Rayplex has a great web page that will give you all the information you need to get a good gel coat match. When finished you couldnt see where the repair was made. If you feel like giving this repair a go and have some experience with home. Magicezy 9 second chip fix fiberglass repair fills and colors.
Improper temperature and humidity can also cause problems in your gel coat. Im using it for an rv gel coat repair, and the color is noticeably different. For instint colors or if you have any questions about your color gel coat order, you can call 1. Gel coat repair kit fills in scratches and surface cracks on composite canoes or kayaks. You can carefully cover the repair area with plastic film, such as saran wrap, to prevent this tack. A miniature grinding tool like a dremel is ideal, but the sharp point of a can opener will work, too. Or you could use a universal repair kit from somewhere else. How to repair gelcoat, fiberglass boat repair boating magazine. 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. Experience with buffing post processing work, gel coat repair a plus. Its about the consistency of house paint, maybe a little thinner. Then the cracks can be repaired using the usual techniques for repairing gel coat surfaces. Wetsand the cured gelcoat with 320grit wetdry paper on a soft sanding block. Ive seen this problem occur on several black cars, including mc2hills truck, the black dodge ram that was detailed by daytonajae, mc2hill and myself and now this 99 accord.
Jun 06, 2016 when looking at cracks you may find that there are generally two different types. Most stress cracking is purely cosmetic, moisture is unlikely to penetrate to the laminate in the topsides and deck, and can easily be detected with a moisture meter. Take care that they are completely mixed together, otherwise the hardener and gel coat will not set properly, and you will be left with a sticky mess for weeks. These craze cracks usually develop on surfaces where the gel coat is heavy. For all your shower refinishing and repair needs, contact specialized refinishing at 9197479800. Most of the time they are just cracks in the finish and do not bother the structural integrity.
I dont think its practical to completely strip the gelcoat and lay new glass. If you paid with a credit card you can file a dispute with them. Color gel coat no return policy all color gel coat is madetoorder. Also, older fiberglass boats tend to have a thicker application of gelcoat which means they are more susceptible to cracking. If the gel coat cracks are on a bass boat, that is a common occurrence. How to fix spider cracks in fiberglass it still runs. Other than that, the product works as advertised and is relatively easy to use. On mine they stripped the decals, sanded the gel coat and sealed it with an epoxy sealer, sprayed on a colored base coat and then sprayed on several coats of clear.
When looking at a scratch in the gelcoat, you need to determine whether it is a surface scratch or a deep scratch. This kits contents allow you to make repairs to your white, fiberglass bathtub, shower or shower pan. Please get in touch if the colour you require is not yet listed here. Gelcoat repair kit fills in scratches and surface cracks on composite canoes or kayaks. Gelcoat paste will shrink more than liquid gelcoat because the filler to make paste and will eventually crack around the repair due to excess shrinking and may have pin holes that will show up after polishing, also getting your repair 100% flat without a wave or ripple is nearly impossible and in most cases your paste will not match even with. How to fix spider cracks, hairline cracks, and crazing in boat. How to repairing fiberglass gel coat cracks in bathtubs, boats, cars automotive, bathrooms, paint whether you are getting ready to fix your bathtub, boat, truck cap or other fiberglass item that has seen some abuse you are probably going to need to.
There are various professionals in the industry to assure perfect shower repairs with long lasting results. How to repair gelcoat, fiberglass boat repair boating. Repairing hundreds of fiberglass cracks to get ready for spraying awlgrip paint. Once the gelcoat has fully cured, sand the repair smooth wet sanding works particularly well with gelcoat. Before you tackle repairing hairline cracks in gelcoat, youll need to. Gel coat repair kits, scratch patch kits, gel coat paste, fiberglass repair kits. Extensive spider cracking common on older boats is due to aging of the gelcoat. Its around the nav light plug which ive seen on multiple boats, pretty common and some smaller ones along the top cap, above the rub rail. I saw no signs of possible impact, but the length of the crack seemed a bit more than cosmetic to me. Prograde materials to restore your gelcoat bath or shower.
The tape will help to ensure that your fresh layer of resin doesnt go too far across the surface. Your boats paint job will not stay pristine forever. Finally, apply a coat of highquality marine polish and your repair is complete. These colors are matched to our composite canoe colors only. Remove oxidation, chalking, fading, minor scratches, rust. Once the gel coat has reached a full cure, progressively sand the area to a polish. Before you begin your gel coat repair you will need to purchase catalyst methyl ethyl ketone peroxide from an auto parts store, marina, or hardware store. Aug 16, 20 im showing you how to figure out whats going on that caused this part of the gel coat to crack so bad. Localized cracking of the gel coat in a few areas is probably due to stress or movement, coupled with perhaps a gel coat layer that is a bit too thick. A nagging concern for me is a method to repair crazing in aged gelcoat surfaces. Professional fiberglass, gelcoat repair, boat detailing. Apply to account manager, processing assistant, gel coat teammate and more.
