapes, stress cracks, spider fractures, and crazing in fiberglass and gelcoat surfaces. A crack is defined as a single separation of a surface.
If the laminate seems ok then just grind the gel away and re do that spot. Structural cracks in fiberglass happen because something damaged the pool, and they can always be repaired. Grind out all the cracks in the gelcoat, regelcoat and put a new nonskid in. How to fix crazing in gelcoat, also known as spider cracks or stress cracks which plague countless boaters. Boatus magazines mark corke shows you how to easily repair those pesky spider cracks that show up in your boats fiberglass gelcoat. You need to chip away the gel cote around that spider web. How to use gelcoat repair on cracks in nonslip areas. They can appear as a single line, a series of parallel lines, or a spider web originating at the center of an impact. Step 1 figure out what caused the cracks to begin with. He has a 11 yer old class a, good brandi dont want to talk bad about the brand who is still in business, and he has these small cracks in the gelcoat, mostly where the darker colors are located. The appearance was considerably improved by wet sanding the entire hull down to 2000 grit, then applying several thin coats of system three clear coat epoxy, which is a very low viscosity epoxy. Spider webs on paint can be remedied with proper polishes and technique. If not managed, these small cosmetic annoyances can.
Mar 11, 2014 finally, theres an easy way to seal and color crazing in gelcoat and hairline cracks in fiberglass, ceramics, plastic and metal. Now your spidercracks are fixed and the surface is ready for the matching gelcoat not included to make your repair unnoticeable and the area look like new. Spider web cracks in gell coat originally posted by wedoseadoo its a pretty common thing and an absolute biotch to repair,it will not leak though and is just cosmetic. Gelcoat surface damage 1 dings 2 dents 3 gouges 4 small holes.
Cosmetic gelcoat surface damage 1 small scratches 2 hairlinespider cracks 3 gelcoat chips. If its reads the same all over then it not a problem. The solution to spider cracking is to buff out the cracks and sand the gelcoat smooth again, and reapply new gelcoat. The fact that yours are extensive and below the water line should get the attention of both the dealer and the builder.
A prior owner had fixed a few with evercoat gel coat scratch patch gel coat repair, with ugly results. The good news about these cracks is that theyre largely cosmetic problems. 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 surface cracks can grow, deepen, and eventually threaten your boats. Finally, theres an easy way to seal and color crazing in gelcoat and hairline cracks in fiberglass, ceramics, plastic and metal. Because there is no fiber in it, over time it will crack because the hull naturally flexes a bit. Larger cracks can be routed out with any sort of sharp pointed tool a can opener works pretty well and filled with epoxy before painting. In this report, they offer the magic fix for hairline gelcoat cracks. Magic fix for hairline cracks in gelcoat practical sailor. Another problem you might notice with the gelcoat is blistering, which generally means that there is. The location of the cracking is the center of the hull,about 5 inches down from the bump molding. How to fix spider cracks, hairline cracks, and crazing in boat.
I would check with mm and see if anty place is more wet then others if so i would grind the cracks let dry with some heat and epoxy coat. I got about 30 gelcoat cracks on it, just tiny line cracks on the top part of the hull only. May 05, 2015 cracks occur when there are pockets of gelcoat that accumulate and end up being too thick. As the substrate flexes as it is designed to do, the gel just cant deflect the same amount and will develop these small cracks. I flew up to tokyo yesterday and back on the 15th, so will take some pics for ya then. Webbing solution additive merritt supply wholesale.
Can you take a picture of the fuse panel for me so i can see what your looking at. As it is more brittle than the laminate, when something stresses the laminate too much such as flexing or something hard hitting the deck it cracks to resemble a web pattern. Crazing in gelcoat, also known as spider cracks or stress cracks, plagues countless boaters. Complete the repair in seconds without having to grind out the existing damage. Craft seahawk is developing spider web cracks in the gelcoat. 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.
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. Are spider cracks not usually just cracks in the gelcoat. 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. They blasted off the bottom paint to gelcoat and i noticed that the gel coat had spider cracks throughout the bottom. I striped my boat a few weeks ago with scrapers it took 5. On one wall, interestingly enough, the cracking surrounds every electrical outlet, door frame, vent, door stopper, etc. Repairing hairline cracks and how to do repair gelcoat. If you want them gone, take the time to do the job right and do the boat justice. A onepart, precolored sealant that repairs gelcoat stress cracks, scrapes and scratches. If the cracks do not appear to care if there is a bulkhead or major frame member behind them then it may be a more cosmetic issue, perhaps a failure of the top coat for some reason of application, or age and weather. If the bulkhead on the inside of the hull is actually pressing against the hull, and has no stress relief, then thats what caused the cracks.
Small cracks form in the outer surface of the fiberglass, spreading out from a central point like a spiderweb. Solving it might be as simple as shifting a load from undersized equipment, or installing a larger backing plate to spread the load over a wider area. Start by wiping down the area with acetone and sanding the damaged gel coat down to the fiberglass. It takes like 4 hours to do and 2 of that is waiting for it to dry. Apr 02, 2019 look for stress cracks around stanchions or other areas that might be an indication of an underlying structural problem. I striped my boat a few weeks ago with scrapers it took 5 hours with lots of beer and. It penetrates deeply into the pores of even the finest of cracks for ultratough adhesion and durability. Also used to provide a glossy top coat for 9 second chip fix repairs. If you have any surface scrapes or gouges that need repair, check our advisor doit yourself.
Larger cracks can be routed out with any sort of sharp pointed tool a can opener works. Look for stress cracks around stanchions or other areas that might be an indication of an underlying structural problem. 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. Magicezy hairline fix repairs cracks on nonskidnonslip. Pay close attention to any areas of fiberglass where the gelcoat is worn thin or has spider web cracks, or very small surface crazing. How to repair spider cracks on your fiberglass boat. When materials undergo a brittle failure, the applied stress causes the material to deform slightly, especially where these cracks are located. Apr 24, 2009 if the cracks do not appear to care if there is a bulkhead or major frame member behind them then it may be a more cosmetic issue, perhaps a failure of the top coat for some reason of application, or age and weather. There are many ways to repair cracks in fiberglasswhich ones the best. Just like any other finish, gelcoat is prone to scratches, chips, and deterioration. Step 3 now, once youve removed all hardware, toerails, and other paraphernalia.
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. I have a 2005 r12x with 7 hours on it, bought brand new leftover this year. However, we distinguish between cracks and crazing, since they have a different appearance and somewhat different causes. Fixing them can involve more than just slapping on some gelcoat, however, and that is where we come in. Cracks occur when there are pockets of gelcoat that accumulate and end up being too thick. They seem to appear out of nowhere, and for no reason. 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 just one application. Step 4 as soon as the crack has been channeled out, wipe it clean.
Honda was going to redo the gelcoat then they changed their mind. Spider cracks are a form of fiberglass damage that occurs from minor flexing or. Repairing hairline cracks and how to do repair gelcoat magicezy. Bottom cracks hi markus most boats have some cracks in the bottom. Aug 27, 2012 the cracks are called spider cracks, and they are normal for a gel coat finished boat. Paint problem spider cracks ceiling, sand, color, photos.