How do you fix hairline cracks in gelcoat

[randlemanboater]

How do you go about fixing hairline cracks in the gelcoat?

http://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r222/randlemanboater/101_0114.jpg

http://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r222/randlemanboater/101_0116.jpg

[randlemanboater]

How do you go about fixing hairline cracks in the gelcoat?

http://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r222/randlemanboater/101_0114.jpg

http://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r222/randlemanboater/101_0116.jpg

[Skools Out]

wow not easily requires grinding, glassing, and painted

if you want to just stop them from spreading just get some MAS Epoxy and mix a small batch and spread on the cracks with a bondo pattle and that will seal them and stop the spreading of them.

[Skools Out]

wow not easily requires grinding, glassing, and painted

if you want to just stop them from spreading just get some MAS Epoxy and mix a small batch and spread on the cracks with a bondo pattle and that will seal them and stop the spreading of them.

[msbhammer]

Randleman, Somebody posted sometime ago about getting a small roto grinder and go over each crack and then go over with gelcoat. I had the same problem on the hull and simply grinded and reglassed over. Your spots will be seen though and even with gelgoat will stick out. Somebody here has the proper info. for ya.
Cracks or no cracks, you got yourseld a great V brother. ;) ;) ;) ;) ;)

[msbhammer]

Randleman, Somebody posted sometime ago about getting a small roto grinder and go over each crack and then go over with gelcoat. I had the same problem on the hull and simply grinded and reglassed over. Your spots will be seen though and even with gelgoat will stick out. Somebody here has the proper info. for ya.
Cracks or no cracks, you got yourseld a great V brother. ;) ;) ;) ;) ;)

[76GMC1500]

You might want to investigate what is causing the flexing that is causing those cracks.

[76GMC1500]

You might want to investigate what is causing the flexing that is causing those cracks.

[bigshrimpin]

Gotta grind them out one at a time, tape off the area, use a toothpick to apply gelcoat to the gaps, and sand flush with the existing surface. Lots of time . . . but I agree with GMC . . . something isn't right there. If you've got larger cracks or voids thicken the gelcoat with cabosil.

[bigshrimpin]

Gotta grind them out one at a time, tape off the area, use a toothpick to apply gelcoat to the gaps, and sand flush with the existing surface. Lots of time . . . but I agree with GMC . . . something isn't right there. If you've got larger cracks or voids thicken the gelcoat with cabosil.

[Skools Out]

are the long cracks below the ones at the rub rail? that could be from someone turning to soon and struck a dock pilling with the side transom area * >:(

[Skools Out]

are the long cracks below the ones at the rub rail? that could be from someone turning to soon and struck a dock pilling with the side transom area * >:(

[msbhammer]

Think your right SKOOL, looks like signs of the wifey trying to dock the boat. ;D. Have have quite a few myself on the top side, but they are the least of my worries. She she floats and runs, go out and have fun. ;D

[msbhammer]

Think your right SKOOL, looks like signs of the wifey trying to dock the boat. ;D. Have have quite a few myself on the top side, but they are the least of my worries. She she floats and runs, go out and have fun. ;D

[spareparts]

you'l spend all day trying to grind out each crack, you're better off grinding down the whole area, applying some glass/resin to give a noncracked surfface to work with, and build the gel back up. Once you have enough gel on the surface, you can block it straight. Its a lot of work. I've tried to grind out each crack with a dremel, its fine if you one or two cracks, but when you have that many, you have to grind down to the glass and fix the structure so they wont come back

[spareparts]

you'l spend all day trying to grind out each crack, you're better off grinding down the whole area, applying some glass/resin to give a noncracked surfface to work with, and build the gel back up. Once you have enough gel on the surface, you can block it straight. Its a lot of work. I've tried to grind out each crack with a dremel, its fine if you one or two cracks, but when you have that many, you have to grind down to the glass and fix the structure so they wont come back

[randlemanboater]

You might want to investigate what is causing the flexing that is causing those cracks.

The cracks appear to be the result of close encounters of the dock kind.

The guy who had this boat was no boat handler. When we went for the testdrive, he got in the boat, I backed the boat into the water and he was almost unable to pull up the the dock to pick me up, a mere 15 feet away.

[randlemanboater]

You might want to investigate what is causing the flexing that is causing those cracks.

The cracks appear to be the result of close encounters of the dock kind.

The guy who had this boat was no boat handler. When we went for the testdrive, he got in the boat, I backed the boat into the water and he was almost unable to pull up the the dock to pick me up, a mere 15 feet away.

