How do you fix hairline cracks in gelcoat
 

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

http://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r...r/101_0114.jpg

http://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r...r/101_0116.jpg

How do you fix hairline cracks in gelcoat
 

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

http://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r...r/101_0114.jpg

http://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r...r/101_0116.jpg

Re: How do you fix hairline cracks in gelcoat
 

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.

Re: How do you fix hairline cracks in gelcoat
 

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.

Re: How do you fix hairline cracks in gelcoat
 

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. ;) ;) ;) ;) ;)

Re: How do you fix hairline cracks in gelcoat
 

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. ;) ;) ;) ;) ;)

Re: How do you fix hairline cracks in gelcoat
 

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

Re: How do you fix hairline cracks in gelcoat
 

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

Re: How do you fix hairline cracks in gelcoat
 

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.

Re: How do you fix hairline cracks in gelcoat
 

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.

Re: How do you fix hairline cracks in gelcoat
 

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 * >:(

Re: How do you fix hairline cracks in gelcoat
 

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 * >:(

Re: How do you fix hairline cracks in gelcoat
 

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

Re: How do you fix hairline cracks in gelcoat
 

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

Re: How do you fix hairline cracks in gelcoat
 

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

Re: How do you fix hairline cracks in gelcoat
 

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

Re: How do you fix hairline cracks in gelcoat
 

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.

Re: How do you fix hairline cracks in gelcoat
 

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.

Re: How do you fix hairline cracks in gelcoat
 

Randleman, I have the West marine fiberglass book:

http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g1...rglassbook.jpg

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

Re: How do you fix hairline cracks in gelcoat
 

Randleman, I have the West marine fiberglass book:

http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g1...rglassbook.jpg

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

Re: How do you fix hairline cracks in gelcoat
 

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/...8439189;start=

Re: How do you fix hairline cracks in gelcoat
 

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/...8439189;start=

Re: How do you fix hairline cracks in gelcoat
 

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


Thanks for the help guys.

Re: How do you fix hairline cracks in gelcoat
 

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


Thanks for the help guys.

Re: How do you fix hairline cracks in gelcoat
 

Thanks ;D

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

Re: How do you fix hairline cracks in gelcoat
 

Thanks ;D

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

Re: How do you fix hairline cracks in gelcoat
 

Congrats!! CY

Re: How do you fix hairline cracks in gelcoat
 

Congrats!! CY

Re: How do you fix hairline cracks in gelcoat
 

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.

Re: How do you fix hairline cracks in gelcoat
 

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.

Re: How do you fix hairline cracks in gelcoat
 

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.

Re: How do you fix hairline cracks in gelcoat
 

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.

Re: How do you fix hairline cracks in gelcoat
 

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 ...

Re: How do you fix hairline cracks in gelcoat
 

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 ...