It makes good economic sense to the joy of owning a beautiful boat is another reason for taking care of the gelcoat. Cracks are the most serious damage that can occur to a kayak and location is everything. Full hullbreaching cracks in fiberglass, wooden and thermoform boats is. Apr 02, 2019 look for stress cracks around stanchions or other areas that might be an indication of an underlying structural problem. In the manufacturing process it is the first layer of the hull, sprayed against the inner surface of mold. While neither solution will fix the crack, both will prevent water from entering the kayak. 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, and eventually threaten your boat s. You can successfully complete basic fiberglass boat repair by following these steps. This premium marine grade gel coat may be as gecloat for boats, gelcoat for pools or many other applications. This wont repair major dents and chips or add much strength to the floor. As mentioned in the video you may need to source one component mekp hardener locally as it is considered a dangerous good and we can not mail it. You can purchase it at a marine or auto body supply store.
Fiberglass epoxy is available at most boat supply stores. Marine fillers and putty for filling pinholes, scratches and other surface defects on fiberglass and gel coats. The cracks appear in the smooth part of the gelcoat between the nonslip surface and the vertical bulkhead of the helm console. How to fix light gelcoat scratches boat trader blog. If not managed, these small cosmetic annoyances can. Gelcoat damage on brand new kayak the uk rivers guidebook. A boat in the tropics with little or no protection from the direct sun will require a more frequent maintenance schedule than one in a more moderate climate kept in a covered boat shed. Although this usually starts off as a matter of cosmetics, in severe cases these surface cracks can grow, deepen, and eventually threaten your boat s structural integrity. Just get the sandinggrinding tool that comes to a point and trace them. Also, there are some mildew stains, especially along the stern, and of course some uv fade water lines etc. This damage is often caused by slight flexing of the hull.
Often you can spruce it up quickly with just a new layer of gelcoat. Renewing the wire in a kayak with a plastic skeg box repair a damaged karitek plastic skeg box fix a leak in karitek skeg box colour match gel coat gel coat repairs and star cracks how to fix a hole through the glass in the hull finding leaks. But, in my absence, i had some photos taken to track the progress and now im back at the yard. If the cracks are larger than 1mm large wider than. Repairing hairline cracks and how to do repair gelcoat. I matched my teal striping on my boat to a tee when it was wet and mixing. Gelcoat used to patch existing gelcoat, fiberglass repairs, and for new construction and projects. Or if you just have an old boat thats got a lot of character lines, we can restore it to look like it just came from the factory. If the gelcoat is in good condition with no major cracking or crazing, the job is relatively straightforwardclean and prepare the surface, apply an epoxy primer, sand the primer, remove the sanding residue and then apply the topcoat. Gelcoat damage on brand new kayak post by ceegee tue apr 24, 2018 10. Gelcoat repair kits can be ordered from any authorized nova craft canoe dealer. White gel coat, precolored gel coat, clear gel coat, neutral tintable gelcoats. A prior owner had fixed a few with evercoat gel coat scratch patch gel coat repair, with ugly results. Also, older fiberglass boats tend to have a thicker application of gelcoat which means they are more susceptible to cracking.
I have painted numerous old boats including two whalers with very bad gelcoat before the paint job, including the 1971 outrage i own now. Spider cracks in gelcoat moderated discussion areas. Aug 02, 2017 how to prepare your boat for painting a gelcoat if the gelcoat is in good condition with no major cracking or crazing, the job is relatively straightforwardclean and prepare the surface, apply an epoxy primer, sand the primer, remove the sanding residue and then apply the topcoat. The wax, or sanding aid is an additive that allows the gelcoat to dry tackfree. Get to the bottom of the crack then fill it as long as fiberglass isnt damaged. Gel coat repairs and star cracks skuk sea kayaking uk. All about fiberglass boat stress cracks fiberglass boat. Were you to view the damaged gel coat under a microscope youd see tiny cracks in the gel coat which would look like alligator skin. I built a cedar strip kayak so i have glass and epoxy experience, but i dont have gelcoat experience. Any boat can look good for the duration of a boat show.
How to apply gelcoat the endall guide fiberglass coatings. While i have never left a boat in the water, this was good information to have as i never realized gelcoat was actually somewhat porous. Normally they are only in the gel coat and are just a cosmetic problem, but they can get bigger and could possibly let water get below the floor, thats not as common though. Gelcoat is brittle, as far as resins go, and if the underlying structure moves a lot or shrinks and expands too much, even the highestgrade gelcoat applied to the bestmaintained. Hull damage on a canoe or kayak can appear several different ways.
