Spider cracks in gelcoat filler

For large areas like what youre talking about, i almost always suggest using a paint that can be rolled and tipped. The highest quality marine finish gel coat to permanently repair or replace original, highglass finish. How to repair a flaking clear coat on a fiberglass boat by gus stephens. Otherwise clean them out, polish up the boat as best you can and live with them.

If using a filler use something with flex, since a rigid product like marinetex will separate over time. Cotton flock the filler is actually pieces of cotton. With time, it is possible that gelcoat can become cracked, simply through wear and tear or a specific incidence of damage. Since these cracks often form from small impacts or minor flexing, they can appear just about anywhere on your boat. I have impact repairs to my hull, the gel was shattered, cracks have not come through. Products include 9 second chip fix, hairline fix and mega fusion. Grind out all the cracks in the gelcoat, regelcoat and put a new nonskid in. Step 3 now, once youve removed all hardware, toerails, and other paraphernalia. Magicezy has a range of gelcoat repair products that repair and color damage in seconds. Heres an easy way to fix and color stress cracks in seconds and its so tough it comes with a 3 year durability guarantee. Spider cracks are nonstructural damage to the gelcoat of a boat. Fortunately, spider cracks are not difficult to repair. Polyester gelcotes will not chemically bond to epoxy.

I have 1977 fiberglasss 30 ft sail boat that has spider cracks all over the hull,no leaking just fine cracks. How to repair spider cracks in fiberglass boatlife. From what i know from reading posts here, i would need a dremel tool to create a gorge on the gelcoat crack before applying the gelcoat putty. 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. 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. Its the unstable nature of the polyesterfiberglass hull under the gelcoat and its tendency to shrink slightly over time that cracks the gel coat. The plastic padding gelcoat filler kit is suitable for repairing scratches, cracks and holes in gelcoat and enamel. Especially with the production polyester fiberglass, the gelcoat protects against weakening of the fiberglass laminate from water intrusion. And gelcoat over large areas is a ton of sanding not fun if you.

May 27, 2009 the other cause of gelcoat cracking is impact. They can occur in any form of fiberglass, including cars, boats and swimming pools. Jul 17, 2018 trying to find out how to treat so called spider cracks in gelcoat, came across this article 2005 seadoo sportster where jason says they are cosmetic and not to worry about them. Using highbuild primer to repair fiberglass crazing. Step 2 then toughen the laminate that contains the crack or cracks by solidifying it. Spider cracks in gelcoat moderated discussion areas. All that filler wont allow the gel coat to shrink as much as the hull and the gel coat fractures. Use a rotary grinder on the dremel tool or a sharp knife to open up any cracks and enlarge them.

The product cures to a hard finish and does not require evercoat mold release to attain a fully cured 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 have a bell northstar blackgold canoe that is now about 19 years old. The gelcoat is clear, and i really dont want to paint the. Jun 25, 2018 there are many ways to repair cracks in fiberglasswhich ones the best. This is used in the same way as body filler, but is much stronger and has better gap filling properties. It is starting to show its age with stress cracks from being dropped on portages, etc. In this report, they offer the magic fix for hairline gelcoat cracks. Once cured and sanded the filler can be gel coated.

Shaving fiberglass, new approach to stress cracks and mail call. Repairing hundreds of fiberglass cracks to get ready for. Are spider cracks not usually just cracks in the gelcoat. Assuming your gelcoat is white and the same shade as the new gel, it may work. How to fix spider cracks in fiberglass it still runs. How to repair spider cracks on your fiberglass boat. It is for use on both the boats hull and superstructure, the gelcoat kit is easy to use and sets in approximately 10 minutes. This thicker gelcoat cannot stand any flexing without showing cracks. 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. Hit from the outside and you have a star crack the crack up forward are where its been hit into a pile or a wharf or something simular. 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. 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. This is usually evidenced by a concentric ring pattern as opposed to random crisscross spider webbing.

