Mar 26, 2019 once the gelcoat has fully cured, sand the repair smooth wet sanding works particularly well with gelcoat. To make sure youre stripping away all the damage, always remove an area at least half an inch 1. Oct 11, 2017 repairing hundreds of fiberglass cracks to get ready for spraying awlgrip paint. Stress cracks can help us understand what caused the damage. Question repairing a brokencracked fiberglass hull sailboats. While it is a useful and lightweight material, it can be damaged. I patched the bad crack, where the port hinge attaches, and that was quickly more secure than the other side. 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. Previous episodes go over other types of fiberglass. You can even use stainless screws but coat every one with 5200 before you screw them in. This can range from small defects that need a little patching up to. Repairing hairline fiberglass deck cracks sailboat. You could have someone with a moisture meter check it, but there is little chance that any damage to the fiberglass has occurred or will occur there. Ever wanted to fix a crack or hole in a fibreglass boat.
How to repair spider cracks in fiberglass boatlife. Cut the largest fiberglass patch to extend several inches beyond the actual break in the hull and at least two inches beyond the next smaller fiberglass layer. When the area is dry, smooth the surface with sandpaper. How to repair deep cracks in fiberglass boats youtube. In this section we will provide guidelines for cosmetic composite repairs, including fiberglass crack repair, fiberglass gel coat repair, and composite repair finishing. First, get your boat to a wellventilated area where it can be sheltered overnight. Finally, apply a coat of highquality marine polish and your repair is complete. Oct 07, 2019 when youre doing repairs on an existing fiberglass boat, you may not be using any core material either.
How to repair a fiberglass boat hull from the outside. Once youre sure youre dealing with these types of cracks in the outer gel coat of the fiberglass, your fix can be. All about fiberglass boat stress cracks fiberglass boat. 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. Crack is whack, especially when its in your rvs fiberglass. This is especially true if youre just repairing a crack or hole in a nonload bearing area. You may want to apply colored gelcoat enamel over the repaired area, so the repair wont be so noticeable. Repairing hairline cracks and how to do repair gelcoat. These fiberglass cracks can be purely cosmetic, or can severely degrade the boats ability to stay afloat. To diagnose spider cracks, inspect your boat and look for the following. You can successfully complete basic fiberglass boat repair by following these steps.
These fiberglass cracks can be purely cosmetic, or can severely degrade the boat s ability to stay afloat. This type of boat is always waxed, so before you attempt to repair the hole, wash the area with a solvent. You can start with 220grit sandpaper and, for a really slick surface, finish with at least 400 or 600grit. How to fix spider cracks in fiberglass it still runs. How to fix a crack or hole in a fibreglass boat the new. Fiberglass is a strong and versatile material that can be used to make a variety of things, including bumpers, showers, and boats. Since the majority of the exterior is usually made up of fiberglass, knowing how to fix those cracks can come in handy. This show covers how to repair fiberglass stress cracks on your boat using polyester resin. I opened a warranty claim with hk as it is clear this boat left the warehouse already broken, however i am not holding my breath as i know that if i start paying shippings and customs again the final price will be 200% the initial price i paid.
Repairing hundreds of fiberglass cracks to get ready for. Cut the fiberglass patches, making certain each layer is staggered in size from any other layer on either side of the repair. If it is a precut hole, you may still need to trim it up with a dremel to remove any cracked or flaked gel coat. 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. Spider cracks are nonstructural damage to the gelcoat of a boat. Repairing hairline cracks and how to do repair gelcoat magicezy. I purchased the boat with the scrape on the bottom. If the hole has been smashed in, it can be cut around with a finetoothed jigsaw blade. Plan on using a variety of sanding tools if you are dealing with a repair that bridges both a flat area and a detailed area such as a chine or gunwale.
Repairing a brokencracked fiberglass hull rc groups. Surface gelcoat scratches can be buffed with polishing compound, and deeper scratches can be filled. If you cant find a repair kit buy 1 quart of polyester resin and hardener, and 2 square feet each of 10ounce roving and 7 12ounce fiberglass cloth. I used small patches of fiberglass sheets near the bad cracks.
These scars of a life welllived are unsightly, but usually are just cosmetic. How to repair gelcoat, fiberglass boat repair boating. Stress cracks first appear as very fine hairline cracks. Sometimes, theyre merely cosmetic, meaning they dont penetrate the gelcoat. Core materials wood structure, right under the deck, floorboards and walkways are right under that fiberglass.
