1967 Pearson Ariel Gel coat (Hull crazing?)

[pearsoncommander251]

I am the new owner of a Pearson Ariel. I recently had the hull soda blasted due to years of paint build-up. The Boat was in Boston for 20+ years and stored on the hard for three years. The anti-fouling paint was hard epoxy and coated and coated and coated. Once the paint was removed it revealed what looks like cracks or crazing. The question is... is this cosmetic or deeper? Could this be from freezing temp or UV sun exposure? Should I grind and inspect or just move forward with the barrier coat 2000 system?

See photos of the hull gel coat cracks:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/94994866@N05/8655885301/in/photostream

http://www.flickr.com/photos/94994866@N05/8655885333/in/photostream/

 

[ed stack]

I'm not a expert, so take this for exactly what it's worth, but I can tell you that the crazing on the transom of my P32 is nowhere near as linear as your photos show. I don't think gel goat is very thick (a few mm at most), and as such I am wondering if the cracks go all the way to the FG. Could hull flex do that? Is the hull all glass (it seems my P32 is)?

Can you take of the screen and examine the crack that emanate from there, to get a sense of whether the cracks go through the gel coat?

Again, I'm no expert. But I do think you should investigate. I only hope the solution is not more hardship. She'll be beautiful when wet.

ed

 

[Merlin Clark]

If the gelcoat is solid and not loose anywhere, I'd give her a couple of coats of high build primer like http://www.thechandleryonline.com/product_info.php?products_id=3650
then barrier coat and bottom paint.