Fixing fiberglass boat cracks in fiberglass

Learn how to fix stress cracks, dock dings and other fiberglass injuries. Plan on using a variety of sanding tools if you are dealing with a repair that bridges both a flat. Stress cracks, spider cracks, and hairline cracks in the decks of older boats are, of course, not rare. Using highbuild primer to repair fiberglass crazing. If you dont do this, new cracks will most likely appear, probably not. 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. Youll save a ton of money if youre patient and use the proper tools. Spider cracks are a form of fiberglass damage that occurs from minor flexing or impacts. 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. Also, mask off any adjacent areas or items to protect them from inadvertently applied gelcoat or errant sanding. Since the cracks are all the way through, the first step is to grind the broken fiberglass back into solid unbroken material. Oct 11, 2017 check out our new fiberglass guide here.

Discovering fiberglass cracks on a boat is every boat owners nightmare. There are many ways to repair cracks in fiberglass which ones the best. Stress cracks can be identified as longer parallel surface cracks on the hull or deck. May 17, 2015 hey guys, i have a 96 champion 191 boat. 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. How to repair spider cracks in fiberglass boatlife.

Hes taken an old bertram moppie powerboat epic yacht, if you ask me and many others and is redoing someone elses restoration. I have not had the boat for a while, i got it through a trade. Generally, manufacturers instructions are more specific and will not contradict the standard repair procedures outlined here. One of the best qualities of a fiberglass boat is how easy it is to repair. They are common in areas with tight turns or near the place where the coring ends and becomes all fiberglass. Hull repair is fairly easy for someone who owns a small fiberglass boat of their own. Listening to that advice would have been a big mistake because your typical fiberglass repair kit wont work on smc. Repairing hairline fiberglass deck cracks sailboat owners. 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. 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. How to fix spider cracks in fiberglass it still runs. As im getting into working on my first boat, this video helped tremendously.

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. 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. 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. 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. How to repair boat transom fiberglass supply depot. Hi sailingjunkie, thanks for replying while the crack is thin i am not sure i would call it hairline, please check the attached pics. 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. How to fix a hole on a fiberglass boat complete diy guide. If you dont do this, new cracks will most likely appear, probably not too long after youve just finished fixing the old ones. Will that work or do i need to sand more and do a fiberglass patch. Go at it with an electric grinder or very coarse sandpaper. 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.

They may indicate whether something inside the boat has broken loose and. To diagnose spider cracks, inspect your boat and look for the following. Cracks spreading out from the center, much as you would see in a spider web. Stress cracks in fiberglass bass boats, canoes, kayaks and. Fiberglass and 90 degrees do not fare well together. After filling the gap, using the same putty, you will make a fillet all around the joint between the core and the hull. Gelcoat oxidation can sometimes be repaired, but if the damage is extensive the gelcoat must be removed. Im trying to find the cheapest, but most reliable way to fix it. Easy ways to repair cracked fiberglass with pictures wikihow. Stress cracks can help us understand what caused the damage. 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. In this short video i take a minute to fix up an old bad repair.

Small cracks form in the outer surface of the fiberglass, spreading out from a central point like a spiderweb. Check out our new website its pretty flippin awesome. Previous episodes go over other types of fiberglass. Best method to repair stress cracks boat design net. 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. Magicezy has developed a range of worldfirst gelcoat repair products that repair and color damage in seconds. How to repair spider cracks on your fiberglass boat. Also, older fiberglass boats tend to have a thicker application of gelcoat which means they are more susceptible to cracking. Corvette bodies are made entirely of fairly thin fiberglass, and the sensuous curves of our cars are what gives the bodywork some crosssection to. While fiberglass boat repair may sound scary and expensive, small and moderate gouges in your hull dont have to be a nightmare. Rotted core and fiberglass repair with new honeycomb core.

Repairing hundreds of fiberglass cracks to get ready for spraying awlgrip paint. Any crack that goes deeper than the gelcoat definitely needs attention. 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. For this reason, fiberglass repairs rely upon the adhesive quality of their resin. Repairing a brokencracked fiberglass hull rc groups. Feb 17, 2020 to fix fiberglass that has cracked, you must first assess the extent of the damage and then prepare the surface. The good new is that you can fix minor damage without having to redo the entire boat from stem to. Aim for a 12to1 taper on the fiberglass, so for the thickness of your hull, this is 2 to 3 inches past the repair. How to repair a fiberglass boat hull from the outside. Repairing fiberglass powerboat transoms epoxyworks. Repairing hairline cracks and how to do repair gelcoat.

Im very tempted to sand it a tiny bit and try to just put some resin over to seal it. Give yourself a 16th of an inch of unmasked margin around the scratch, gouge or hole. Small cracks forming, especially at the surface of the fiberglass. 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. Ill be taking the boat out of the water after each use, and storing inside. Any crack that goes deeper than the gelcoat definitely.

How to repair fiberglass on a boat the family handyman. Blow out the dust from the repair area and blot it clean with acetone. Glass reinforced plastic grp, known as fiberglass or glass wool, is thin fibers of polymer plastic woven together with strands of glass. Learn how to remove gelcoat by following a few simple steps. How to fix a crack or hole in a fibreglass boat the new. Unless you can stop the flexing, youre wasting your time fixing the cracks. Weve put together an easy to follow guide specifically aimed at those new to fibreglass. Repairing a fibreglass crack doesnt have to be daunting.

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. Most of us know that fiberglass has a very limited ability to bend instead it cracks when overstressed. If the fiberglass skin is in good condition, it is usually reused and glued back in place over the new core. All about fiberglass boat stress cracks fiberglass boat repair.