Determine the gelcoat batch size for the size of the repairapproximately 80 square feet per gallon of gelcoat 20 sq. This can range from small defects that need a little patching up to major damage that affects the overall shape of the surface. Cracks like that will show up in most boats, sometimes you see them, sometimes you dont. Thin hairline cracks star cracks present a bigger problem. How to fix crazing in gelcoat, also known as spider cracks or stress cracks which plague countless boaters. If your gelcoat is looking really dull, with no bright or shiny spots. Or you can add a keelstrip yourself with fiberglass tape, polyester resin and gel coat a semibig job which i did once to a kayak i later sold, no photos. For example, if your canoe is a clear laminate canoe, meaning that you can see the kevlar on the inside of the boat, you may notice stress cracks in an area where the gelcoat may also be damaged. Gelcoat is kind of to glass boats what a paint job is to a car. Well i noticed a wet spot on the ground and looked up and noticed that the one part of the crack was. The very basic reason for stress cracks in a gelcoat finish is the hull or surface that the gelcoat is bonded to flexed or moved an amount beyond the point that the gelcoat can flex, so it just cracks, because the gelcoat has no structural bearing attributes.
Gelcoat repair kit fills in scratches and surface cracks on composite canoes or kayaks. Heres a synopsis of typical boat damage and the general methods of repair typically made for each of the major kayak materials with a few tips thrown in as well. Fiberglass hulls flex and shift a bit under load one of the reasons, in addition to hull design difference, they ride better than tin hulls and if the outer gel coat is too rigid or stiff it can crack when the underlying. Tough to say if these cracks are limited to just the gel coat, or if they involve the laminate under. May 26, 2019 cracks are the most serious damage that can occur to a kayak and location is everything. The gelcoat can then be sanded smooth, finer and finer to 1500 grit and then polished out. If it is applied too thickly, expansion and contraction of the hull due to temp will cause gel coat cracking. Follow the instructions on the epoxy for repairing the cracks.
I suspect these were caused by previous owner hauling the boat on a roof rack with over tightened straps as this is how he told me he transported it. In most cases this is true, however it is important to seal them correctly otherwise water may penetrate into. Its smooth shiny finish is an indicator of the mold finish. If you find small, hairline cracks in your boat, you can repair it yourself by using epoxy. Seeing yourself in the gelcoat is a nice reflection upon you. Gelcoat is normally sprayed on in multiple coats to achieve the final cured thickness. Many kevlar boats have a clear gel coat for lighter weight. The primary reason why stress cracks appear in gel coat is because gel coat is brittle and the laminate to which it is bonded is less so. How to repair spider cracks on your fiberglass boat. This makes fiberglass and gelcoat repair one of best ways to restore a boat or vehicle to its former glory.
If the cracks radiate from the base of loadbearing equipment like a cleat or stanchion, there is probably a problem with the installation that deserves attention before repairing the gelcoat. Repairs to gelcoat cracks are done the same way, but you will need to ream out the crack first in order to have space to apply the gelcoat paste. 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, and eventually threaten your boats structural integrity. Thus, when popped from the female mold, the gelcoat becomes the exterior finish. The canoe was given to me and does not leak, even where there is the big ding see photo. I figure for the hull, if i have to do something about hairline cracks it would be a simple matter for me to just sand the whole hull, roll a layer of epoxy over the whole thing, and after that cures id just paint. The only problem with this boat is along the radius where bottom transitions to side there are several hairline cracks in the gelcoat about 5 or 6 feet long. Surface scratches can be buffed out of gelcoat with polishing compound, but deep scratches must be filled. Wooden kayak repairs anyones whos put hundreds of hours into their homebuilt wooden kayak can be brought to tears to see their baby injured. Crazing in gelcoat, also known as spider cracks or stress cracks, plagues countless boaters. Much thicker and more durable and longer lasting than paint. Gelcoat is a fiberglass resin that has had a pigment added to it. A thin layer of gel coat isnt structurally strong enough to prevent itself cracking off.