You could use a dremal with a cone shaped bur on it and cut a v groove in to all the cracks, then fill and fair them with some gelcoat or gelcoat filler. The gel coat cracks are simply cracks in the cosmetic layer thats put over the top to keep the rv looking shiny. If it is and it really is just the gelcoat that needs repair, use a dremel or similar to cut a groove out along each of the cracks, clean up with acetone, then mask optional, but great trick to reduce sanding later, apply some gelcoat filler the plastic padding stuff seems to match our 2001 bavaria fine, but be very careful to get the mixing. Magic fix for hairline cracks in gelcoat practical sailor. Gelcoat or paint which one should i use boatworks today. Spidercracks in the gel coat boating and boat fishing. If you want them gone, take the time to do the job right and do the boat justice. Heavy sucker though it seems to be getting more and more grazing spider cracks in the gelcoat.

This damage is often caused by slight flexing of the hull. If this is just the gelcoat and it was my launch ssv i would grind out the impact area and all the spider cracks. Most boat owners know that doing fiberglass boat repairs is a nightmare. Feb 24, 2014 from what i know from reading posts here, i would need a dremel tool to create a gorge on the gelcoat crack before applying the gelcoat putty. Trying to find out how to treat so called spider cracks in. Ralph, since you got me interested in gelcoat repair one or two per year, i believe you would have some answers for me. There a some in our marina that have also done extensive cruising and never seen any on them either. I just did some more sanding and a new bunch of spider cracks almost overlapping about 4 inches in length and one wide just started up and yet another one about 6 inches from that. Honda was going to redo the gelcoat then they changed their mind. They all happened in the first 3 weeks after i got my ski. I got about 30 gelcoat cracks on it, just tiny line cracks on the top part of the hull only.

So, if there is spider cracks, there are typically two reasons. Its a filler that offers increased strength for the putty you make. Step 4 as soon as the crack has been channeled out, wipe it clean. Look for a pattern of spider webtype cracks radiating away from the damaged area. Press the gelcoat into any enlarged cracks to fill them completely.

If the surface of your boat looks like a cracked eggshell, the gelcoat is suffering from crazing sometimes called alligatoring. 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. The next time you are cleaning and waxing your boat, take the time to look for small cracks, scratches and chips in its gelcoat. 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. Fiberglass is used in innumerable consumer and industrial products from airplanes and automobiles to showers and insulation. Repairing hairline cracks and how to do repair gelcoat. Crazing in gelcoat, also known as spider cracks or stress cracks, plagues countless boaters.

Apr 24, 2009 what is the cause of spider cracks on the hull of a boat. Heres a typical spider crack, which i sandedused automotive body filler onand sprayed it with paint. Jan 21, 2020 fill in any cracks or gouges in the fiberglass with polyester filler, marine grade. Repairing hairline cracks and how to do repair gelcoat magicezy. Grind out all the cracks in the gelcoat, re gelcoat and put a new nonskid in. Aug 27, 2012 i have lots of hair line cracks in the gelcoat. These cracks do not affect the structural integrity of the fiberglass, but are an aesthetic issue. Extensive spider cracking common on older boats is due to aging of the gelcoat. Buy magicezy hairline fix cream boat gelcoat crack repair fills and colors fast. Jul 24, 2006 the sun doesnt generally cause spider cracks. Just fill the hole and level with tube end, allow to cure, and finish with the hairline crack repair. In this case the cracks need to be examined closely, even chipped away at, to see if they extend through the gelcoats 0. Learn how to treat wearinduced spider cracks that appear along the hull of your dinghy. I have chartered a couple of leopard 46s and and never found any cracking or spider cracks.

These hairline fractures also occur in boats of the mid 1970s vintage which often had thicker gelcoat layers than newer boats. How to repair cracks and chips in damaged gelcoat duration. Evercoat gelkote one step finish gel coat repair white. Trying to find out how to treat so called spider cracks in gelcoat, came across this article 2005 seadoo sportster where jason says they are cosmetic. Though smooth and relatively durable, gelcoat, like any finish, is prone to dings and scratches. If not managed, these small cosmetic annoyances can. 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.

