Re: Spider Cracks and gouges
I have an 89 SR 180 BR and have exactly the same spider cracks. I Googled quite a bit to find out the best way to repair these things. Apparently they are caused by stress. Old boats (I guess mine is 'old) used thicker glass fiber in the construction and hence flex less. Newer boats have thinner glass fiber and handle stress better.
Anyhow, the upshot was that the best way to repair them was first to grind them out in a V shape using a Dremel or similar (mine is a harbor Freight version). I did this on mine at the weekend. After cleaning the area thoroughly (cellulose thinners will do), use Gel coat paste to fill the gouge area. Cover with Mylar (this comes with the repair kits) or thin clear plastic sheeting from a sandwich bag or the likes to let the gel coat cure, then sand down and refill if necessary. Keep wet sanding with progressively finer grade, then buff out and job done. Because the Gel Coat paste is colored the same as the hull color, you probably will not be able to spot the filled cracks (famous last words).
All the articles I have read say DONT use Bondo or anything like that and DONT use poly resin, just use Gel Coat paste. You can buy ready made Gel Coat paste repair kits online and in stores (IBoats sells Spectrum brand). Spectrum is color mixed for various boat makes and manufacture years, so the color shade should most accurately match your boat (when it was new of course). Mine is Sea Ray Arctic White. Am I bothered to match the color on the 25 year old boat, that has faded anyway? Not really. Plain White will do for me.
Gel Coat paste is essentially Gel Coat mixed with a thickener such as Cabosil. You could mix your own if you want. From a personal perspective I always look at cost and from what I see the 2 OZ. Spectrum Gel paste is $25.00 plus shipping. How far will 2oz go? I have no idea whatsoever, but doesn't sound very far. Some articles say as far as covering and area of 10 silver dollars???? How useful?????
As an alternative, US Composites sell 1 quart of Gel Coat for $17.00 + shipping, so both work about the same dollar cost +/- a dollar or so. I know that I will have sufficient with a quart and I have lots of Cabosil left over from my refurb of the boat. Making my own is probably the way I will go.
There are lots of article AND videos out there for you to learn from.
