Ive done it many times, in all colors, and the results were always fantastic. Webbing solution additive merritt supply wholesale. Also there is a hole in front where it looks like it hit or rubbed something for a long time. I have read a lot on the forums about redoing this.
Taken from the sherwinwilliams automotive paint troubleshooting guide pdf, page 19. Looking to purchase a 2004 holiday rambler with dark blue full body paint. Hairline spider cracks must be opened wider and filled with an epoxy filler to be permanently repaired. It was not been taken care of very well and has spider web like microcracks and is very faded. Prime and paint the fiberglass to match the surrounding surface if needed. Hairline cracks in gelcoat are not symbolic of structure problems. I have repaired two holes with west systems epoxy and plan to paint with interlux brightsides linear polyurethane. Heres an easy way to fix and color stress cracks in seconds and its so tough it comes with a 3 year durability guarantee. Epoxy paint bonds well to fiberglass and wears well, becoming thin over time.
This is usually evidenced by a concentric ring pattern as opposed to random crisscross spider webbing. When i look at the sidewalls really close and in the right sunlight, i can see a bunch of small little like spider web cracks. I have an old hull, maybe 1012 years old, its gelcoatfiberglass hand laid build, and has bee basically sitting out in the full sun upside down in the backyard rain and shine for 6 years in my posession. Does anyone know a way these can be filled and look close to new again without much expense. Hi guys, i just looked at a fully restored 20 bertram yesterday and the boat was having the bottom redone. A fiberglass boat can be repaired to its original state with fiberglass fabric, a lot of skilled work, and some resin. Is it just inevitable that youll eventually get small spider cracks in the gelcoat around ram mounting points due to the weight of todays electronics and the flex youll get in. Painting a fiberglass pool can be a great diy pool restoration project. Spider cracks are a form of fiberglass damage that occurs from minor flexing or. The gel coat on the floor of the boat is covered with very tiny spider web cracks. Cracks spreading out from the center, much as you would see in a spider web.
Brush the gelcoat onto the fiberglass using short vertical strokes. Our painter has tried two fixes on test areas 1 compounding, sanding and repainting and 2 putting on a semigloss coat to fill the cracks and repainting with flat. How to prepare your boat for painting a gelcoat sail. How to repair hairline cracks in fiberglass magicezy. Repairing hundreds of fiberglass cracks to get ready for spraying awlgrip paint. Webbing solution gelcoat additive webbing solution is an additive to gel coat or paint that is used to create a surface with a spider web or spattered effect to it. In this case the cracks need to be examined closely, even chipped away at, to see if they extend through the gelcoats 0. After masking off the area with painters tape, use a paint brush to apply gel coat. Of fiberglass cracks to get ready for spraying awlgrip paint. Has your fiberglass pool has lost its original luster, is stained and dirty, or has spider cracks in the gelcoat. Flexural cracks result from near linear cracks which may fan out when the structure is secured in two locations in different planes. There is a bit of flex in the canoe hull where these showed up.
As it is more brittle than the laminate, when something stresses the laminate too much such as flexing or something hard hitting the deck it cracks to resemble a web pattern. From my understanding i can get by with the paint rather than applying a gel coat. Is there just some kind of paint that sticks to gelcoat that i. Stress cracks, spider cracks, and hairline cracks in the decks of older boats are, of course, not rare. This damage is often caused by slight flexing of the hull.
Spider webs on paint can be remedied with proper polishes and technique. I also noticed while starting to take off the 0 coats of bottom paint that the whole gelcoat below the waterline is covered with little tiny cracks, not blisters. The countertop itself is in great shape, so we would prefer repairing the sink rather than having to replace the whole onepiece unit. 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. Use a marine grade fiberglass resin, and be sure to keep it in a separate container until its ready to apply. Craft seahawk is developing spider web cracks in the. They can occur in any form of fiberglass, including cars, boats and swimming pools. There may be a structural issue in the sheet metal below the paint that results in cracking. Apply the gelcoat using a brush if youre covering a small area. I have a 35 year old corbin, gel coat cracks on the deck almost from the beginnng. I have several colors showing on the canoe paint, gel coat, and fiberglass, plus spider web cracks and scratches and it is somewhat hard to see when it is smooth.
I did some more research and it looks like the cracks arent in the fiberglass but in the gelcoat. Step 2 then toughen the laminate that contains the crack or cracks by solidifying it. I am not looking to do something that will last for years. My sc400 has spider web cracks in the paint on the front bumper were it seems that the bumper has bumped into something and flexed the paint so that it cracks in a spider web pattern. Also im painting to top because it is dull but it also has a lot of spider web type cracks in the gelcoat. We have this awesome boat that just cannot take enough of a beating, but.
Cracking checking, crazing, spitting, alligatoring, crowsfeet cracks or lines of various lengths and widths in the topcoat finish often resembling the cracking of dried mud. Repairing hundreds of fiberglass cracks to get ready for. Spider cracks are nonstructural damage to the gelcoat of a boat spider web cracks in gelcoat. This thicker gelcoat cannot stand any flexing without showing cracks. Under impact the fiberglass moves and the gel coat does not, hence the spider web cracks. In most cases this is true, however it is important to seal them correctly otherwise water may penetrate into. There are many ways to repair cracks in fiberglasswhich ones the best. We tried west marine gel coat scratch patch, and although very careful, the results werent really an improvement. 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. The spider web crack was just in the gelcoat, not in the fibergalss. Spider cracks are nonstructural damage to the gelcoat of a boat.
