Stress cracks, spider cracks, and hairline cracks in the decks of older boats are, of course, not rare. Unless you can stop the flexing, youre wasting your time fixing the cracks. How to repair fiberglass on a boat the family handyman. Fiberglass is used in innumerable consumer and industrial products from airplanes and automobiles to showers and insulation.
Stress cracks can be identified as longer parallel surface cracks on the hull or deck. Any crack that goes deeper than the gelcoat definitely. Ever wanted to fix a crack or hole in a fibreglass boat. Fiberglass and 90 degrees do not fare well together. Small cracks forming, especially at the surface of the fiberglass. To diagnose spider cracks, inspect your boat and look for the following. Dear boat doctor, id like to start sailing my older mfg pintail daysailer. Weve put together an easy to follow guide specifically aimed at those new to fibreglass. Easy ways to repair cracked fiberglass with pictures wikihow. Hes taken an old bertram moppie powerboat epic yacht, if you ask. Hull repair is fairly easy for someone who owns a small fiberglass boat of their own. Question repairing a brokencracked fiberglass hull sailboats. The fiberglass can take a lot of that flexing and twisting, but the gel coat is so brittle it sort of wants to just, well, snap. Blow out the dust from the repair area and blot it clean with acetone.
These fiberglass cracks can be purely cosmetic, or can severely degrade the boat s ability to stay afloat. Repairing a fibreglass crack doesnt have to be daunting. How to fix a crack or hole in a fibreglass boat the new. Apr 06, 2020 one of the best qualities of a fiberglass boat is how easy it is to repair. If you dont do this, new cracks will most likely appear, probably not too long after youve just finished fixing the old ones. Feb 17, 2020 to fix fiberglass that has cracked, you must first assess the extent of the damage and then prepare the surface. How to repair deep cracks in fiberglass boats youtube.
May 17, 2015 hey guys, i have a 96 champion 191 boat. Glass reinforced plastic grp, known as fiberglass or glass wool, is thin fibers of polymer plastic woven together with strands of glass. Ill be taking the boat out of the water after each use, and storing inside. How to repair boat transom fiberglass supply depot. If the fiberglass skin is in good condition, it is usually reused and glued back in place over the new core. Will that work or do i need to sand more and do a fiberglass patch. The first said they didnt work on hulls or offer any repair kits. Discussion in fiberglass and composite boat building started by grady, jul 24. Repairing hairline fiberglass deck cracks sailboat. 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.
Using highbuild primer to repair fiberglass crazing. Congrats, your fiberglass boat hull repair is done and its time to get back on the water. Debris in the water and loading and unloading from trailers can contribute to the collection of dings and dents that mar your boat s finish. Gelcoat is a fiberglass resin that has had a pigment added to it. Jun 25, 2018 step 2 then toughen the laminate that contains the crack or cracks by solidifying it, either by thickening with more fiberglass, replacing coring materials, or adding structure. The second said they could order one for use, but added if we didnt want to wait, just about any fiberglass repair kit would work. I was always under the impression from fiberglass kayak experience that hairline cracks didnt really pose a problem. With time, it is possible that gelcoat can become cracked, simply through wear and tear or a specific incidence of damage. Fixing fiberglass cracks keeping fiberglass solid june 6, 2016 in rv counsel by hamiltons rv crack is whack, especially when its in your rvs fiberglass. Stress cracks first appear as very fine hairline cracks. Crazing is an incredibly common issue on modern fiberglass boats. While a damaged wood boat requires expensive and intricate work, a fiberglass one can usually be repaired with just a few materials, even by people with only basic knowledge and skills. Over time, the cracks get larger and the structure may begin to delaminate.
Youll save a ton of money if youre patient and use the proper tools. This resin can be used as a protective surface over the top of fiberglass, or simply as a finish, much like you might varnish a piece of outdoor furniture. Im very tempted to sand it a tiny bit and try to just put some resin over to seal it. Repairing hundreds of fiberglass cracks to get ready for spraying awlgrip paint. Repairing fiberglass powerboat transoms epoxyworks. Also, mask off any adjacent areas or items to protect them from inadvertently applied gelcoat or errant sanding. Rotted core and fiberglass repair with new honeycomb core. 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. Repairing hundreds of fiberglass cracks to get ready for.
One of the best qualities of a fiberglass boat is how easy it is to repair. Carefully mask around the edges of the fiberglass boat repair area with twoinchwide 3m scotchblue multisurface painters tape no. Epoxy is a little better, but if it cracked the first time due to stress even with glass in it, then neither one alone will be the right solution. Step 2 then toughen the laminate that contains the crack or cracks by solidifying it, either by thickening with more fiberglass, replacing coring materials, or adding structure. Any crack that goes deeper than the gelcoat definitely needs attention. How to repair spider cracks in fiberglass boatlife. 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. The boat is complete but it has a couple cracks in the hull. While fiberglass boat repair may sound scary and expensive, small and moderate gouges in your hull dont have to be a nightmare.
