Magic fix for hairline cracks in gelcoat practical sailor. Step 4 as soon as the crack has been channeled out, wipe it clean. Learn how to treat wearinduced spider cracks that appear along the. I have worked on many boats with spider cracks, the best method i have used is a dremel tool to gouge the cracks and fill them with a gelcoat paste made with gelcoat and glass bubbles works wonders, as for sand paper you will have to change grits as you sand and fill. Spider cracks are nonstructural damage to the gelcoat of a boat. The spider web cracking will continue to run unless you create a. How to repair spider cracks in fiberglass boat life. Step 3 now, once youve removed all hardware, toerails, and other paraphernalia.
Repairing hairline cracks and how to do repair gelcoat. A prior owner had fixed a few with evercoat gel coat scratch patch gel coat repair, with ugly results. How to fix crazing in gelcoat, also known as spider cracks or stress cracks which plague countless boaters. Repairing hundreds of fiberglass cracks to get ready for. Easy cheap how to restore boat gel coat boat hull gelcoat oxidation restoration repair. How to repair spider cracks on your fiberglass boat. Crazing in gelcoat, also known as spider cracks or stress cracks, plagues countless boaters. 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. Stress cracks, spider cracks, and hairline cracks in the decks of older boats are, of course, not rare. Small cracks form in the outer surface of the fiberglass, spreading out from a central point like a spiderweb. These hairline fractures also occur in boats of the mid 1970s vintage which often had thicker gelcoat layers than newer boats. 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.
First, get your boat to a wellventilated area where it can be sheltered overnight. The good news about these cracks is that theyre largely cosmetic problems. Spider cracks are a form of fiberglass damage that occurs from minor flexing or impacts. Radial cracks spider cracks, star cracks caused by impact or by a fixture bolt that puts strain on a certain area of a boat and cracks occur around the hole. This damage is often caused by slight flexing of the hull. Step 1 figure out what caused the cracks to begin with. 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.
Boatus magazines mark corke shows you how to easily repair those pesky spider cracks that show up in your boats fiberglass gelcoat. How to fix spider cracks, hairline cracks, and crazing in boat gelcoat. How to fix spider cracks, hairline cracks, and crazing in boat. They can occur in any form of fiberglass, including cars, boats and swimming pools. Repairing hundreds of fiberglass cracks to get ready for spraying awlgrip paint. Step 2 then toughen the laminate that contains the crack or cracks by solidifying it. Crack in the back wheres theres boats and things mounted is its weak, take. How to fix spider cracks in fiberglass it still runs.
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