Know what the causes are and fix them,then finish off with repairing the gelcoat cracks and. On one wall, interestingly enough, the cracking surrounds every electrical outlet, door frame, vent, door stopper, etc. I have found that a cheap can of spray primer from walmart really helps with the imperfections. He said it is an easy fix and the way to prevent them is to use automotive paint has more flex. How to repair spiderweb cracks in fiberglass with gelcoat. To conceal the patched section so it blends with the surrounding sink surface, you may need to tint the porcelain compound before application, or paint over the epoxy adhesive after application. They blasted off the bottom paint to gelcoat and i noticed that the gel coat had spider cracks throughout the bottom. How to fix and repair fiberglass stress cracks youtube.
If you are trying to save money and are going to buff it your self make sure you have experience. Repairing hairline cracks and how to do repair gelcoat. I see these all over the motorhome but only if i look close and the sun is right. Craft seahawk is developing spider web cracks in the gelcoat. You can eliminate spiderwebs and oxidation with high speed buffing and sometimes it is necessary to wet sand the paint in order to restore the paint to the original lustre. I have an area where i have spider cracks in the fiberglass near the engine cover door.
They are the best resource i have found somebody w gelcoat background might tell you that gelcoat might fill the spider cracks. Step 3 now, once youve removed all hardware, toerails, and other paraphernalia. Spider cracks in paint lexus detailing and car care. The flexion results along the plane of each secure point. I would rather get it smooth glossy finish for better plaining. How to fix spider cracks in fiberglass it still runs. Small cracks form in the outer surface of the fiberglass, spreading out from a central point like a spiderweb. My prob is as i started to sand one of the holes i repaired with the orbital sander, there has appeared several other star shaped cracks in the gelcoat. Are spider cracks not usually just cracks in the gelcoat. Stress cracks, spider cracks, and hairline cracks in the decks of older boats. This crazing and cracking is different from the stress cracks that occur around stanchions, cleats and other deck hardware.
Step 1 figure out what caused the cracks to begin with. How to repair spider cracks on your fiberglass boat. My 68 islander has that spider web of little cracks all over the. Will epoxy primer penetrate crazing gelcoat moderated. Sometimes, theyre merely cosmetic, meaning they dont penetrate the gelcoat. Cracks due to flexion dont need to be near the latches. If you want to do it yourself and have applied paint to smaller boats in the past, either with a single part enamel or a twopart.
Once it is, make sure that the brush doesnt have any loose bristles. Step 4 as soon as the crack has been channeled out, wipe it clean. How to repair spider cracks in fiberglass boatlife. Chris craft seahawk is developing spider web cracks in the gelcoat. Sstv 1 dealing with spider cracksprepping and painting boat. I have a cultured marble sink and countertop in our bathroom, we have noticed a number of hairline cracks have appeared over the years, around the drain. My seadoo is about 10 years old and im getting some spider web type cracks in the footwells,, there not really like cracks, i mean there isnt any gap in them or anything,, and they are flush with the finish,, whats the deal with these. A excessive film thickness of the undercoat andor topcoat. Once youre sure youre dealing with these types of cracks in the outer gel coat of the fiberglass, your fix can be limited to the fiberglass exterior. To apply the gelcoat with a brush, dip the brush in the gelcoat so theres a liberal amount of gelcoat on it. Crazing in gelcoat, also known as spider cracks or stress cracks, plagues countless boaters. Cracking in an automotive paint job may occur in the clear coat over the paint or in the base color of the paint.
Not having ever used gelcoat but tons of experience with epoxy and wood boats, my bet is you are on target with epoxy to fair the boat before paint or gelcoat. Spider cracks are a form of fiberglass damage that occurs from minor flexing or impacts. 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. Avoid spreading the gelcoat too thin or youll get stroke marks. Magic fix for hairline cracks in gelcoat practical sailor. Can this be safely repainted and the cracks not come back through the.
Usually the cracks are there and only become apparent when polish or wax fills them in. Repairing hairline cracks and how to do repair gelcoat magicezy. Do i grind the stress lines back to the laminate then fill with epoxy 1978 thompson 18 spider cracks. Spider cracks in gelcoat moderated discussion areas. These hairline fractures also occur in boats of the mid 1970s vintage which often had thicker gelcoat layers than newer boats. The effect is dependent upon the air pressure of the spray gun that you use to apply itsetting the spray gun to 10 to 15 psi creates a spider web effect, air pressure between. I know gelcoat fixes are neither cheap or easy, so do i just leave it as a cosmetic issue i live with or are there other options. However, you can easily fix small or hairline cracks in porcelain sinks using repair compound, or cracks in ceramic sinks using epoxy adhesive. 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. It appears that the gelcoat was probably not waxed for many years and is beat by the sun and has some crazing and spider cracks. Heres one way to fix and repair fiberglass stress cracks we use dynaglass body filler on this repair to make it easy and simpler do do it yourself. If your boat is more than a few years old, youll probably be surprised at the number you find. They almost look like they originate from the center of a spider web.