He has talked to 2 repair places in ca and one said that the fiberglass was not fully cured whaen the paint was applied and out gassing occured as it cured and this caused the paint to crack which caused the gelcoat to crack. How to repair cracks and chips in damaged gelcoat duration. It went on very well over fiberglass as well as preexisting gel. Magicezy hairline fix is a onepart, pretinted available in 10 colors sealant that allows you to complete the repair in seconds. How to fix crazing in gelcoat, also known as spider cracks or stress cracks which plague countless boaters. Gelcoat crack and crazing repair moderated discussion areas. It is possible to fix a crack in gelcoat easily, as it can be sanded over. Now that the cracks are ready, mix your gelcoat repair kit and the hardener together. A onepart, precolored sealant that repairs gelcoat stress cracks, scrapes and scratches. Apr 21, 2012 ive seen this problem occur on several black cars, including mc2hills truck, the black dodge ram that was detailed by daytonajae, mc2hill and myself and now this 99 accord. The gel coat cracks are simply cracks in the cosmetic layer thats put over the top to keep the rv looking shiny.
Gel coat repairs and star cracks skuk sea kayaking uk. Repairing hundreds of fiberglass cracks to get ready for. The evercoat marine gelcoat repair kit permanently repair nicks, gouges and scratches in fiberglass hulls and decks. Boat fiberglass repair supplies marine gel coat repair products. Gelcoat can also be rolled or applied by foam brush in patch areas, but spraying tends to yield best results with the least amount of followup sanding. Cold temperatures can lead to slow gel coat cure times, while moisture can cause pinholes, blisters and other imperfections in the gel coat. Boat fiberglass repair supplies marine gel coat repair. A special release film and norun polyester gel makes a slick, nosand finish quick and easy.
The appearance of the crazing is an important indicator and. If the gel coat is applied too thick it has a tendency to crack because of the difference in thermal expansion. Extend each coat farther than the previous one, with the last coat out to the tape line. Repairing hairline cracks and how to do repair gelcoat. For starters, make sure whatever color you are trying to match, make the paste a shade lighter. Thin 1015% with acetone or styrene styrene is optimum note.
White gelcoat with wax pint with 15cc hardener mekp product details. If its just a small white or off white repair rayplex has repair kits with a simple color guide for matching. The heavier the coat is applied the more micro pin holes will exist, using a suction feed spray gun will give you a better quality finish. If the surface of your boat looks like a cracked eggshell, the gelcoat is suffering from crazing sometimes called alligatoring. Gel coat crazing repair moderated discussion areas. 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. Although it can be a diy task, it is always better to hire a professional to repair the gel coat if you expect a professional finish. If you take off the gel coat you are down to the bare fiberglass. The reason being is that surface scratches can easily be buffed with a rubbing compound as opposed to deep scratches which take a couple more steps. Buy the evercoat marine gelcoat repair kit and more quality fishing, hunting and outdoor gear at bass pro shops.
Another option is to add wax to the final coat of gel coat. I would buy it again if i was doing an offwhite repair. As long as the gelcoat around the deep scratch is in good. Gel coat is easy to use and looks great when finished. This was my first experience painting with gel coat. To repair such cracks the underlying problem of movement has to first be solved. These gel coats are also easy to use and easy to repair. On old boats, it is sometimes best to leave the crack alone, without repair for newer models, we offer a gel coat craze crack repair kit.
Because gelcoat by its nature is a hard and brittle substance, hairline craze cracks may result with age. I used this product to patch a very small holecrack in a bathtub probably. When the time comes that it needs to be touched up or repaired, come to bottom paint store and look through our wide selection of fiberglass and gelcoat putties, resins, restoration solutions, repair kits, and toolsmaterials. Blend the included coloring agents to achieve a match to almost any color.
When looking at cracks you may find that there are generally two different types. You need to chip away the gel cote around that spider web. If youre opting for a gloss finish on top of your chip repair or for fine cracks that dont require a filler, use the magicezy hairline fix. How to repairing fiberglass gel coat cracks in bathtubs. From your picture, it looks like the gel coat is pretty thick. When jl boatworks gets down to work on repair of fiberglass and gel coating, our professional boat detailing team strives.
Repairing minor damage to the gelcoat surface of your boat. Anyone else having this problem 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. Hairline spider cracks must be opened wider and filled with an epoxy filler to be permanently repaired. If you dont open the crack, you wont be able to force the gelcoat into the repair area or expose enough surface area for the repair to adhere. In such cases, grinding off the gelcoat for wholesale refinishing is the best approach. Sand the fiberglass down until theres no shine left, so you know the gelcoats surface has been removed. It sounds like only cracks in the gel from poorly drilled out holes for the rubrail. If you feel like giving this repair a go and have some experience with home improvement techniques, follow a few simple rules to help you complete this job. Also used to provide a glossy top coat for 9 second chip fix repairs. Why do i get stress cracks or crazing in my gelcoat. In the case of very fresh, shallow crazing, sanding alone may remove some or all of the cracks.
