Fiberglass repair stress cracks boat

Unless you can stop the flexing, youre wasting your time fixing the cracks. Finding the root cause of the damage can ensure that your repair holds up well for years. If structural damage is suspected, you should get your boat inspected by a qualified boat repairer. Magicezy hairline fix quickly and easily repairs gelcoat cracks on your boat without having to grind them out. Hairline cracks in fiberglass hull my friend, mine has the 200hp straight six, what a sound when that thing is running. Crazing in gelcoat, also known as spider cracks or stress cracks, plagues countless boaters. Fill the crack with a fair amount of fiberglass epoxy resin, using a plastic applicator. Fixing fiberglass stress cracks on a bertram moppie powerboat. Is your boat an ocean vessel that is going to be put under a lot of stress. This boat is 2 years old and to be honest i never expected to find something like this. How to repair deep cracks in fiberglass boats youtube. Heres an easy way to fix and color stress cracks in seconds and its so tough it comes with a 3 year durability guarantee. For this reason, fiberglass boat owners need to constantly monitor their boat for cracks.

Founded in 2017, qc fiberglass is a repair facility located in east texas near richland chambers lake. Tips with fiberglass and gelcoat repair methods by john. Jun 10, 2017 hairline spider cracks must be opened wider and filled with an epoxy filler to be permanently repaired. As gelcoat ages it can get hard and brittle, and it starts to crack near fittings and in high stress areas.

Finish resin is rarely used in boat hull repairs or boat building. Our satisfied clients and our years of experience in the restoration of gelcoat and fiberglass guarantee our work. Water damage, sun damage, storm damage, accidents, and daily wear and tear can all degrade your fiberglass boats exterior. Aug 15, 2018 and almost every fiberglass boat, even the most mollycoddled, eventually suffers the heartbreak of spiderweb andor stress cracks. There are many ways to repair cracks in fiberglasswhich ones the best. That thixo flex is so useful in wooden boatbuilding as well as with fiberglass repair. I am waiting till i pick up another boat to put the engine and od in. How to repair fiberglass on a boat the family handyman. Sometimes, theyre merely cosmetic, meaning they dont penetrate the gelcoat. Since these cracks often form from small impacts or minor flexing, they can appear just about anywhere on your boat. 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. Located in the village of hastings, ontario next to the trent canal. Repairing hairline cracks and how to do repair gelcoat.

Give us a call, were confident well exceed your fiberglass repair expectations. Magicezy hairline fix quickly and easily repairs gelcoat cracks on your boatwithout having to grind them out. First, remove all wax and grease from the work area by wiping down the area with acetone and a clean rag. Step 2 then toughen the laminate that contains the crack or cracks by solidifying it. A fiberglass boat that has had a collision is obvious why its broken, but its our years of experience that lets us determine why there was stringer failure or why there are stress cracks along the strakes, allowing us to properly repair and guarantee the job.

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. When the area is dry, smooth the surface with sandpaper. If the cracks are only in the surface gelcoat, and do not extend into the laminate itself, your problem is merely cosmetic and is easily resolved with sandpaper and paint. Magicezy hairline fix is a onepart, pretinted available in 10 colors sealant that allows you to complete the repair in seconds without having to grind out the. Jan 18, 2019 both boatbuilders are singing the praises of thixo flex in their current projects, while being used for very different applications. Stress cracks in fiberglass bass boats, canoes, kayaks.

All about fiberglass boat stress cracks fiberglass boat repair. Vibration and impact on the fiberglass can cause stress and fatigue. Before you decide to repair your own boat hull, you may want to do a reality check. Start by wiping down the area with acetone and sanding the damaged gelcoat down to the fiberglass. This will stop the crack from extending any further. Is your boat dulling in color or even worse, starting to chip or crack. We will evaluate the problem and recommend the best remedy to restore your boat to its original strength and appearance. 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. Best method to repair stress cracks boat design net. That thixo flex is so useful in wooden boatbuilding as well as with fiberglass repair, speaks to the versatility and dependability of this handy product.

If its a hairline crack, use an electric or hand held rotary blade to widen the crack just a bit. If the material is too thick it will shatter like window glass, it has no give or flexibility. Below is the recommended repair process for cracks that go deeper than the gelcoat, but dont cause a large, gaping hole or change the overall shape of the surface. Old boats restoration 26 super ideas boating is way more than a fun way to enjoy nature and the water. Its important to repair these issues quickly as minor stress cracks and dents can lead to more serious damage over time. Repairing fiberglass cracks repairing structural cracks involves several steps. This manual provides repair and maintenance solutions to many of the problems that afflict fiberglass boats. Our fiberglass and marine technicians will use the highest quality materials and utilize professional techniques to ensure a strong repair that is stateoftheart and safe in the harsh boating environment. Hairline spider cracks must be opened wider and filled with an epoxy filler to be permanently repaired. Our experienced technicians are skilled in fiberglass repair, gelcoat repair, and painting. Home boat design forums construction boatbuilding fiberglass and composite boat building best method to repair stress cracks discussion in fiberglass and composite boat building started by grady, jul 24, 2007. How to repair spider cracks on your fiberglass boat. 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 and gelcoat repair my clean boat lake ozark, mo. Try not to remove any of the fiberglass resin or cloth. Boat fiberglass lamination construction is a fine art between to thin and too thick. Hull showing cracks skeeter boats indepth outdoors. The ultimate fiberglass repair guide want to put your fiberglass repair knowledge to the test. The other repair for spider cracks involves a little more work. Stress cracks should always be dish ground and fiberglass laminated using 2 or 3 strips of biaxial cloth with matt sewed on the back.

