While it is a useful and lightweight material, it can be damaged relatively easily. There was also a six inch crack in the front from a rock hitting it on the road. Weve put together an easy to follow guide specifically aimed at those new to fibreglass. Heres a small example of what things looked like before i started, cracks highlighted with a sharpie pen so theyre easier to see. Stress cracks can be identified as longer parallel surface cracks on the hull or deck. Repairing hundreds of fiberglass cracks to get ready for. How to repair deep cracks in fiberglass boats with the new west system fiberglass boat repair kit. To fix fiberglass that has cracked, you must first assess the extent of the damage and then prepare the surface.
All about fiberglass boat stress cracks fiberglass boat. Soon the inner and outer fiberglass layers couldnt do their job and broke down from repeated flexing. Repairing and maintaining wooden boats involves many variables and procedures. In this short video i take a minute to fix up an old bad repair. Repairing hairline cracks and how to do repair gelcoat. It has great thin film cure characteristics, cures in cool temperatures and has a long shelf life. Bonding the original skin back onto the new core can save significant time and money. In many of these repairs, the fiberglass skins are in great shape but need to be peeled off to replace the core.
Two coats are usually enough to repair standard damage in the typical fiberglass boat. There are recessed spots over the entire nonskid surface. Cracks spreading out from the center, much as you would see in a spider web. In most cases, a repair will be needed to mend the surfaces back together, however. A twopart system consisting of polyester resin and catalyst, gelcoats the first thing into the mold during manufacture. How to repair spider cracks in fiberglass with images. If your fiberglass repair is not too big, you can get away with buying a repair kit to fix the problem yourself. The procedure is especially useful for marine applications. I actively searched for the best way to patch small holes in fiberglass on the web, and. Other times, maybe a small hairline crack formed in the fiberglass, but this is more rare. Small cracks allowed the wood to become soaked and it swelled and then rotted.
They may indicate whether something inside the boat has broken loose and. Most of us know that fiberglass has a very limited ability to bend instead it cracks when overstressed. 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. How to fix a hole on a fiberglass boat complete diy guide. Spider cracks are nonstructural damage to the gelcoat of a boat. You can successfully complete basic fiberglass boat repair by following these steps. Gelcoat doesnt flex at the same rate as the underlying fiberglass layer fiberglass is more flexible, so stress cracks appeared all over. How to repair fiberglass finishings on boats, cars and other objects. Repairing stress cracks in a nonskid textured deck ive got a 79 f36 trojan. His books include don caseys complete illustrated sailboat maintenance manual, and the recently updated this old boat, the bible for doityourself boaters.
When the area is dry, smooth the surface with sandpaper. Gelcoat maintenance and repair tips proper care and maintenance of the gelcoat will keep your boats luster and underlying fiberglass in good condition. This thicker gelcoat cannot stand any flexing without showing cracks. This show covers how to repair fiberglass stress cracks on your boat using polyester resin. Fiberglass boats are arguably the best kind of boats you can own. He and his wife cruise aboard their 30footer part of the year in the eastern caribbean. There is a fiberglass repair kit on amazon called west system 105k fiberglass boat repair kit that is great for repairing cracks, scraps, gelcoat blisters, loose hardware, damaged keels and smaller holes under 1. When that happens, the gelcoat cant flex with the fiberglass, it just cracks.
Fiberglass is a strong and versatile material that can be used to make a variety of things, including bumpers, showers, and boats. How to repair a fibreglass crack for beginners youtube. One side of the hatch had cracked all the way thru. How to repairing fiberglass gel coat cracks in bathtubs, boats, cars automotive, bathrooms, paint whether you are getting ready to fix your bathtub, boat, truck cap or other fiberglass item that has seen some abuse you are probably going to need to replace its outer gel coat in the process. This was the first type of fiberglass delamination and the failures damaged the boat building industry badly since many manufacturers had transitioned to all. Wait for the plastic filler to cure before applying another coat. Also, older fiberglass boats tend to have a thicker application of gelcoat which means they are more susceptible to cracking. Next, use a sander and coarse grit sandpaper to expose grind away the crack.
Sometimes, theyre merely cosmetic, meaning they dont penetrate the gelcoat. A common fiberglass repair is replacing damaged core, often because of water absorption. Climb aboard sign up for emails and stay uptodate on the latest news, events, and promotions. There are many ways to repair cracks in fiberglass which ones the best. In most cases this is true, however it is important to seal them correctly otherwise water may penetrate into. Previous episodes go over other types of fiberglass. I used small patches of fiberglass sheets near the bad cracks. I patched the bad crack, where the port hinge attaches, and that was quickly more secure than the other side. Theyre lightweight, fun to build and easy to maintain.
