When i was looking at boats, all of the cracks were around the tower legs and near the swim platform brackets. In more severe cases, the patches may be reinforced with fiberglass. If the gel coat does not completely cover the coat in one stroke, you should allow the first coat to harden into a sticky lump before applying a second mix. In this article, learn about the common causes of cracked heels, how. The cracks are called spider cracks, and they are normal for a gel coat finished boat. In the manufacturing process it is the first layer of the hull, sprayed against the inner surface of mold. Occlusive moisturizers coat the skin in a thin film that prevents. Shaving fiberglass, new approach to stress cracks and mail call. Polystyrenewax buildup on the mould which has transferred to the part during moulding. What gel coat actually is is nothing more than tinted unreinforced filberglass resin.
This is just an old jonboat i want to repair, repaint, and have look decent, without spending a grip on materials. More than adding gloss, it also functions as a water barrier to the fiberglass underneath. Gel coat cracks 1996 javelin 400 te bass boat page. Proper gel coat application can be a challenge for professionals and is probably the most common problem area for those new to composite work.
Below you will find a detailed gel coat preparation guide on how to apply gelcoat to your boat, rv or other surface. Repairing hairline cracks and how to do repair gelcoat magicezy. If the gel coat is thick in this corner as is often the case, the gel coat. If you can see white, that could be the fiberglass matting, and that needs to. How to compound and wax a 40 year old gel coat duration. The gel coat thats on my boat now was polyester based. Gelcoat or gel coat is a material used to provide a highquality finish on the visible surface of a fibrereinforced composite. Are they gel coat or stress cracks thanks mate, was convinced it was going to be something more sinister. 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. Also, older fiberglass boats tend to have a thicker application of gelcoat which means they are more susceptible to cracking. Thin hairline cracks star cracks present a bigger problem. When water enters cracks in the now poorly supported skin, mush results. As this paddling season comes to a close were taking stock of the feedback we have received about our new materials, tuffstuff and tuffstuff expedition.
Spraying gel coat onto vertical surfaces will not cause sag because of its thixotropic characteristics. Cracking should be evaluated with consideration of. If theres not enough blood supply in the damaged area that took the blow, this. An electric buffer can take a lot of the work out of waxing and polishing, but dont substitute an electric drill with a buffing bonnet attached. The gelcoat seals the fiberglass and can be left alone or painted over. So far neither the factory nor my dealer have been able to tell me what the problem is. Aside from the fact that they draw more blood than a vampire at a sleepover party and. Boatus magazines mark corke shows you how to easily repair those pesky spider cracks that show up in your boats fiberglass gelcoat. A thin layer of gel coat isnt structurally strong enough to prevent itself cracking off. Gel coat repairs and star cracks skuk sea kayaking uk. Too thin a coating can result in undercure of the gel coat.
Polyester gel cotes will not chemically bond to epoxy. When finished you couldnt see where the repair was made. For certain, they reflect the parts flexing to a greater degree than the material can take without cracking. Our customers have complemented us on how well it works. Removing rust stains from a fiberglass boat youtube. Using the wrong type gel coat can result in failure within a matter of months. Crazing which is a series of near parallel lines occurs where the impact has been some way away from the apparent area of damage. The most common gelcoats are thermosetting polymers based on epoxy or unsaturated polyester resin chemistry.
Once youre finished polishing, apply a coat of wax to protect the surface and improve the gloss. Increase the frequency of mold release application. Itll help make it easier to remove fish blood, scales, and chum. A prior owner had fixed a few with evercoat gel coat scratch patch gel coat repair, with ugly results. Wax in the gel coat rises to the surface when it is sprayed, rolled, or brushed, creating a film and barrier that enables the curing to.
As for painting above the waterline, the light blue interior and white exterior gel coat need refinishing. Physical separation of the gel coat film from the laminate. Gelcoats are modified resins which are applied to moulds in the liquid state. Gelcoat application temperature, thickness, and catalyst. Gelcoat oxidation can sometimes be repaired, but if the damage is. Gel coat cracks 1996 javelin 400 te bass boat some of the pics look like the cracks are coming from your rubrail install others look like its coming from stress points you should grind and fill the cracks with a glass filler. Gel coat is typically the first layer of a part to be applied. Fill in any cracks or gouges in the fiberglass with polyester filler, marine grade.