Apr 26, 2018 repairing a fibreglass crack doesnt have to be daunting. 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. I was thinking auto body filler unless you guys can recommend something better. I was always under the impression from fiberglass kayak experience that hairline cracks didnt really pose a problem. The resin is cracked and you can feel the fiberglass rough edges. This damage is often caused by slight flexing of the hull. Discussion in fiberglass and composite boat building started by grady, jul 24. Congrats, your fiberglass boat hull repair is done and its time to get back on the water. 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. These hairline fractures also occur in boats of the mid 1970s vintage which often had thicker gelcoat layers than newer boats. When that happens, the gelcoat cant flex with the fiberglass, it just cracks. In the remodeling of this trailer, i was left with many small holes from antiquated peripherals on the sides of the trai. How to repair gelcoat, fiberglass boat repair boating magazine.

They can occur in any form of fiberglass, including cars, boats and swimming pools. One of the things that the basic boat owner should have some knowledge about is boat hull repair. Over time, the cracks get larger and the structure may begin to delaminate. Polyester resin has little strength on its own, so just filling the cracks with resin wont do much. If you want them gone, take the time to do the job right and do the boat justice. 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.

A fillet is a radius of putty that allows fiberglass to make a turn around an angle. These fiberglass cracks can be purely cosmetic, or can severely degrade the boats ability to stay afloat. Repairing hairline fiberglass deck cracks sailboat. Sometimes, theyre merely cosmetic, meaning they dont penetrate the gelcoat. Home boat design forums construction boatbuilding fiberglass and composite boat building best method to repair stress cracks. 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.

Hes fixed booboos on fiberglass personal watercraft, snowmobiles and pickup toppers, and even luxury yachts. Ever wanted to fix a crack or hole in a fibreglass boat. When the boat flexes and twists, the fiberglass flexes and twists and so does the gel coat. Chips and dents in the shiny hull of your fiberglass boat will happen.

Once youre sure youre dealing with these types of cracks in the outer gel coat of the fiberglass, your fix can be. If the surface of your boat looks like a cracked eggshell, the gelcoat is suffering from crazing sometimes called alligatoring. Question repairing a brokencracked fiberglass hull sailboats. How to repair deep cracks in fiberglass boats youtube. Gelcoat is a fiberglass resin that has had a pigment added to it. Most boat owners know that doing fiberglass boat repairs is a nightmare. With time, it is possible that gelcoat can become cracked, simply through wear and tear or a specific incidence of damage.

Apr 06, 2020 one of the best qualities of a fiberglass boat is how easy it is to repair. These scars of a life welllived are unsightly, but usually are just cosmetic. 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. 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. The gelcoat seals the fiberglass and can be left alone or painted over. Repairing hairline cracks and how to do repair gelcoat magicezy. The boat is complete but it has a couple cracks in the hull. 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 in fiberglass bass boats, canoes, kayaks. How to repair deep cracks in fiberglass boats with the new west system fiberglass boat repair kit. Fixing fiberglass stress cracks on a bertram moppie powerboat. 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. Fiberglass is used in innumerable consumer and industrial products from airplanes and automobiles to showers and insulation.

All about fiberglass boat stress cracks fiberglass boat. 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. A repair pro shows you how to make invisible fixes for scuffs, dents and scratches in fiberglass boats and other fiberglass items. The first said they didnt work on hulls or offer any repair kits. Over time, the gelcoat can fade, oxidize and become pitted and dented. The reference material i found on the boat says that it has a weight of about 550 lbs overall.

Every year, maintenance costs can set back hundreds of dollars on a boat owners wallet. These fiberglass cracks can be purely cosmetic, or can severely degrade the boat s ability to stay afloat. The boat is in pretty good condition for its age in my opinion, but the hull does have some minor hairline stress cracks. Dear boat doctor, id like to start sailing my older mfg pintail daysailer. How to repair a fibreglass crack for beginners youtube.

If your fiberglass repair is not too big, you can get away with buying a repair kit to fix the problem yourself. Fiberglass and gelcoat have different flexing characteristics. All inside corners of transom should have a round fillet. There is a fiberglass repair kit on amazon called west system 105k fiberglass boat repair kit that is great for repairing cracks. And almost every fiberglass boat, even the most mollycoddled, eventually suffers the heartbreak of spiderweb andor stress cracks. Stress cracks first appear as very fine hairline cracks. 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. Carefully mask around the edges of the fiberglass boat repair area with twoinchwide 3m scotchblue multisurface painters tape no.

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. This show covers how to repair fiberglass stress cracks on your boat using polyester resin. Repairing hundreds of fiberglass cracks to get ready for. Crazing is an incredibly common issue on modern fiberglass boats. Roughen the surface in and around the chip or dent with 80grit sandpaper to give the gelcoat a rough surface to adhere to.

Grind out all the cracks in the gelcoat, regelcoat and put a new nonskid in. This instructable comes from a recent project i have been working on that involves fixing up an old fiberglass travel trailer. Hes taken an old bertram moppie powerboat epic yacht, if you ask. 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. Then applying 3 or 4 layers of fiberglass to repair. 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. Otherwise clean them out, polish up the boat as best you can and live with them.

The cuts made in the fiberglass skin to gain access are repaired with multiple layers of fiberglass cloth and epoxy. To fix fiberglass that has cracked, you must first assess the extent of the damage and then prepare the surface. I am a neophyte to fiberglass repair and unsure of the strength. One of the projects that every restorer of an old corvette eventually has to tackle is a crack in the fiberglass. That is unless you use a spray in bed liner materail but, that will just kill the boat appeal for resale. Easy ways to repair cracked fiberglass with pictures. Youll need the right tools and materialsand lots of patience. Gelcoat tends to be stiff and brittle and fiberglass a bit more flexible. 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.