hair thin crack partially below water line

[tom03]

Just discovered a hair thin crack in the gelcoat of my Regal about ten inches long from stern to boat bottom.<br />I probably hit something with the swim platform, this crack starts from where the platform is attached to the stern.<br />My questions: Does water get through such a thin crack ? How can it be fixed ?<br /><br />Thanks, Tom

 

[voxmorgan]

Re: hair thin crack partially below water line

You should be ok. From the sounds of it you only cracked the Gel-coat. Gel-coat is just a thin layer on the outside of the boat. There a thick layer of fiberglass behind the gel-coat so there is probably no need to worry. Several boats get stress cracks in thier gel-coat from normal wear n tear, but it doesn't bother the boat.

 

[nickwilson]

Re: hair thin crack partially below water line

If this is your first stress crack consider yourself lucky, they are bound to happen here and there. The thing is, fiberglass is flexible -gellcoat is not. So, when the boat flexes for whatever reason... you get stress cracks. They are fixable, but my experience is that over time they usually come back. You can pick up gellcoat reapair kits at West Marine, or here on the Iboats Megamall. Matching colors will be tricky though. Anyway, good Luck !

 

[quantumleap]

Re: hair thin crack partially below water line

I would seal it up just to be safe.

 

[tom03]

Re: hair thin crack partially below water line

Originally posted by Quantumleap:<br /> I would seal it up just to be safe.

What would you suggest to seal it with ?<br />The normal gelcoat stuff doesnt go into the very thin crack.<br /><br />Thanks for all the help, Tom

 

[SCO]

Re: hair thin crack partially below water line

THe big way water gets in is the mounting holes through transom. If the crack originates through a hole like this, I would certainly re bed it. For a single crack, you could dremmel grind it lightly till you are at the bottom of the crack, and patch the grind with marine tex. I'm not an expert on this kind of repair, but I have done that many times. Rounding the crack tip is the most important part as crack tips are stress concentrators like seen in windshields. I use 3m 5200 to bed hardware, but others think it is too hard when It bonds.

 

[rml]

Re: hair thin crack partially below water line

I have fixed several of these hairline cracks using the following method and none have reappeared.<br /><br />Tools Required:<br /> Dremel w/1/8" round cutting bit<br /><br />Materials:<br /> Strands of fiberglass<br /> Epoxy Resin<br /> Epoxy Hardener<br /> Collodial Silica Filler<br /> Mixing Cup<br /> Stirring Stick<br /> Acetone<br /><br />1. use a dremel tool with a round (1/8" or so) bit to open up the crack to form a gouge, like a "half-pipe".<br /><br />2. Clean the area with acetone.<br /><br />3. Mix up some epoxy resin & hardener. Add filler to make it like peanut butter. West Systems makes handy dandy little packets of epoxy and hardener.<br /><br />4. Smear in some of the thickened resin and lay in a few strands of fiberglass, repeat 'til it is just below the level of the surrounding area then let it cure.<br /><br />5. Clean the area with acetone.<br /><br />6. Try your hand at matching the color of the gel coat A few drops of yellow, a drop of brown...whatever, as your repair is partially below the water line, it is actually a good place to practice matching gel coat color. Once you have the "formula" write it down as the other areas of your hull may only require slight modifications and will match perfectly.<br /><br />7. Apply the tinted gel coat with a small brush until it is just above the surrounding area. Let it cure.<br /><br />8. Once the gel coat cures, wet sand it smooth starting with 600 grit then 800 then 1000 then 1200.<br /><br />This method looks long and involved but in reality takes very little time and money. It is the only way I will ever repair these pesky little gel coat cracks. Good luck!<br /><br /> --rml

 

[KCook]

Re: hair thin crack partially below water line

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