Hairline cracks in gelcoat

Gelcoat is a fiberglass resin that has had a pigment added to it. 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. Light crazing in the gelcoat what do to about it short of. I consider then cosmetic but was wondering how best to repair if i desired. Magicezy hairline fix is a onepart, precoloured sealant that repairs gelcoat stress cracks, scrapes and scratches. Magicezy hairline fix is a revolutionary fiberglass and gelcoat nanosealant and adhesive that structurally repairs and colors fine stress cracks spider cracks, and hairline fractures fast. The strong adhesion in hairline fix helps prevent cracks from spreading. It also repairs cracks in ceramic tiles and scratches on household appliances. With time, it is possible that gelcoat can become cracked, simply through wear and tear or a specific incidence of damage. The cracks are called spider cracks, and they are normal for a gel coat finished boat. Gelcoat thickness will be greater as will layers of cloth underneath. Also used to provide a glossy topcoat for 9 second chip fix repairs.

Repair fiberglass boats, bathtubs, shower stalls and hot tubs. Aug 27, 2012 the cracks are called spider cracks, and they are normal for a gel coat finished boat. A fiberglass layup that is too wet, or has too much resin will crack also. I have a section on my hull with a group of hairline gelcoat cracks that run vertically. Hairline spider cracks must be opened wider and filled with an epoxy filler to be permanently repaired. Inspite of this hairline cracks are not unusual on boats. Cracks are not connected to any other crack or edge of drain. Then you can apply new gelcoat and be done with it. Finally, theres an easy way to seal and color crazing in gelcoat and hairline cracks in fiberglass, ceramics, plastic and metal. Gelcoat hairline cracks a proper solution jeanneau. To repair it you would need to grind down to the fiberglass, feathering outward. Fiberglass epoxy is available at most boat supply stores. Heres an easy way to fix and color stress cracks in seconds and its so tough it comes with a 3 year durability guarantee magicezy hairline fix is a revolutionary precolored fiberglass and gelcoat repair product that fixes and colors fine stress cracks spider cracks, and hairline fractures fast in one application.

A prior owner had fixed a few with evercoat gel coat scratch patch gel coat repair, with ugly results. All gelcoat is, is nonreinforced tinted fiberglass. You can buy small cans of gelcoat filler which is thicker and easer to work the normal gelcoat or flowcoat. To fill fine stress cracks use magicezy hairline fix. Is repair required for 23 tiny hairline cracks in fiberglass. Magic fix for hairline cracks in gelcoat practical sailor.

The next time youre cleaning and waxing your boat, take the time to look for small cracks, scratches and chips in its gel coat. Gelcoat hairline cracks a proper solution jeanneau owners. If the cracks are limited to the gelcoat most likely it really is a cosmetic issue only. Gelcoat tends to be stiff and brittle and fiberglass a bit more flexible. Boatus how to fix spider cracks, hairline cracks, and. Spider cracks in gelcoat moderated discussion areas. When scrubbing shower floor i noticed 23 barely visible hairline cracks close to drain in my largeunit 2seat fiberglass shower floor.

The cracks are purely cosemetic, and not structural to the boat. Cracks from larger issuesa winch, for example, that was inadequately mountedwill need to be fixed before cosmetic repairs begin. Repairing hairline fiberglass deck cracks sailboat. Other times, maybe a small hairline crack formed in the fiberglass, but this is more rare. Stress by thermal expansion or when bulkheads and liners were installed can cause minor flexing. It does an okay job at hiding the cracks, but they dont disappear. This damage is often caused by slight flexing of the hull. This thicker gelcoat cannot stand any flexing without showing cracks. The gelcoat is basically a resinrich surface much like a persons skin, which is designed to.

Hence you get these little hairline cracks in the gel coat surface itself. Hairline fix scotia coast yachtscanadian distributor. Magicezy hairline fix is a colored sealant used to quickly and easily repair fine stress cracks spider cracks and hairline fractures. All about fiberglass boat stress cracks fiberglass boat. I chemically striped the antifouling paint back to gelcoat to see if the previous owners has applied a barrier coat the boat was on a lake, now is on the sea and was surprised with the many hairline cracks in the gelcoat primarily in the p bracket and outside the stern tube areas. Take special care to thin it as they recommend, especially on the first coat, as this will seal the crazing and allow subsequent coats to fill in any hairline cracks. Chips in the gelcoat will have to be filled in with thickened epoxy or polyester filler. Well i noticed a wet spot on the ground and looked up.