[parishht]

Randleman, I have the West marine fiberglass book:

http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g18/parishht/fiberglassbook.jpg

Section 2 deals with cracks,
say the word and I will e-mail you pdf's of section 2,
it is 5 pages.

[parishht]

Randleman, I have the West marine fiberglass book:

http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g18/parishht/fiberglassbook.jpg

Section 2 deals with cracks,
say the word and I will e-mail you pdf's of section 2,
it is 5 pages.

[C YENSEN]

Hey Randleman,

Here you go. It took my like twenty minutesto find the post I was looking for, but Lord Skools helped me out a long time ago on how to do fibergalss work. here are some instructions and pics on how to fix hair line cracks. Scroll down the first page and look for the pics ;D ;)

Thanks again Skools

http://www.wellcraftv20.com/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.cgi?board=General;action=display;num=11284391 89;start=

[C YENSEN]

Hey Randleman,

Here you go. It took my like twenty minutesto find the post I was looking for, but Lord Skools helped me out a long time ago on how to do fibergalss work. here are some instructions and pics on how to fix hair line cracks. Scroll down the first page and look for the pics ;D ;)

Thanks again Skools

http://www.wellcraftv20.com/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.cgi?board=General;action=display;num=11284391 89;start=

[randlemanboater]

Hey, look who's the newest god.....C YENSEN!!!!


Thanks for the help guys.

[randlemanboater]

Hey, look who's the newest god.....C YENSEN!!!!


Thanks for the help guys.

[C YENSEN]

Hey, look who's the newest god.....C YENSEN!!!!


Thanks for the help guys.

Thanks ;D

hope that link helps, I know it sure helped me do my first fiberglass job ;D

[C YENSEN]

Hey, look who's the newest god.....C YENSEN!!!!


Thanks for the help guys.

Thanks ;D

hope that link helps, I know it sure helped me do my first fiberglass job ;D

[macojoe]

Congrats!! CY

[macojoe]

Congrats!! CY

[Warner_Foster]

Randleman,
Suggest you look at www.epoxyproductd.com , they sell a product called Calvins Crack Sealer. It really works. I use a syringe with a small neelle to apply the sealer. It works by capulary action. Paul Oman who ownes the company also suggested using very thin epoxy to seal the cracks before refinishing to avoid bridging the cracks. If not filled the cracks will return.

[Warner_Foster]

Randleman,
Suggest you look at www.epoxyproductd.com , they sell a product called Calvins Crack Sealer. It really works. I use a syringe with a small neelle to apply the sealer. It works by capulary action. Paul Oman who ownes the company also suggested using very thin epoxy to seal the cracks before refinishing to avoid bridging the cracks. If not filled the cracks will return.

[bigshrimpin]

Those cracks are superficial. No need for the glass. I like the way skoolz used his grinder to prep the crack . . . but it's a little risky unless you have a very steady hand. dremel tools are a little safer. Also you can get matching gelcoat through minicraft . . . they sell in a liquid or a paste (which is just thickened gelcoat using cabosil)

Get the paste.
Grind out the crack.
Clean with acetone
Tape off the area
fill with the thicken gelcoat.
spray on PVA
let it dry.
sand flush with existing surface
start with 120 (on a sanding block) all the way to 600 (wetsand)
buff and wax.

On vertical areas like that I like to use 3M 2" blue tape to prevent any sagging . . . just put tape over the repair.

[bigshrimpin]

Those cracks are superficial. No need for the glass. I like the way skoolz used his grinder to prep the crack . . . but it's a little risky unless you have a very steady hand. dremel tools are a little safer. Also you can get matching gelcoat through minicraft . . . they sell in a liquid or a paste (which is just thickened gelcoat using cabosil)

Get the paste.
Grind out the crack.
Clean with acetone
Tape off the area
fill with the thicken gelcoat.
spray on PVA
let it dry.
sand flush with existing surface
start with 120 (on a sanding block) all the way to 600 (wetsand)
buff and wax.

On vertical areas like that I like to use 3M 2" blue tape to prevent any sagging . . . just put tape over the repair.

[reelapeelin]

Dremmel makes a FOOT that holds the tool on an angle for removing the grout from between ceramic tiles...it HOLDS a preset depth ... I never did it, but seems to me it would work well for this application as well :D ...

[reelapeelin]

Dremmel makes a FOOT that holds the tool on an angle for removing the grout from between ceramic tiles...it HOLDS a preset depth ... I never did it, but seems to me it would work well for this application as well :D ...