Fill the crack with a fair amount of fiberglass epoxy resin, using a plastic applicator. This instructable comes from a recent project i have been working on that involves fixing. Check out our new website its pretty flippin awesome. With time, it is possible that gelcoat can become cracked, simply through wear and tear or a specific incidence of damage. How to repair fiberglass swimming pool steps home guides. I called a lot of paint companies and fiberglass manufacurers today and it is the fiberglass that is cracked, thru the full body paint, and into the clear coat. Repairing fiberglass vipwhen laminating a hole and where you have access to the outside of the repair, you should use a temporary backing to which the glassfibre will not bond. The good news is that spider cracks can be far easier to handle once you know what to do. Stress cracks can help us understand what caused the damage. Step 2 then toughen the laminate that contains the crack or cracks by solidifying it. I have some knowledge of working with fiberglass just dont want to go through the trouble if it is going to come back through the new. I have some knowledge of working with fiberglass just dont want to go through the trouble if it is going to come back through the new paint.
When working with fiberglass, tedious sanding can last for hours and even days. 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. The cracks can also point to a structural defect that must be corrected. Repairing hundreds of fiberglass cracks to get ready for spraying awlgrip paint. Especially with the production polyester fiberglass, the gelcoat protects against weakening of the fiberglass laminate from water intrusion.
Jun 10, 2017 hairline spider cracks must be opened wider and filled with an epoxy filler to be permanently repaired. The crack begins on the top of the right rear fender and has propagated under the paint to the apex of the right rear wheel arch. Eg a bit of polyprop plastic covered with polythene or cling film. 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. Fiberglass pools floating my personal favorite fiberglass cracking. The most challenging part of doing fiberglass body work yourself is being patient.
Because many lack the knowledge to repair composite parts and molds, damaged items are often replaced. In most cases this is true, however it is important to seal them correctly otherwise water may penetrate into. 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. Here is a step by step guide to repairing the hairline crack on your fiberglass bathtub. Step 1 figure out what caused the cracks to begin with. Sometimes, however, spider cracks offer a path for water to get into contact with. How to repair spiderweb cracks in fiberglass with gelcoat. Fix them yourself with this straightforward tutorial. The cracks or crazing as you define them seem smaller than the ones on your pic, but its hard to be sure as there is no scale in the pic. Step 3 now, once youve removed all hardware, toerails, and other paraphernalia. How to repair a hairline crack in a fiberglass tub diy fix. I did some more research and it looks like the cracks arent in the fiberglass but in the gelcoat.
How to fix a hairline crack in a fiberglass tub home guides. Magicezy hairline fix is a onepart, pretinted available in 10 colors sealant that allows you to complete the repair in seconds without having to grind out the existing damage. It can be difficult to diagnose spider cracks, especially when youre not aware of them. Jun 06, 2016 when looking at cracks you may find that there are generally two different types. Fiberglass showers and bathtubs are durable, easily maintained, and attractive fixtures, but they may still be accidentally damaged. There are many ways to repair cracks in fiberglasswhich ones the best. How to repair spider cracks in fiberglass boat plans. Wipe the crack with a dry rag to make sure its clean and dry.
Using highbuild primer to repair fiberglass crazing. Small cracks form in the outer surface of the fiberglass, spreading out from a central point like a. This project fixes a crack in the fiberglass body of a 1977 chevrolet corvette. Though they may look scary, your cracked plaster walls are not beyond repair. Rating is available when the video has been rented. The other repair for spider cracks involves a little more work. Always use the right colorants which match your tub color.
Is there an approved way of fixing a cracked fiberglass. Small cracks form in the outer surface of the fiberglass, spreading out from a central point like a spiderweb. They can occur in any form of fiberglass, including cars, boats and. Sometimes, theyre merely cosmetic, meaning they dont penetrate the gelcoat. 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. When the area is dry, smooth the surface with sandpaper. But repairing a fiberglass canoe can be much simpler than you thinkparticularly if youre dealing with an issue of a clean crack. How to repair a fibreglass crack for beginners youtube.