Sometimes, they go deeper and threaten an underlying laminate, which in many cases is cored. Complete the repair in seconds without having to grind out the existing damage. Stress cracks, spider cracks, and hairline cracks in the decks of older. There is a crack in the gelcoat in the bottom keel downt he center of the hull on either side of the daggerboard slot. Ab marine magicezy fiberglass and gelcoat repair products. Spider cracks can indicate impact damage or serious structural problems that will. When that happens, the gelcoat cant flex with the fiberglass, it just cracks. Are they gelcoat or stress cracks most likely it is crazing or gelcoat cracks. Our test boat has had a few spider cracks since a few months after she came out of the mold. Cosmetic gelcoat surface damage 1 small scratches 2 hairlinespider cracks 3 gelcoat chips. Since we got our so 35 i was troubled by the many hairline cracks in the gelcoat in visible and less visible areas. Cracks from larger issuesa winch, for example, that was inadequately mountedwill need to be. Just fill in the crack, let is set and scrape off the excess with the enclosed spreader.

Navy blue a onepart, precolored sealant that repairs gelcoat stress cracks, scrapes and scratches. If the crack is deep or larger than a hairline crack, youll need to take your boat to a professional to have it restored. Hairline fix can also be used over the top of magicezy 9 second chip fix to achieve a glossy finish. Cracks right through the gelcoat, especially if they originate at slide corners, are. The hull has original gelcoat circa 70s era and i intend to dewax the hull, followed by sanding back with 80120grit filling as required prior to priming with international brand interprotect. Mar 29, 2019 if you find small, hairline cracks in your boat, you can repair it yourself by using epoxy. Use on wood, rubber, glass, metals, fiberglass, lexan, ceramic and concrete. Boatus magazines mark corke shows you how to easily repair those pesky spider cracks that show up in your boats fiberglass gelcoat. Magicezy hairline fix repairs cracks on nonskidnonslip. Because there is no fiber in it, over time it will crack because the hull naturally flexes a bit.

Buy magicezy hairline fix navy blue boat gelcoat crack repair fills and colors fast. In this report, they offer the magic fix for hairline gelcoat cracks. Follow the instructions on the epoxy for repairing the cracks. Sounding the deck and visually inspecting it from below should confirm if the cracks are limited to the gel only. They are common in areas with tight turns or near the place where the coring ends and becomes all fiberglass. Obviously major scratches and holes will be filled but i have plenty of hairline cracks in the deckcap of the hull as shown in the photos below. Magicezy hairline fix is a revolutionary precolored fiberglass and gelcoat repair product that fixes and colors fine stress cracks spider cracks, and hairline fractures fast in one application. All about fiberglass boat stress cracks fiberglass boat repair. Gelcoat maintenance and repair tips crownline boats. It penetrates deeply into the pores of even the finest of cracks for ultra tough adhesion and durability. How to fix crazing in gelcoat, also known as spider cracks or stress cracks which plague countless boaters. Jan 06, 2015 the hull has original gelcoat circa 70s era and i intend to dewax the hull, followed by sanding back with 80120grit filling as required prior to priming with international brand interprotect.

Sounding the deck and visually inspecting it from below should confirm if. Feb 10, 2015 better to fill with gelcoat, cover with insulation tape and let cure. May 27, 2009 gelcoat colored polyester resin develops hairline surface cracks with age when left exposed without uv protection, something as simple as regular waxing. Before i start, dont forget if you find this video useful give us a like below, add a comment, and dont forget to subscribe to our youtube channel. Today im going to show you how to repair spider cracking in gelcoat. These hairline fractures also occur in boats of the mid 1970s vintage which often had thicker gelcoat layers than newer boats. Sometimes, theyre merely cosmetic, meaning they dont penetrate the gelcoat. Repairing hairline cracks and how to do repair gelcoat magicezy. Gelcoat colored polyester resin develops hairline surface cracks with age when left exposed without uv protection, something as simple as regular waxing. Perfect for gelcoat crazing, hairline cracks, nonskid deck areas, and fine scratches use it on fiberglass gelcoat, wood, ceramic, plastic or aluminum can be drilled and sanded.