Easy ways to repair cracked fiberglass with pictures. Over time, the cracks get larger and the structure may begin to delaminate andor blistering starts to occur. When youre doing repairs on an existing fiberglass boat, you may not be using any core material either. Use an aluminum patch, rivits and 5200 to seal from outside or use gluit on the repair from the inside. To patch the hole, buy a quartsize polyester resin fiberglass repair kit at a marine store. Small cracks forming, especially at the surface of the fiberglass. How to repair spider cracks on your fiberglass boat. 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. Also, older fiberglass boats tend to have a thicker application of gelcoat which means they are more susceptible to cracking. In this short video i take a minute to fix up an old bad repair. And almost every fiberglass boat, even the most mollycoddled, eventually suffers the heartbreak of spiderweb andor stress cracks. How to repair a fibreglass crack for beginners youtube. His books include don caseys complete illustrated sailboat maintenance manual, and the recently updated this old boat, the bible for.
These hairline fractures also occur in boats of the mid 1970s vintage which often had thicker gelcoat layers than newer boats. How to repair gelcoat, fiberglass boat repair boating magazine. Working with a fiberglass, or even a wooden hull, you will need to start by cleaning out the crack and affected area. Previous episodes go over other types of fiberglass repair using west system epoxy. Stress cracks, spider cracks, and hairline cracks in the decks of older boats are, of course, not rare.
Fill the crack with a fair amount of fiberglass epoxy resin, using a plastic applicator. First, remove all wax and grease from the work area by wiping down the area with acetone and a clean rag. While fiberglass boat repairs are a bit more complicated than those youd find on wooden boats, most small dings, scratches, and even small holes are, indeed, repairable. In this case, youll just be applying cloth over the crack and sealing it with resin. How to repair deep cracks in fiberglass boats with the new west system fiberglass boat repair kit. Repairing a fibreglass crack doesnt have to be daunting. They may indicate whether something inside the boat has broken loose and. Apr 06, 2020 to repair a fiberglass boat, start by cutting away the damaged area.
To help you get started, weve got the ultimate guide to repairing a fiberglass boat hull from the outside, complete with tips and tricks to help get your boat back on the. The underlying fiberglass flexes, the gelcoat doesnt and a crack develops. This type of repair is necessary if you run aground, run into a rock, or have some of crack caused by age and use. Repairing minor damage to the gelcoat surface of your boat. Additionally many times if it is a stress crack in the fiberglass itself, sometimes this happens over the core materials of certain areas of the boat. Gelcoat tends to be stiff and brittle and fiberglass a bit more flexible. How to repair fiberglass on a boat the family handyman. It may not be an exact match, but itll be a lot closer than mixing colors. There are many ways to repair cracks in fiberglass which ones the best. This damage is often caused by slight flexing of the hull. Any crack that goes deeper than the gelcoat definitely needs attention. If you have a fiberglass roof its especially important to get damage fixed as it happens so you dont end up with moisture under it and inside the ceiling. That texture looks to be common, might even find a similar texture premade.
Hull repair is fairly easy for someone who owns a small fiberglass boat of their own. Next, use a sander and coarse grit sandpaper to expose grind away the crack. Apr 26, 2018 repairing a fibreglass crack doesnt have to be daunting. Weve put together an easy to follow guide specifically aimed at those new to fibreglass. Learn how to fix stress cracks, dock dings and other fiberglass injuries. Aug 15, 2018 unless your boat lives her life dockside cuddled up to a couple of fenders, shes going to get a few scrapes and bruises. The number of boats that develop serious blister problems is extremely small. Repairing structural cracks involves several steps.
To repair a fiberglass boat, start by cutting away the damaged area. Hi sailingjunkie, thanks for replying while the crack is thin i am not sure i would call it hairline, please check the attached pics. 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. Repairing hundreds of fiberglass cracks to get ready for spraying awlgrip paint. He and his wife cruise aboard their 30footer part of the year in the eastern caribbean. Heres a method we use in the body shops to repair cracked bumper covers and other plastic and flexible materials.
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. This thicker gelcoat cannot stand any flexing without showing cracks. This will be broken down into 5 steps, which are similar to those required for structural repairs. One side of the hatch had cracked all the way thru. New to boating and going to fix up some cracks and holes on it for the first time.
However, the repairability of fiberglass is one of its best characteristics. Jb weld works okay on bare lightly sanded aluminum but it can crack from stress. Gelcoat blisters wouldnt be more than a cosmetic concern, if theyre treated and not ignored. If your fiberglass repair is not too big, you can get away with buying a repair kit to fix the problem yourself. Cracked hull repair, rib with 2 ft crack boat design net. 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 boat s structural integrity. To fix gouges and deep scratches, youll need chop powdered fiberglass filler, gel coat and gel coat reducer. Cracks spreading out from the center, much as you would see in a spider web. This can range from small defects that need a little patching up to major damage that affects the overall shape of the surface.
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