Repairing minor damage to the gelcoat surface of your boat west. Jul 24, 2006 i did some more research and it looks like the cracks arent in the fiberglass but in the gelcoat. May 27, 2009 ill chime in on the hairline cracks to say no worriestheyre simply a fact of life as fiberglass boats age. Sometimes, however, spider cracks offer a path for water to get into contact with the fiberglass structure under the gelcoat. Youll be surprised how they disappear, and most wont reappear because the stress has already been relieved.
Try not to remove any of the fiberglass resin or cloth. Mar 20, 2017 there are many ways to repair cracks in fiberglasswhich ones the best. There are several options for repairing a cracked bathtub floor. How to fix spider cracks in fiberglass free online. How to repair spider cracks in fiberglass boat plans, boat. They can occur in any form of fiberglass, including cars, boats and swimming pools. How to fix spider cracks, hairline cracks, and crazing in boat gelcoat. These scars of a life welllived are unsightly, but usually are just cosmetic. The best product for the job is determined by the extent of the problem. Start by wiping down the area with acetone and sanding the damaged gelcoat down to the fiberglass. Repairing stress cracks in a nonskid textured surface. How to repair a hairline crack in a fiberglass tub diy. Org view topic repairing spider web cracks in hood.
Clean up the cracks as best you can, get some rubber gloves, mix up some marinetex, use fingers to force the mixture into the cracks, let cure, wet sand smooth with grit or so. If you dont want to use paint, you can grind away most of the crazed gelcoat and replace it with a fresh application of colormatching gelcoat paste. Being wellprepared and having the proper equipment will add to the ease in which the job is done. How to fix crazing in gelcoat, also known as spider cracks or stress cracks which plague countless boaters. If its not clean and dry the epoxy wont adhere well. One way to quickly fix cracked plaster walls is with basic drywall tools and materials that you can easily and inexpensively obtain at a home improvement store. Glass reinforced plastic grp, known as fiberglass or glass wool, is thin fibers of polymer plastic woven together with strands of glass. The next time youre cleaning and waxing your boat, take the time to look for small cracks, scratches and chips in its gel coat. Surfboards are foam covered by fibreglass cloth laminated in resin. The fiberglass inlay option is a permanent repair solution for most bathtub. Many leaks and cracks can be fixed underwater without draining the pool. No matter how bad a crack or an indentation may look, the process is the same as if it was a little pit.
There are recessed spots over the entire nonskid surface. Repairing a fibreglass crack doesnt have to be daunting. I grinded down eveything inside the hull even the screw heads in the water channel, there were to many screw holes, couple of bad spots, and cracks to try and repair the factory non skid,would have taken me longer to try and match than to grind plus as nice as the factory not skid is, it holds dirt, stains, hard to keep clean, and is a little hard on the bare feet i live in south. Aquabond has all the repair products professionals need to fix a wide variety of problems that occur in fiberglass pools, spas and hot tubs, as well as in vinyl pool liners. How to repair spider cracks in fiberglass boatlife. Step 4 as soon as the crack has been channeled out, wipe it clean. Repairing hairline cracks and how to do repair gelcoat magicezy. Extensive spider cracking common on older boats is due to aging of the gelcoat. How to repair fiberglass on a boat the family handyman. Spider cracks are small, hairlike cracks that appear on the gelcoat of boats. How to repair spider cracks in fiberglass with images.
In such cases, grinding off the gelcoat for wholesale refinishing is the best approach. Stress cracks, are often called spider cracks because they will radiate. If not managed, these small cosmetic annoyances can. It appears that the gelcoat was probably not waxed for many years and is beat by the sun and has some crazing and spider cracks. The stress cracks are not much larger then the thickness of a. The texturing of the deck is dimpled, for lack of a better term. Composites offer numerous advantages over conventional building materials. One advantage that might not be obvious is the ease and durability of repairs. Use the household cleaner and the sponge to clean the area around the crack. How to repair spider cracks on your fiberglass boat. Weve put together an easy to follow guide specifically aimed at those new to fibreglass. How to repair a fiberglass tub or shower with pictures. Larger cracks up to 16 inches can be repaired with a bathtub inlay kit. How to repair cracks and chips in damaged gelcoat duration.
