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