Gelcoat repair kits are available in over any ral or bs colour please click or tap items below for further information and to buy. When jl boatworks gets down to work on repair of fiberglass and gel coating, our professional boat detailing team strives for perfection with each and every work assignment. Thin hairline cracks star cracks present a bigger problem. Jul 26, 2018 hi crew, im looking at a 2006 avy that has a bit of gel coat cracking going on. How to repair a gelcoat scratch bottom paint store. It takes like 4 hours to do and 2 of that is waiting for it to dry. Since 1968, west marine has grown to over 250 local stores, with knowledgeable associates happy to assist. Achieve professionallooking results with the aquatic gelcoat repair kit. Confining work to the immediate repair area, continue wetsanding with 600grit paper until nearly even with surrounding gelcoat. I kicked up a fuss at autotrail factory as i had lots of other quality problems and someone from lamplas who make the bodies for autotrail came to my home and made a. The wax rises to the top to create an air tight barrier.
The easiest repair method is to sand the surface heavily and roll on two coats of epoxy primer followed by two coats of twopart linear. Blend coloring agents to achieve a match to almost any color. Color gel coat ships same day 100s of colors fibre glast. Detailing a boat is all about doing the little things that make a big difference to clients. Shop our inventory of gel coat boat repair kits at nautique parts. Mar 26, 2019 once the gelcoat has fully cured, sand the repair smooth wet sanding works particularly well with gelcoat. Used this product to make a repair to boat gel coat after fixing some minor fiber glass damage. Ive had both my front and rear caps painted because of faded gel coat. Gel coat cracking on 2000 tritonanyone else having this problem. I kicked up a fuss at autotrail factory as i had lots of other quality problems and someone from lamplas who make the bodies for autotrail came to my home and made a superb repair. Im showing you how to figure out whats going on that caused this part of the gel coat to crack so bad. This problem is sometimes severe, as we have seen with a number of old boston whalers. I dont think its practical to completely strip the gel coat and lay new glass. As soon as you start with ssr definitely necessary on th.
Gel coat cracks motorhome matters motorhomes forum. These marks were not apparent during the wash or claying process. Nov 14, 2012 i did significant damage to my gel coat on a recent kayaking trip. Fixing gel coat cracks in fiberglass for professionals only. If you can see black in the cracks that is the base coat.
If you are looking to do some diy gelcoat repairs, this brief primer will help. The owners dont want to junk these boats, in fact they are very interested in making them new. In this section we will provide guidelines for cosmetic composite repairs, including fiberglass crack repair, fiberglass gel coat repair. If only the gel coat is affected, you might just glue the cracks together. We dont share your credit card details with thirdparty sellers, and we dont sell your information to others. I did significant damage to my gel coat on a recent kayaking trip. You can start with 220grit sandpaper and, for a really slick surface, finish with at least 400 or 600grit. It wasnt runny at all and went on thick which was nice on the vertical surfaces i painted. Gel coat repair series cosmetic scratches or cracks. You can purchase the ral color gel coat you want right here on our website. Gel coat cracking on 2000 tritonanyone else having this. Hi crew, im looking at a 2006 avy that has a bit of gel coat cracking going on. Unless the scratch goes through to the glass matting it wont harm the boat. Either deepen the scratch using a small blade or grinder, or leave it.
Try to keep your work area at or above 70f and free from moisture when working with gel coats. It is nevertheless important to establish the origins of any crazing in the gel coat to try to prevent it happening. It has been getting progressively worse since i discovered it, and spreading to the re. Avoid using any portable self contained spray units such as preval and spray packs these units require the gelcoat to be thinned beyond the recommended limits of 1015%. A thin layer of gel coat isnt structurally strong enough to prevent itself cracking off. Sep 05, 2012 learn how to repair a gelcoat scratch. Aquatic gelcoat repair kit in white35rkwh the home depot. Our customers have complemented us on how well it works. For this reason, fiberglass repairs rely upon the adhesive quality of their resin.
Fibre glast offers premium polyester gel coat that can be perfectly matched every time. Nov 03, 2008 a nagging concern for me is a method to repair crazing in aged gel coat surfaces. I repaire a chip in my gelcoat and the following cracks using this. Our gelcoat repair kit contains everything you need to make minor repairs in gelcoat on boats, caravans, kit cars and much more. You can also add pva after the gel coat starts to cure. It went on very well over fiberglass as well as preexisting gel coat that had been sanded with 80 grit sand paper. Upon inspecting the underside, i noticed a crack in the gelcoat about 2 feet long on the bottom side of the hull under where a passenger seat would normally be located.
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