Crazing in gelcoat, also known as spider cracks or stress cracks, plagues countless boaters and is an incredibly common issue on modern fiberglass boats. Spider cracks are nonstructural damage to the gelcoat of a boat. It can also be used for patching up chips, scratches, cracks and even holes in different kinds of vehicles. If you look at a pool, or even a boat, the gelcoat is the color you see. These fiberglass cracks can be purely cosmetic, or can severely degrade the boat s ability to stay afloat. May 29, 2012 hey guys so, i have an older skeeter ss 90 which has been in the elements basically from day one. I have not had the boat for a while, i got it through a trade. You can get gelcoat with wax or without in certain cases. These colors are matched to our composite kayak colors only. Gelcoat is basically a relatively thick layer of resin with colorant added. 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. Gel coat is the shiny, hard colored layer on the outside on any composite fiberglass or kevlar canoe or kayak. How to prepare your boat for painting a gelcoat sail.
These hairline fractures also occur in boats of the mid 1970s vintage which often had thicker gelcoat layers than newer boats. The damage is midship, spider cracks that extend out in a 2 to 3 inch diameter in the gel coat and in the cockpit, cracks in resin about 6. Restoring your gelcoat can help restore the shine of your boat and protect its surface. The extra layer of gelcoat will also increase the weight of your boat a bit. After waxing the mold thoroughly, a polyesterbased material called gelcoat is sprayed on every square inch of the mold. For more details on some of the things that can go wrong in the fiberglass during the manufacturing process please refer to the blistering article. How to repair gelcoat, fiberglass boat repair boating magazine. Either deepen the scratch using a small blade or grinder, or leave it. To apply the gelcoat with a brush, dip the brush in the gelcoat so theres a liberal amount of gelcoat on it. The lifetime limited and gel coat limited warranties do not cover the gel coat cracks that are not considered structural defects, discoloration, blisters, or bubbles. A fiberglass and gelcoat repair is mostly needed for mending the surfaces of boats. A badly maintained gelcoat can knock thousands of dollars in value off an otherwise seaworthy boat.
How to gelcoat a boat floor gone outdoors your adventure. You can take a screw driver and widen them by gouging it, then filling it with gel coat or they make a gel paste good for this. Jun 10, 2017 hairline spider cracks must be opened wider and filled with an epoxy filler to be permanently repaired. Do not expect to get a smooth glossy finish out of it, just something that looks a little better. Stress cracks in fiberglass bass boats, canoes, kayaks.
If you push on the area with your fingers and it feels. Look for stress cracks around stanchions or other areas that might be an indication of an underlying structural problem. The area doesnt stay damp when the rest of the boat is dry. Hopefully the manufacturer applied a thick enough gel coat to allow for the removal of the sun damaged portion without the ghosting problem. They are purely cosmetic and will not affect the underlying structure. I have a kevlar sea kayak that has a small damaged area due to me loosing control of it while loading on top of my truck racing sundown and hungry mosquitoes. The paintgel along the upper rail is faded washed out badly. Apply the gelcoat using a brush if youre covering a small area. Photos of canoe with cracked gelcoat as you can see there is not just one crack in the gelcoat. I really dont recommend this except the smallest of hairline cracks on the older, thick gelcoat boats. Our test boat has had a few spider cracks since a few months after she came out of the mold. But a truly good finish, in our opinion, stays looking good on the water, in the sun and for the long term.
May 27, 2009 i built a cedar strip kayak so i have glass and epoxy experience, but i dont have gelcoat experience. Over time and with use, the gelcoat on your boat can become dull, making your boat look old. This thicker gelcoat cannot stand any flexing without showing cracks. Any mold imperfections would be reflected in the gelcoat as well. Gel coat hardened too quickly or with improper curing temperatures and conditions can also promote stress cracks in the gel coat itself. How to prepare your boat for painting a gelcoat sail magazine. Kardol epoxy glue may be used to repair tanks, pipes, windshields, floors, fiberglass, aluminum boats, concrete, and styrofoam. Depending upon the extent of use you plan to give your kayak, repair concerns may. Stress cracks, spider cracks, and hairline cracks in the decks of older boats are, of course, not rare.
Jan 21, 2020 apply the gelcoat using a brush if youre covering a small area. If youre in your kayak when its damaged so severely that a crack is formed, id be more concerned about serious injuries to yourself before id worry about the boat. If the gel coat is thick in this corner as is often the case, the gel coat is more prone to cracking. Solving it might be as simple as shifting a load from undersized equipment, or installing a larger backing plate to spread the load over a wider area. So, the gelcoat on your boat is looking chalky and. Ask the experts solutions from the boatus tech team. A fiberglass layup that is too wet, or has too much resin will crack. Hull showing cracks skeeter boats indepth outdoors.