Several blood vessels run along the cervical spine, carrying blood to the brain. Cold temperatures can lead to slow gel coat cure times, while moisture can cause pinholes, blisters and other imperfections in the gel coat. If the gelcoat thats not fully cured is feeling a bit rubbery and part cured and youve already got a first layer of. Built in 1998, this year it began developing serious gel coat cracks. Gel coat yellows rapidly and unevenly when exposed to sunlight and or heat and moisture 1. Most people that use there boat eventually will develop some type of stress cracks in there gel coat. Gel coat labs bow to stern vessel care products are manufactured by four star products. The repair technique recently rediscovered by l h g in the boston whaler literature sounds. Improper temperature and humidity can also cause problems in your gel coat. It can crack, peel, blister, change color, wrinkle or distort. Try to keep your work area at or above 70f and free from moisture when working with gel coats. The cure rate, degree of crosslinking and crystallization all. You can successfully complete basic fiberglass boat repair by following these steps. It has been getting progressively worse since i discovered it, and spreading to the rest of the gunwales.
Most of the time they are just cracks in the finish and do not bother the structural integrity. Ive scrubbed the freeboard and gunwale my 1998 cruiser yachts 3850 with a scotch scrubber sponge like for pots and pans and 409 with bleach each spring, followed by applying a 3m rubbing compound with a buffer. To be safe, it is a good idea to order gel coat directly from the pools manufacturer. Unless the scratch goes through to the glass matting it wont harm the boat. How to fix spider cracks, hairline cracks, and crazing in boat.
The secret to a good finish is to apply gel coat properly. The msds of bondoglass says it has styrene, glass fibers, benzoyl peroxide, benzoate, and a surfactant in it. If the gel coat is thick in this corner as is often the case, the gel coat is more prone to cracking. The gel coat is in pretty rough shape cracked, chipped and pitted. Before starting your gel coat project, read through the gel coat troubleshooting guide in our free online learning center, to learn what common problems to avoid. Gel coat labs bow to stern was made available for boat owners who require only the very best products when caring for their boats. Rayplex has a great web page that will give you all the information you need to get a good gel coat match. Crazing is an incredibly common issue on modern fiberglass boats, and. Gel coat yellowing hi to all, i have been reading your problem with gel coat yellowing. Epoxy filler, although a great product is not suitable for a gel cote top coat. There are ways you can ease the pain and treat the bleeding. In humans, it consists of seven vertebrae bones stacked on top of each other that continue down.
First thing you want to do is look at the surface on which you want gelcoat applied. Painting over cracked and chipped gel coat moderated. Two additives will help with a desired final finish. Tough to say if these cracks are limited to just the gel coat, or if they involve the laminate under. Do not clean mould with used styrene or reclaimed solvent. Where the gel coat layer is too thick, as we often see in areas of a molded boat where it can easily accumulate such as corners or radii, the shrinking gel coat may create its own stress, resulting in cracks. If the gel coat cracks are on a bass boat, that is a common occurrence. Craters can only be seen on the back side of the gel coat. It is a complete line of boat maintenance and detailing products. Here well describe how to identify and handle common hoof cracks. I have a 2000 triton 186 that the gel coat has been getting hundreds of tiny white cracks on the right gunwale since 2008, when i first noticed it. But there are other areas on the sideboards, deck and cabin. A field guide to hoof cracks the horse owners resource. Sitting in the hot sun in fla or az the dark colors can absorb a lot of heat it may get up to 140f and when the gel coat expands the fg restrains it and the thermal stress.