Don casey has been one of the most consulted experts on boat care and upgrades for 30 years, and is one of the boatus magazines panel of experts. If your fiberglass boat only has superficial damage, such as scratches and cracks, sand the area and remove the wax with a solvent before applying a storebought plastic filler such as gelcote. Repairing structural cracks involves several steps. West system epoxy is the better choice for repairing fiberglass boats. The stress cracks are not much larger then the thickness of a. Generally speaking, when youre doing a fiberglass repair, the adhesive qualities of the resin youll be using are a prime consideration. We offer the following brief commentary as a very general introductory guide, and some comments regarding the use of preservatives, resins and coatings, and about the products we sell. Small cracks forming, especially at the surface of the fiberglass.
Minicraft has color matched gelcoat for many boats, so if you do spend the time and effort to fix the cracks using color matched gelcoat will make. If the hole has been smashed in, it can be cut around with a finetoothed jigsaw blade. How to repair a flaking clear coat on a fiberglass boat. Easy ways to repair cracked fiberglass with pictures. Once youre sure youre dealing with these types of cracks in the outer gel coat of the fiberglass, your fix can be. Stress cracks can help us understand what caused the damage. Repairing a fibreglass crack doesnt have to be daunting. How to repair fiberglass finishings on boats, cars and. How to repair deep cracks in fiberglass boats youtube. 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. Like thousands of boat owners who have successfully repaired their boats, you can use west. Use this procedure to make small fiberglass repairs to cars, boats, or other fiberglass objects. How to repair fiberglass on a boat the family handyman.
Fill the crack with a fair amount of fiberglass epoxy resin, using a plastic applicator. The good news about these cracks is that theyre largely cosmetic problems. Read these tips for maintenance and repair advice on everything from cleaning to repairing cracks. Theyre even easy to repair and in this post on repairing fiberglass boats, well tell you exactly how to do just that. Repairing stress cracks in a nonskid textured surface. How to repair spider cracks in fiberglass boatlife. Repairing hairline fiberglass deck cracks sailboat. The usual causes of stringer failure are disintegration of the stringer core material, impact damage from slamming and. Youll save a ton of money if youre patient and use the proper tools. First, remove all wax and grease from the work area by wiping down the area with acetone and a clean rag.
A repair pro shows you how to make invisible fixes for scuffs, dents and scratches in fiberglass boats and other fiberglass items. These boats are sometimes fiberglass covered, an idea that works better in. In this sense, polyester and vinylester resins are pretty adequate for most doityourself fiberglass boat repair jobs, such as laminating fiberglass cloth into holes or cracks, or reinforcing an area. Even the best boat captain has had a docking turn into a scuffandchip event.
Repairing hairline cracks and how to do repair gelcoat magicezy. The clear exterior coat on fiberglass boats is formed by a substance known as gelcoat. Often the cracks will reappear in a few years because the underlying problem, flexing in the deck or the transition from core to uncured fiberglass will cause the cracks to reappear. 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.
To diagnose spider cracks, inspect your boat and look for the following. The lower 14 of the transom was rotted, allowing the outer skin to flex. While fiberglass boats are known to be fairly low in maintenance, repairs may still be necessary at some point to replace cracks or bubbles on the floor or hull, for example. This manual provides repair and maintenance solutions to many of the problems that afflict. How to fix a crack or hole in a fibreglass boat the new. 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. These hairline fractures also occur in boats of the mid 1970s vintage which often had thicker gelcoat layers than newer boats. You may want to apply colored gelcoat enamel over the repaired area, so the repair wont be so noticeable.
How to repairing fiberglass gel coat cracks in bathtubs. It has excellent adhesive qualities, wets out fiberglass fabrics and it is tough. Stress cracks, spider cracks, and hairline cracks in the decks of older boats are, of course, not rare. The texturing of the deck is dimpled, for lack of a better term. But you dont have to pay astronomical marina fees to get your. Do your own fiberglass and gelcoat repair with epoxy resins, filler, sealants, and fiberglass repair kits from west systems, 3m, and hibond. These fiberglass cracks can be purely cosmetic, or can severely degrade the boats ability to stay afloat. Fiberglass basics you should know fiberglass is a wonderful repairing fiberglass on boats. As it cures, gelcoat bonds to the layers of structural fiberglass laid on it to create a smooth, shiny. Learn how to fix stress cracks, dock dings and other fiberglass injuries. Hence you get these little hairline cracks in the gel coat surface itself. How to repair gelcoat, fiberglass boat repair boating.
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