Repairing minor damage to the gelcoat surface of your boat. With time, it is possible that gelcoat can become cracked, simply through wear and tear or a specific incidence of damage. Buy a hawk epoxy kit and save up to 30% and receive free shipping. Brush the gelcoat onto the fiberglass using short vertical strokes. However, as it dried and hardened, it was a darker shade and i now have a dark spot on my boat that im going to have to recover to match. Restoring cracked gelcoat on canoe boat design net. Ive scrubbed the freeboard and gunwale my 1998 cruiser yachts 3850 with a scotch scrubber sponge like for pots and pans and 409 with bleach each spring, followed by applying a 3m rubbing compound with a buffer.
Either way, a boat does better in the marketplace if its blemishes are fixed. Gelcoat repairs which includes an instructive video that covers gelcoat restoration, scratch repair, and polishing and. The next time youre cleaning and waxing your boat, take the time to look for small cracks, scratches and chips in its gel coat. Magic fix for hairline cracks in gelcoat practical sailor. Kayak maintenance and repair sherri kayaks outdoor. Repairing minor damage to the gelcoat surface of your boat west. Gel coat is basically a resin to which a large amount of coloring pigment has been added, pigments that are oxides of metals like aluminum. In larger cracks the bonding problem of gelcoat to cured epoxy becomes an issue. Cracks in hulldeck todays materials are virtually bombproof even under more extreme onwater conditions. If the gelcoat scratches arent too deep, you may be able to eliminate them with a combination of wetsanding and compounding. If the boat is fairly new and the manufacturer is still in business, you may be able to get gelcoat that will be. Before you begin your fiberglass repair you will need to purchase catalyst methyl ethyl ketone peroxide from an auto parts store, marina, or hardware store. Electric batteries for kayaks kayak boats, canoe and kayak, kayak fishing, fishing.
I repaire a chip in my gelcoat and the following cracks using this kit. I dont know about your particular boat model, but spider cracks are not uncommon on kayaks. The boat is in pretty good condition for its age in my opinion, but the hull does have some minor hairline stress cracks. Unless the scratch goes through to the glass matting it wont harm the boat. If water can get into the actual glass it can create problems. There is a crack in the gelcoat in the bottom keel downt he center of the hull on either side of the daggerboard slot.
When the gelcoat surrounding a scratch is in good condition, the filler of choice is gelcoat paste, which provides both filler and finish in a single application but not a single step. Gel coat crackscrazing on my old whaler the hull truth boating and. Many cracks on the top side of a kayak can be handled much in the same way as a hole, with either duct tape or silicone. From the smallest scratch to a boat torn in half, sterlings kayaks and fiberglass can repair your kayak to likenew condition. These premium quality isophthalic npg gel coats are.
Tint the batch of gelcoat to match the color of the boat. Begin by making sure any surface dirt and stains are removed. Gel coat crackscrazing on my old whaler the hull truth. One crack even rounds the aft corner of the console bulkhead. Any crack that goes deeper than the gelcoat definitely needs attention. Before you begin your fiberglass repair you will need to purchase catalyst methyl ethyl ketone peroxide from an.
For certain, they reflect the parts flexing to a greater degree than the material can take without cracking. Painting over cracked and chipped gel coat moderated. The type of cracks the op is seeing are not structural and are likely due to gel coat that was applied too thick. This resin can be used as a protective surface over the top of fiberglass, or simply as a finish, much like you might varnish a piece of outdoor furniture. Avoid spreading the gelcoat too thin or youll get stroke marks. This allows the newly laid molded boat part to pop out once cured. Polishing with a product like gel gloss can take out minor oxidation on a fibergalss kayak. If you have any surface scrapes or gouges that need repair, check our advisor doit yourself. Six signs your surfski or kayak is not healthy wash rider. All in all, however, gelcoating the floor of your boat is a nice, fairly easy spruceup for an aging boat. Repairing hairline cracks and how to do repair gelcoat magicezy. Ive been on the road for the last several weeks and unable to track our nonskid and gelcoat repair project. Hairline spider cracks must be opened wider and filled with an epoxy filler to be permanently repaired. How to repair gelcoat, fiberglass boat repair boating.