Fiberglass boat hull repair sounds complicatedand it can be for firsttime boat owners. Sometimes, theyre merely cosmetic, meaning they dont penetrate the gelcoat. Hairline cracks in fiberglass hull my friend, mine has the 200hp straight six, what a sound when that thing is running. The most horrifying hole in a fiberglass hull is quickly healed with a bit of glass fabric, a supply of resin, and equal parts skill and care. Clear the area of any remaining debris, clean it out, allow it to dry, and sand down the affected area for a smoother application later on. This thicker gelcoat cannot stand any flexing without showing cracks. Although the structural members of the hull are designed to accommodate for these stresses by flexing, the skin of a fiberglass boat is rigid and responds to these forces and effects by developing weak spots where the fiberglass attempts to stretch.
Cracks appear in fiberglass boat hulls in areas of abnormally high flexing. Jul 05, 2017 hole in the hull we discovered a crack sailing sv catsaway ep. Working with a fiberglass, or even a wooden hull, you will need to start by cleaning out the crack and affected area. The time required for this job will obviously vary quite a bit depending on the number of cracks and how widespread they are, but should take no more than three hours per square foot of repair area. Before you decide to repair your own boat hull, you may want to do a reality check. Stress cracks, spider cracks, and hairline cracks in the decks of older boats are, of course, not rare. How to repair spider cracks on your fiberglass boat. This damage is often caused by slight flexing of the hull. How to fix a hole on a fiberglass boat complete diy guide. How to repair deep cracks in fiberglass boats youtube. It looks like the repair was insufficient because there is a hairline crack in the bottom of the hull under the port exhaust tube and the stringer to transom joint has a gap and the glasswork over the stringer leaked. Congrats, your fiberglass boat hull repair is done and its time to get back on the water.
How to repair deep cracks in fiberglass boats with the new west system fiberglass boat repair kit. Hole in the hull we discovered a crack sailing sv catsaway ep. In this section we will provide guidelines for cosmetic composite repairs, including fiberglass crack repair, fiberglass gel coat repair, and composite repair finishing. This manual provides repair and maintenance solutions to many of the problems that afflict fiberglass boats. Stringer to transom and hairline hull crack repair boat. How to repair a fiberglass boat hull from the outside.
How to repair a fibreglass crack for beginners youtube. The other repair for spider cracks involves a little more work. Apr 06, 2020 one of the best qualities of a fiberglass boat is how easy it is to repair. First, the hull may have been overloaded, or caused to bear a load in an unintended area. This type of repair is necessary if you run aground, run into a rock, or have some of crack caused by age and use. Easy ways to repair cracked fiberglass with pictures wikihow. 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. Repairing a fibreglass crack doesnt have to be daunting. How to patch a fiberglass hull patching a hole in a fiberglass hull is fairly easy. Apr 26, 2018 repairing a fibreglass crack doesnt have to be daunting. Can you give me some tips on how to make this repair. Apr 12, 20 depending on how deep the crack is you could gt away with just a gel coat repair worst case scenario you might need to grind the gel around the crack about 4 all the way around and apply a layer off glass to stiffen the structure because you will have a weak spot where the crack is and then sand it down then gel coat over it, this is depending if it has cracked the glassfibre aswell. These fiberglass cracks can be purely cosmetic, or can severely degrade the boats ability to stay afloat.
When we surveyed the boat, we noticed slight recession of the hull, but no crack. These hairline fractures also occur in boats of the mid 1970s vintage which often had thicker gelcoat layers than newer boats. Painting supplies free delivery possible on eligible purchases. With the right tools and skills, you can find a leak and fix it before it becomes a problem. It can be difficult to diagnose spider cracks, especially when youre not aware of them. When the area is dry, smooth the surface with sandpaper. Jun 22, 2019 as a 2cycle standup jet skier, i am embarrassed to say that before i met my wife, a jet skier ran into the stern of her ski boat. Another great quality of a fiberglass boat is that, once repaired, it looks as good. This can range from small defects that need a little.
You may want to apply colored gelcoat enamel over the repaired area, so the repair wont be so noticeable. How to repair soft spots in fiberglass on a boat gone. These scars of a life welllived are unsightly, but usually are just cosmetic. The first said they didnt work on hulls or offer any repair kits. I am waiting till i pick up another boat to put the engine and od in. The cracks go all the way through the hull and are about 2 feet long. These fiberglass cracks can be purely cosmetic, or can severely degrade the boat s ability to stay afloat.
Youll save a ton of money if youre patient and use the proper tools. There are many ways to repair cracks in fiberglass which ones the best. Is your boat an ocean vessel that is going to be put under a lot of stress. Hole in the hull we discovered a crack sailing sv catsaway. However, the repairability of fiberglass is one of its best characteristics. If you answered yes to these questions, you may want to save this project until you have a lot more experience with fiberglass repair. The boat is complete but it has a couple cracks in the hull. Repairing hairline cracks and how to do repair gelcoat. While fiberglass boat repair may sound scary and expensive, small and moderate gouges in your hull dont have to be a nightmare. Feb 09, 2012 how to repair deep cracks in fiberglass boats with the new west system fiberglass boat repair kit. Generally, repair of minor damage is within the mechanical aptitude of most skippers. Weve put together an easy to follow guide specifically aimed at those new to fibreglass. Since these cracks often form from small impacts or minor flexing, they can appear just about anywhere on your boat.
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. 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. Additionally many times if it is a stress crack in the fiberglass itself, sometimes this happens over the core materials of certain areas of the boat. Listening to that advice would have been a big mistake because your typical fiberglass repair kit wont work on smc. 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. There are many ways to repair cracks in fiberglasswhich ones the best. How to repair fiberglass on a boat the family handyman.
Most of us know that fiberglass has a very limited ability to bend instead it cracks when overstressed. Hull repair is fairly easy for someone who owns a small fiberglass boat of their own. All about fiberglass boat stress cracks fiberglass boat repair. Its an older boat and i am not greatly concerned with cosmetics, i just want a solid hull. 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. While equipment is important, proper material selection is the key to positive results.
Repairing hundreds of fiberglass cracks to get ready for spraying awlgrip paint. But you dont have to pay astronomical marina fees to get your. How to repair a badly damaged fibreglass boat youtube. 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. A repair pro shows you how to make invisible fixes for scuffs, dents and scratches in fiberglass boats and other fiberglass items. Core materials wood structure, right under the deck, floorboards and walkways are right under that fiberglass. How to repair spider cracks in fiberglass boatlife. This can range from small defects that need a little patching up to major damage that affects the overall shape of the surface. Try not to remove any of the fiberglass resin or cloth. Even the best boat captain has had a docking turn into a scuffandchip event. Fill the crack with a fair amount of fiberglass epoxy resin, using a plastic applicator. Start by wiping down the area with acetone and sanding the damaged gelcoat down to the fiberglass. Heres everything youll need to know to repair these cracks. 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.