Either deepen the scratch using a small blade or grinder, or leave it. Ask the experts solutions from the boatus tech team. Gelcoat is the protective coating that covers most fiberglass boats. And a spider crack in the gel coat is akin to paint having a crack in it. This is because the design of the hull has created a hard point which locally prevents a lightly built laminate from flexing to absorb an impact. If its just a small white or off white repair rayplex has repair kits with a simple color guide for matching. You being a veteran, may be familiar with this hull. These cracks dont seem to be the normal stress cracks we all get. Gel coats iso gel coats in 3 sizes, kits and color. How to repair gelcoat, fiberglass boat repair boating. The gel coat cracks when the local stress on the part in the cracked area exceeds the maximum level of strain allowed for the gel coat.
A tuffstuff expedition prospector 17 with some bony rapids in the background. I did significant damage to my gel coat on a recent kayaking trip. Especially with the production polyester fiberglass, the gelcoat protects against weakening of the fiberglass laminate from water intrusion. If you buy gel coat, be sure that it is marine grade for under water use. If the gel coat is applied too thick it has a tendency to crack because of the difference in thermal expansion, resin will expand much more than the fiberglass substrate. If you can see black in the cracks that is the base coat. Correct application of gelcoat is critical to get the optimum performance from it. Basic information gel coat is a polyester resin specially formulated with thixotropic ingredients for increased viscosity and nonsag properties. It is forced to crease along the hard point and crack the gel coat. Why do i get stress cracks or crazing in my gelcoat. Its smooth shiny finish is an indicator of the mold finish. All gelcoat is, is nonreinforced tinted fiberglass. Because there is no fiber in it, over time it will crack because the hull naturally flexes a bit. The cracks are purely cosemetic, and not structural to the boat.
The level of strain required to produce a gel coat crack varies from one product to another. How to fix crazing in gelcoat, also known as spider cracks or stress cracks which. It incorporates pigments for desired color and contains additives for controlling flowout, gel and cure times. Crazing in gelcoat, also known as spider cracks or stress cracks, plagues countless boaters. Since 1968, west marine has grown to over 250 local stores, with knowledgeable associates happy to assist.
Gel polishes last longer and resist chipping, says cosmetic chemist nikita wilson, ceo and coowner of catalyst cosmetic development in union, n. All of these boats had some type of gel coat cracking going on. There are many ways to repair cracks in fiberglasswhich ones the best. I have seen water leak into cores for reasons including. Apply polish now its time to apply a coating that will help seal the gel coat, and make it shine. Hi, it sounds like its just undercured at this point.
Marine gel coat, for boats and fiberglass pools, is specifically designed for under water applications. Applying an epoxy barrier coat to prevent moisture penetration and the reoccurrence of blisters. They are cured to form crosslinked polymers and are subsequently backed with. Here is the thing, the hairline cracks are called spider cracks. The beautiful gelcoat had been covering up the problem. This is most likely to be a result of incomplete mixing of the mekp catalyst into the gelcoat but id have to see exactly the location of these undercured areas in order to see whether theyre consistant with this cause.
A poor environment for curing, improperly mixed resin, improper application of the. If youre an angler, the next step is to lay down a coating of protective bees paste wax. Youll want to take care of any damage on the fiberglass first so you have a smooth surface to apply the gelcoat to. Gelcoat crack and crazing repair moderated discussion areas. Spider cracks can indicate impact damage or serious structural problems that will. Gelcoat is a resin system that is filled with colorants and thickening agents and applied to a mold surface to form the cosmetic and weathering coating of a composite part.
Any mold imperfections would be reflected in the gel coat as well. You may cover the cracks with just one application, but make sure that the product is sunk completely into the cracks before you consider that you have finished. Over time, the gelcoat can fade, oxidize and become pitted and dented. Gel coat is basically a relatively thick layer of resin with colorant added. Though smooth and relatively durable, gelcoat, like any finish, is prone to dings. The application of gelcoat and by pretty straight forward when you follow this guide determine the existing surface. My plan is to remove the many coats of antifouling paint below the waterline, then apply three coats of the west system epoxy and repaint it. In this report, they offer the magic fix for hairline gelcoat cracks. Hairline spider cracks must be opened wider and filled with an epoxy filler to be permanently repaired. Gel coat cracking on 2000 tritonanyone else having this.
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