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. A repair pro shows you how to make invisible fixes for scuffs, dents and scratches in fiberglass boats and other fiberglass items. Apr 26, 2018 repairing a fibreglass crack doesnt have to be daunting. Small cracks form in the outer surface of the fiberglass, spreading out from a central point like a spiderweb.
Spider cracks are a form of fiberglass damage that occurs from minor flexing or impacts. Check out our new website its pretty flippin awesome. Give yourself a 16th of an inch of unmasked margin around the scratch, gouge or hole. Fixing fiberglass stress cracks with andy from boatworks today boat maintenance and repair expert and master youtuber, andy miller, is busy in his wisconsin shop this winter. Easy ways to repair cracked fiberglass with pictures. Jun 06, 2016 fixing fiberglass cracks keeping fiberglass solid june 6, 2016 in rv counsel by hamiltons rv crack is whack, especially when its in your rvs fiberglass. That is unless you use a spray in bed liner materail but, that will just kill the boat appeal for resale.
Stress cracks in fiberglass bass boats, canoes, kayaks and. Most common location for these to occur is on corners and radiuss where the layup of fiberglass is typically thinner, and the amount of resin is usually more than what it should be. How to repair gelcoat, fiberglass boat repair boating magazine. They are common in areas with tight turns or near the place where the coring ends and becomes all fiberglass. Stress cracks can help us understand what caused the damage. One of the projects that every restorer of an old corvette eventually has to tackle is a crack in the fiberglass. Go at it with an electric grinder or very coarse sandpaper. Youll need the right tools and materialsand lots of patience. The cost of a fiberglass repair on your boat will greatly depend on the level of damage, the materials being used with the repair, where you live and the professional you choose. All inside corners of transom should have a round fillet. Learn how to remove gelcoat by following a few simple steps. This damage is often caused by slight flexing of the hull. I was thinking auto body filler unless you guys can recommend something better.
Repairing hairline fiberglass deck cracks sailboat owners. Magicezy has developed a range of worldfirst gelcoat repair products that repair and color damage in seconds. Most of us know that fiberglass has a very limited ability to bend instead it cracks when overstressed. These hairline fractures also occur in boats of the mid 1970s vintage which often had thicker gelcoat layers than newer boats.
The hull has a few splits and cracks in the fiberglass inside that i am trying to fix but have no clue what to use on it. I have not had the boat for a while, i got it through a trade. The resin is cracked and you can feel the fiberglass rough edges. In this short video i take a minute to fix up an old bad repair. If they really need to be fixed to keep the boat from absorbing water, can i just sand the whole thing and roll a layer of epoxy over everything. This type of repair is necessary if you run aground, run into a rock, or have some of crack caused by age and use. This instructable comes from a recent project i have been working on that involves fixing up an old fiberglass travel trailer. In the remodeling of this trailer, i was left with many small holes from antiquated peripherals on the sides of the trai. Plan on using a variety of sanding tools if you are dealing with a repair that bridges both a flat.
Best method to repair stress cracks boat design net. There are many ways to repair cracks in fiberglass which ones the best. One of the things that the basic boat owner should have some knowledge about is boat hull repair. They may indicate whether something inside the boat has broken loose and. After filling the gap, using the same putty, you will make a fillet all around the joint between the core and the hull. When that happens, the gelcoat cant flex with the fiberglass, it just cracks. Roughen the surface in and around the chip or dent with 80grit sandpaper to give the gelcoat a rough surface to adhere to. Even the best boat captain has had a docking turn into a scuffandchip event. Stress cracks in fiberglass bass boats, canoes, kayaks. The reference material i found on the boat says that it has a weight of about 550 lbs overall. Then applying 3 or 4 layers of fiberglass to repair. How to repair a fiberglass boat hull from the outside.
How to fix a hole on a fiberglass boat complete diy guide. 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. These fiberglass cracks can be purely cosmetic, or can severely degrade the boats ability to stay afloat. 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. 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 hairline cracks and how to do repair gelcoat. How to repair a fibreglass crack for beginners youtube. I am a neophyte to fiberglass repair and unsure of the strength. There is a fiberglass repair kit on amazon called west system 105k fiberglass boat repair kit that is great for repairing cracks. Repairing hairline cracks and how to do repair gelcoat magicezy. When used in a finished product, fiberglass is mixed with a bonding material such as epoxy or thermoplastic, in order to shape it and strengthen it. Gelcoat tends to be stiff and brittle and fiberglass a bit more flexible. Hi sailingjunkie, thanks for replying while the crack is thin i am not sure i would call it hairline, please check the attached pics. Although fiberglass can be considered as a sturdy type of material, cracks cannot be avoided due to the constant stress a boat can encounter on sea.