He uses a rotary tool to grind the crack down to the fiberglass, then he fills it with and interlux epoxy filler called interprotect watertite, uses a longboard sander to sand and then it is ready. Sep 15, 2018 ive been letting the spider cracks go until a split in the gelcoat appears where it counts. Spider cracks and star cracks are telling you something can you guess what. Hairline fix magicezy hairline fix is a colored sealant used to quickly and easily repair fine stress cracks spider cracks and hairline fractures. However, i have a theory that there might be, but i havent tried it.

Diagnosing spider cracks in fiberglass it can be difficult to diagnose spider cracks, especially when youre not aware of them. The gelcoat was applied too thick at an area that does flex. Your spider cracks are probably confined to the gel coat and are not a structural issue however these are tough to get rid of permanently. Offering outstanding resistance to water absorption, this unique vinyl ester filler works both above and below the waterline.

Epoxy filler, although a great product is not suitable for a gelcote top coat. In most cases this is true, however it is important to seal them correctly otherwise water may penetrate into. Glass reinforced plastic grp, known as fiberglass or glass wool, is thin fibers of polymer plastic woven together with strands of glass. We tried west marine gel coat scratch patch, and although very careful, the. Also there is a hole in front where it looks like it hit or rubbed something for a long time.

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. This resin can be used as a protective surface over the top of fiberglass, or simply as a finish, much like you might varnish a piece of outdoor furniture. We have this awesome boat that just cannot take enough of a beating, but. Sometimes, theyre merely cosmetic, meaning they dont penetrate the gelcoat. I dont really care, its just cosmetic and i havent seen any new ones since. If your boat is more than a few years old, youll probably be surprised at the number you find. There are many ways to repair cracks in fiberglasswhich ones the best. How to fix crazing in gelcoat, also known as spider cracks or stress cracks which plague countless boaters. Besides quality performance, the filler offers easy spreading and sanding. 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. 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. 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.

Wall repair free delivery possible on eligible purchases. I have just repaired some spider cracks from impact damage, epoxy filler with colour pigment, i will over coat with perfection 2 pack paint. 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. Small cracks form in the outer surface of the fiberglass, spreading out from a central point like a spiderweb.

These spider cracks happen because theres flexing in the fiberglass below the gelcoat and even though you can use body filler to make them dissapear, they will most likely come back. This is the most popular for use with resin putty and is good for not cracking. Youll want to take care of any damage on the fiberglass first so you have a smooth surface to apply the gelcoat to. Is there information and advice available on repairing these cracks. The filler offers increased strength is good for corners and doesnt affect pigmented gelcoat. Hairline spider cracks must be opened wider and filled with an epoxy filler to be permanently repaired. Spraying either gelcoat or paint requires tools that most people do not have access to. Since 1968, west marine has grown to over 250 local stores, with knowledgeable associates happy to assist. These are the easiest cracks to fix as theyre not very deep. Maybe the gelcoat has been damaged from being stored in the sun over the years by the previous owner. When looking at cracks you may find that there are generally two different types. Ab marine magicezy fiberglass and gelcoat repair products.

Cracks spreading out from the center, much as you would see in a spider web. Stress cracks, spider cracks, and hairline cracks in the decks of older boats are, of course, not rare. Ive been letting the spider cracks go until a split in the gelcoat appears where it counts. How to repair a flaking clear coat on a fiberglass boat. Step 1 figure out what caused the cracks to begin with.

I restored a black gold bell wildfire that had a lot of fine spider cracks in the clear polyester gel coat. Gelcoat is a fiberglass resin that has had a pigment added to it. Magicezy 9 second chip fix is a readytouse, colored filler perfect for repairing small holes, chips and gouges on fiberglass, gelcoat, ceramics and stone. Fill in any cracks or gouges in the fiberglass with polyester filler, marine grade. I asked the manufacturer about it at the boatshow and was told to not worry about leakage and just use. Then i would refill with a gelcoat filler spackel that is water tight. Spider cracks are a form of fiberglass damage that occurs from minor flexing or impacts. 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.