Bonding the original skin back onto the new core can save significant time and money. Spider cracks are a form of fiberglass damage that occurs from minor flexing or impacts. Learn how to treat wearinduced spider cracks that appear along the hull of your dinghy. Repairing stress cracks in a nonskid textured deck ive got a 79 f36 trojan. As long as there is no structural damage to the fiberglass itself which should be noticeable when pressing hard, youve got nothing to worry about. By using a basic epoxy kit with a few essential items, repairing a fiberglass tub takes as little as one day, with most of that time spent as the compound dries. Stress cracks, spider cracks, and hairline cracks in the decks of older boats are, of course, not rare. Magic fix for hairline cracks in gelcoat practical sailor. They may indicate whether something inside the boat has broken loose and caused the damage or if it was caused by something hitting the boat from the outside. A common fiberglass repair is replacing damaged core, often because of water absorption.
If not managed, these small cosmetic annoyances can lead to bigger problems down the road. It penetrates deeply into the pores of even the finest of cracks for ultra tough adhesion and durability. Fortunately for homeowners, there are inexpensive kits available. 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. The glass cloth is a bit rough and the mix with resin allow some bumps from the cloth to show, so a layer of pure resin is used to cover it. Corvette bodies are made entirely of fairly thin fiberglass, and the sensuous curves of our cars are what gives the bodywork some crosssection to maintain its rigidity.
And almost every fiberglass boat, even the most mollycoddled, eventually suffers the heartbreak of spiderweb andor stress cracks. Apr 20, 2020 how to repair cracks in a fiberglass bathtub. Hairline spider cracks must be opened wider and filled with an epoxy filler to be permanently. Gelcoat is a fiberglass resin that has had a pigment added to it. Ill chime in on the hairline cracks to say no worriestheyre simply a fact of life as fiberglass boats age. How to fix minor cracks in fiberglass building your own boat can be cheaper than buying a manufactured boat. Heres everything youll need to know to repair these cracks.
In many of these repairs, the fiberglass skins are in great shape but need to be peeled off to replace the core. When looking at cracks you may find that there are generally two different types. Crazing in gelcoat, also known as spider cracks or stress cracks, plagues countless boaters. It can also be a great hobby for anyone who has some basic carpentry experience and enjoys working with their hands. These are the easiest cracks to fix as theyre not very deep. There are two types of cracks that will commonly appear on a fiberglass pool stress or spider cracks, and structural cracks. You may want to apply colored gelcoat enamel over the repaired area, so the repair wont be so noticeable. These cracks are generally cosmetic, and indicate flexing of the hull. If the surface of your boat looks like a cracked eggshell, the gelcoat is suffering from crazing sometimes called alligatoring. Aug 15, 2018 unless your boat lives her life dockside cuddled up to a couple of fenders, shes going to get a few scrapes and bruises. 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.
How to fix spider cracks in fiberglass it still runs. Repairing spider cracks the good news about these cracks is that theyre largely cosmetic problems. One of the projects that every restorer of an old corvette eventually has to tackle is a crack in the fiberglass. Fiberglass is used in innumerable consumer and industrial products from airplanes and automobiles to showers and insulation. Minor cracks and spider cracking can be repaired with a fiberglass bathtub repair kit. The gel coat cracks are simply cracks in the cosmetic layer thats put over the top to keep the rv looking shiny. 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.
The crack begins on the top of the right rear fender and has propagated under the. Spider cracks can indicate impact damage or serious structural problems that will need to be addressed to prevent spreading, but most often. Repairing hundreds of fiberglass cracks to get ready for. The materials and techniques for repairing fiberglass are far different than ones used for repairing sheet metal.