For this reason, fiberglass repairs rely upon the adhesive quality of their resin. 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. They can occur in any form of fiberglass, including cars, boats and swimming pools. Cracks spreading out from the center, much as you would see in a spider web. Chips and dents in the shiny hull of your fiberglass boat will happen. How to fix spider cracks in fiberglass it still runs. Every year, maintenance costs can set back hundreds of dollars on a boat owners wallet.
Im trying to find the cheapest, but most reliable way to fix it. Fixing fiberglass stress cracks on a bertram moppie powerboat. If you want them gone, take the time to do the job right and do the boat justice. Hes taken an old bertram moppie powerboat epic yacht, if you ask me and many others and is redoing someone elses restoration. Sometimes, theyre merely cosmetic, meaning they dont penetrate the gelcoat. Grind out all the cracks in the gelcoat, regelcoat and put a new nonskid in. Read how to repair fiberglass and see pictures as resin is catalyzed, mat is layered, and resin is applied and rolled, to repair a crack and hole, inside street. Dec 28, 2018 fixing fiberglass stress cracks with andy from boatworks today boat maintenance and repair expert and master youtuber, andy miller, is busy in his wisconsin shop this winter. All about fiberglass boat stress cracks fiberglass boat repair. Most boat owners know that doing fiberglass boat repairs is a nightmare. Repairing a brokencracked fiberglass hull rc groups. But hell show you how to save a ton of money on boat fiberglass repair and make your boat look like new with some fiberglass boat repair tips. Polyester resin has little strength on its own, so just filling the cracks with resin wont do much. This show covers how to repair fiberglass stress cracks on your boat using polyester resin.
How to repair spider cracks on your fiberglass boat. Spider cracks are nonstructural damage to the gelcoat of a boat. A fillet is a radius of putty that allows fiberglass to make a turn around an angle. 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. The cuts made in the fiberglass skin to gain access are repaired with multiple layers of fiberglass cloth and epoxy. Fiberglass and gelcoat have different flexing characteristics. Once youre sure youre dealing with these types of cracks in the outer gel coat of the fiberglass, your fix can be. Otherwise clean them out, polish up the boat as best you can and live with them.
The good new is that you can fix minor damage without having to redo the entire boat from stem to. Since the cracks are all the way through, the first step is to grind the broken fiberglass back into solid unbroken material. These scars of a life welllived are unsightly, but usually are just cosmetic. Learn how to fix stress cracks, dock dings and other fiberglass injuries. By removing all of the damaged material and exposing solid fiberglass you will be able to effectively add epoxy resin and sheets of additional fiberglass to repair the area. Over time, the gelcoat can fade, oxidize and become pitted and dented. Caveat aside, when the fiberglass repair instructions in this article are well executed, strong repairs will result whether you are doing professional composites repair or diy fiberglass repairs. The boat is in pretty good condition for its age in my opinion, but the hull does have some minor hairline stress cracks. If your fiberglass repair is not too big, you can get away with buying a repair kit to fix the problem yourself. Corvette bodies are made entirely of fairly thin fiberglass, and the sensuous curves of our cars are what gives the bodywork some crosssection to. Previous episodes go over other types of fiberglass. And almost every fiberglass boat, even the most mollycoddled, eventually suffers the heartbreak of spiderweb andor stress cracks.
Hes fixed booboos on fiberglass personal watercraft, snowmobiles and pickup toppers, and even luxury yachts. All about fiberglass boat stress cracks fiberglass boat. If the surface of your boat looks like a cracked eggshell, the gelcoat is suffering from crazing sometimes called alligatoring. Listening to that advice would have been a big mistake because your typical fiberglass repair kit wont work on smc. The gelcoat seals the fiberglass and can be left alone or painted over. As im getting into working on my first boat, this video helped tremendously. Oct 11, 2017 check out our new fiberglass guide here. When the boat flexes and twists, the fiberglass flexes and twists and so does the gel coat. If you dont do this, new cracks will most likely appear, probably not.
Home boat design forums construction boatbuilding fiberglass and composite boat building best method to repair stress cracks. Discovering fiberglass cracks on a boat is every boat owners nightmare. To fix fiberglass that has cracked, you must first assess the extent of the damage and then prepare the surface. Also, older fiberglass boats tend to have a thicker application of gelcoat which means they are more susceptible to cracking. How to repair deep cracks in fiberglass boats with the new west system fiberglass boat repair kit. Generally, manufacturers instructions are more specific and will not contradict the standard repair procedures outlined here. Gelcoat oxidation can sometimes be repaired, but if the damage is extensive the gelcoat must be removed.
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