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