Gel Coat Spider Crack Repair

Posted on

Spider cracks are a form of fiberglass damage that occurs from minor flexing or impacts. They can occur in any form of fiberglass, including cars, boats and swimming pools. Small cracks form in the outer surface of the fiberglass, spreading out from a central point like a spiderweb. These cracks do not affect the structural integrity of the fiberglass, but are an aesthetic issue. Fortunately, spider cracks are not difficult to repair.

How to Fix Spider Cracks in Fiberglass. These cracks do not affect the structural integrity of the fiberglass, but are an aesthetic issue. Fortunately, spider cracks are not difficult to repair. Clean the area with acetone and a rag to remove any dirt or other impurities. Mix catalyst into the gelcoat following the instructions. The only way to properly repair spider cracks is to grind out the material to the ends of the cracks, repair the underlying fiberglass, and then restore the gel coat with new. You also need to determine what internal or external stress caused the crack in the first place and eliminate it so that the crack does not reappear. Repairing Stress Cracks in a Nonskid Textured Deck I've got a 79 F36 Trojan. The texturing of the deck is dimpled, for lack of a better term. There are recessed spots over the entire nonskid surface. The stress cracks are not much larger then the thickness of a hair. The deck and boat is an off white color. Yea that's why I'm leaning towards a more covered up application. Something like a thickened paint/thinned out gel coat so that it will fill the voids after scrapped out and then blend in with the surrounding areas and not be able to see the lines from the od spider cracks.

Step 1

Download ubuntu 12.04 iso. Clean the area with acetone and a rag to remove any dirt or other impurities.

Step 2

Sand the damaged area with 100-grit sandpaper to roughen the surface. You can sand by hand or with an electric sander.

Step 3

Wash the area with acetone a second time to remove all sanding dust.

Step 4

Mask off the area around the cracks with masking tape and plaster to protect against drips.

Step 5

Pull all of the loose bristles out of a cheap paint brush. Loose bristles may become embedded in the gelcoat.

Step 6

Measure a small amount of gelcoat, which is a thick form of fiberglass resin, into a paper bucket. If the fiberglass will be exposed to water, the gelcoat should be marine grade.

In this article, I am going to tell you about best & safe APK sites. Using these websites, you can easily download APK files to install your desired android apps that too for free. 15 Safe APK Sites to Download APK Files. There is no doubt that you got plenty of options of such APK sites. Best free apk download sites. CKay TV is currently making itself known as one of the Best free live streaming APK’s available. It has recently gotten a new update that has been working fabulously. With tons of Categories and Channels to choose from, their is no shortage of content. CKay provides links for News, Entertainment, Sports, Movies, Lifestyle, Kids, and more. APK Mirror is one of the best alternatives to the Play Store, APK mirror offers millions of apps and games and we can download all of them for free. It gives the best updates for every app and has millions of views every day and millions of downloads every month. APK mirror is free, secure and it’s considered to be the best site to download android app files that are APK files. So, Download.

Step 7

Mix catalyst into the gelcoat following the instructions on the container. Precision is important: if you add too much catalyst the gelcoat will cure faster than it can be used, but if you add too little it won't cure at all.

Step 8

Brush a thin layer of gelcoat onto the sanded area, feathering it out a bit onto the surrounding fiberglass surface.

Step 9

Allow the gelcoat to sit for three hours, then spray it lightly with Polyvinal Alcohol to help it fully cure.

Step 10

Step 11

Step 12

Sand the area with 300-grit sandpaper to begin smoothing it. Re-sand it with 600-grit, then 900-grit and so on. Keep jumping 300 grit at a time until the repeated sanding has produced as smooth of a finish as you require.

Step 13

Boat Gelcoat Spider Crack Repair

Prime and paint the fiberglass to match the surrounding surface if needed.

Fiberglass Spider Crack Repair

Warnings

  • Wear rubber gloves when working with gelcoat.
  • Work in a well-ventilated area.

Gelcoat Spider Crack Repair In A Shower

Items you will need

Gel Coat Spider Crack Repair Product

  • Acetone
  • Rag
  • Sandpaper
  • Electric sander (optional)
  • Masking tape
  • Plastic sheeting
  • Paintbrush
  • Gelcoat
  • Paper bucket
  • Catalyst
  • Mixing stick
  • Polyvinyl Alcohol
  • Spray gun
  • Soapy water and sponge
  • Primer and paint (optional)

Gelcoat Spider Crack Repair

  • Jupiterimages/Photos.com/Getty Images

Spider Cracks In Fiberglass

More Articles