At johns fiberglass we offer a wide variety of repairs that fit your budget. You may want to apply colored gelcoat enamel over the repaired area, so the repair wont be so noticeable. Stress cracks, spider cracks, and hairline cracks in the decks of older boats are, of course, not rare. Step 1 figure out what caused the cracks to begin with. Next, use a sander and coarse grit sandpaper to expose grind away the crack. I have a 2011 wx 1850 and when wiping it down last week i noticed the fiberglass showing stress cracks in the hull. Mar 12, 2015 when you stress or impact the surface of the boat stress cracks will show up, either in the weakest locations or the locations that are overbuilt. Jul 29, 20 i have a 2011 wx 1850 and when wiping it down last week i noticed the fiberglass showing stress cracks in the hull. This damage is often caused by slight flexing of the hull. Repairing hairline cracks and how to do repair gelcoat magicezy. Stress cracks can be identified as longer parallel surface cracks on the hull or deck. Fiberglass boat repair gainesville fiberglass repair.

These hairline fractures also occur in boats of the mid 1970s vintage which often had thicker gelcoat layers than newer boats. How to repair deep cracks in fiberglass boats with the new west system fiberglass boat repair kit. Tips with fiberglass and gelcoat repair methods by john gabriel. Most stress cracks occur in the gelcoat layer of fiberglass surfaces and can be repaired by yourself. Dfg covers everything fiberglass related from customized hatch to engine covers. 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. Magicezy hairline fix is a revolutionary precolored fiberglass and gelcoat repair product that fixes and colors fine stress cracks spider cracks, and hairline fractures fast in one application. Boatbuilding with thixo flex epoxy in a tube by totalboat. Gel coat stress cracks frequently and most cases are related to. All about fiberglass boat stress cracks fiberglass boat. Hairline fix is the easiest, most durable way to repair scratches, scrapes, stress cracks, spider fractures, and crazing in fiberglass and gelcoat surfaces.

The topic of gelcoat is often a mystifying subject for boat owners. Aside from the durable shiny luster gelcoat adds to any fiberglass boat, most owners know little more than wash and wax it frequently. Spider cracks are nonstructural damage to the gelcoat of a boat. How to repair spider cracks in fiberglass boatlife. These scars of a life welllived are unsightly, but usually are just cosmetic. Step 3 now, once youve removed all hardware, toerails, and other paraphernalia. Theyre not affecting the integrity of the boat, so dont stress out pun intended if you have a few. Step 4 as soon as the crack has been channeled out, wipe it clean.

I have not had the boat for a while, i got it through a trade. Even though weve been promoting the use of west system epoxy for repairing fiberglass boats boats made with polyester resin in our manuals and epoxyworks for many years, we continue to receive inquiries asking whether it is appropriate to use epoxy for polyester boat repair. 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. 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. If the area of gelcoat which has a stress crack right there, has fiberglass just under it, well, the hardened fiberglass will keep the water from just seeping into your boat. They may indicate whether something inside the boat has broken loose and caused the damage or if it was caused by something hitting the boat from the. Hes taken an old bertram moppie powerboat epic yacht, if you ask me and many others and is redoing someone elses restoration.

Make a boat build your own boat diy boat wooden boat kits wooden boat plans flat bottom boats boat restoration sailboat plans free boat plans a look at what is possible when removing rotten plywood board from the fiberglass transomstern. 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. If you are looking to do some diy gelcoat repairs, this brief primer will help achieve adequate repair. We do custom fiberglass restorations and repair for your boat. Now for the bad news, mt used some poor quality gelcoat during their production run, and i have seen 5 where the entire hull had the cracks. Stress cracks stress cracks are cracks in the gel coat of a boat that let you know there is undue stress on a particular area or a problem under the gel coat. Easy ways to repair cracked fiberglass with pictures wikihow.

How to fix spider cracks in fiberglass it still runs. If you answered yes to these questions, you may want to save this project until you have a lot more experience with fiberglass repair. It can be difficult to diagnose spider cracks, especially when youre not aware of them. Qc owner randy qualls has deep roots in fiberglass, having spent the last fifteen years as owner and president of legend boats. Stress cracks can help us understand what caused the damage. Fiberglass and structural repair starboard marine repair. The boat is in pretty good condition for its age in my opinion, but the hull does have some minor hairline stress cracks. On top of the stress cracks in the hull there are numerous other ones throughout the boat but this is the most alarming. Heres everything youll need to know to repair these cracks. One quick and easy way to repair gelcoat stress cracks yourself is by using magicezy hairline fix a purpose built diy repair solution for stress cracks in gelcoat and fiberglass. I have a 79 11ft whaler and it is covered in cracks in the gel coat, but none seem to be wide enough to tell me there is a problem.