Ive got some crazing hairline cracks in the surface of the gelcoat on the deck surfaces of an islander 26, and especially in the moldednonskidgelcoat areas. 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. Heres an easy way to fix and color stress cracks in seconds and its so tough it comes with a 3 year durability guarantee magicezy hairline fix is a revolutionary precolored fiberglass and gelcoat repair product that fixes and colors fine stress cracks spider cracks, and hairline fractures fast in one application it penetrates deeply into the pores of even the finest. Painting over cracked and chipped gel coat moderated. Spider cracks can indicate impact damage or serious structural problems that will need to be addressed to prevent spreading, but most often they result from relatively inflexible gelcoat that is. Repairing minor damage to the gelcoat surface of your boat west. I you are real good you can use a an airbrush to spray the gelcoat then sand and polish. Repairing hairline cracks and how to do repair gelcoat. Its much quicker than grinding out the cracklings and fixing with gelcoat.

Magicezy hairline fix quickly and easily repairs gelcoat cracks on your boatwithout having to grind them out. How to fix spider cracks, hairline cracks, and crazing in boat. Gelcoat surface damage 1 dings 2 dents 3 gouges 4 small holes. If you find small, hairline cracks in your boat, you can repair it yourself by using epoxy. If the cracks are purely surface crazing you can leave them alone. Fiberglass pools have a gel coating that can develop hairline cracks over time. Provides a longlasting repair guaranteed to seal and protect for years. Possible causes of fiberglass pool cracks home guides sf gate. Repairing hairline fiberglass deck cracks sailboat owners. Spider cracks are nonstructural damage to the gelcoat of a boat. Fiberglass and gelcoat have different flexing characteristics. Hairline fix is the easiest, most durable way to repair scratches, scrapes, stress cracks, spider fractures, and crazing in fiberglass and gelcoat surfaces. Also used to provide a glossy top coat for 9 second chip fix repairs. This penetrating copolymer sealant is formulated to be so thin that by using capillary action it can find its way inside fine cracks and set to a clear, flexible seal.

Plus use it as a gloss top coat for magicezy 9 second chip fix repairs. Gelcoat that matches the color of your crownline can be purchased at your crownline dealer or at. How to repair spider cracks on your fiberglass boat. Jun 19, 2012 ive got some crazing hairline cracks in the surface of the gelcoat on the deck surfaces of an islander 26, and especially in the moldednonskid gelcoat areas. These cracks typically only penetrate the gel coat and do not affect the pools structural integrity. Crazing in gelcoat, also known as spider cracks or stress cracks, plagues countless boaters. Its been this way since as long as i can remember, 20 years at least, and really hasnt gotten any worse over that time.

Cracks from larger issuesa winch, for example, that was inadequately mounted will need to be fixed before cosmetic repairs begin. Mar 11, 2014 finally, theres an easy way to seal and color crazing in gelcoat and hairline cracks in fiberglass, ceramics, plastic and metal. 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. 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.

Stress cracks, spider cracks, and hairline cracks in the decks of older boats are, of course, not rare. It doesnt seem to be due to the mast hitting the nose for once, and there doesnt seem to be any water intrusion or any soft spots. 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. Magicezy hairline fix navy blue boat gelcoat crack repair fills. Better to fill with gelcoat, cover with insulation tape and let cure. Easy permanent repairs on hairline cracks, small scratches and chips in fiberglass. To match the color exactly, specify boat model, name, color and year manufactured. To repair fine stress cracks and hairline fractures, use magicezy hairline fix instead. Hairline fix seal and color stress cracks and gelcoat crazing. Fixing hairline cracks in gelcoat my 2003 hifly madd sandwich carbon has some hairline cracks in the rail just aft of the nose see second picture. I see no obvious evidence of floor moisture when viewing from under house. My only concerns about this technique is that every hairline crack i have seen repaired involved a repair in the grp underneath the cracks, often the grip was removed to a depth of 5mm or more and was filled with layers of matt and resin before the gelcoat was applied. Spider cracks can indicate impact damage or serious structural problems that will need to be addressed to prevent spreading, but most often they result from relatively inflexible gelcoat that is too thick. Dec 06, 2017 spider cracks can indicate impact damage or serious structural problems that will need to be addressed to prevent spreading, but most often they result from relatively inflexible gelcoat that is too thick.