I recently purchased a 1991 First 35s5 and I noticed some cracks in the gel-coat of the cockpit. How should I repair those blemishes? Thank you Jan s/v Pina - San Francisco
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Droop
You don't
They have to grinded out and filled. That a very hard / expensive job. If you wax the boat reel good no one will notice the spider or stress cracks.
They have to grinded out and filled. That a very hard / expensive job. If you wax the boat reel good no one will notice the spider or stress cracks.
Cosmetic
Hi Jan - Regardless of what caused them, I believe the cracks are not structural. I'd just fill with bottompaint, since they are below the waterline. Worry not! Trevor
Hi Jan - Regardless of what caused them, I believe the cracks are not structural. I'd just fill with bottompaint, since they are below the waterline. Worry not! Trevor
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Rich
Want to hear from the real "expert" on a technique
Guys, if you're going to jump in before the expert at least read the question! Jan was talking about gelcoat cracks IN THE COCKPIT, so bottom paint is not relevant. And yes, we know it will take some grinding and filling, that's why we're here! I have cockpit and cabin top gelcoat cracks and am considering using a West syringe filled with epoxy to fill them, followed by buffing them down to deck level with a Dremel topped with a fiber buffing pad. I've used the Dremel with fiber pad for taking down epoxy surrounded by gelcoat in the past, and it works without damaging the surrounding gelcoat. I'm puzzling over how to get the same color as the non-skid, which seems to be some kind of Aqua green, so I may mix up samples from the West color set until I find a close match. 2 areas I would like to hear from the expert on are: what should I use to clean or prime the cracks before injecting the epoxy, and should I try to cover the epoxy fill with clear gelcoat or will it be okay by itself? Should I expect the cracks to stay sealed (regardless of whether new ones open up)? My survey said my cracks had not penetrated to the wood core.
Guys, if you're going to jump in before the expert at least read the question! Jan was talking about gelcoat cracks IN THE COCKPIT, so bottom paint is not relevant. And yes, we know it will take some grinding and filling, that's why we're here! I have cockpit and cabin top gelcoat cracks and am considering using a West syringe filled with epoxy to fill them, followed by buffing them down to deck level with a Dremel topped with a fiber buffing pad. I've used the Dremel with fiber pad for taking down epoxy surrounded by gelcoat in the past, and it works without damaging the surrounding gelcoat. I'm puzzling over how to get the same color as the non-skid, which seems to be some kind of Aqua green, so I may mix up samples from the West color set until I find a close match. 2 areas I would like to hear from the expert on are: what should I use to clean or prime the cracks before injecting the epoxy, and should I try to cover the epoxy fill with clear gelcoat or will it be okay by itself? Should I expect the cracks to stay sealed (regardless of whether new ones open up)? My survey said my cracks had not penetrated to the wood core.
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Bruce Niederer
Repairing cosmetic gelcoat cracks
In many situations, fixing cosmetic gelcoat cracks with epoxy is problematic, and I think the Beneteau owner touched on the main reason -long term, stable color matching. Epoxy is not UV stable so even if you could match the gelcoat color the repair will eventually begin to yellow and oxidize. Epoxy is used when the cracking is extensive and the repairs will be re-gelcoated or painted. For small isolated spider crack repairs I suggest using a gelcoat for the repair. It can be thickened with 406 colloidal silica if necessary for vertical surfaces. Open the cracks up a bit - a good tool is an old style can opener with the V at one end. Scrape it along the cracks so they're wider at the top surface. Then use a squeegee to fill the repair areas. There is a company that can custom match gelcoat, old or new, and this makes the repair fairly quick and easy. Contact Mini-Craft of Florida (800-282-8244) and talk to their tech rep. - he's very helpful.
In many situations, fixing cosmetic gelcoat cracks with epoxy is problematic, and I think the Beneteau owner touched on the main reason -long term, stable color matching. Epoxy is not UV stable so even if you could match the gelcoat color the repair will eventually begin to yellow and oxidize. Epoxy is used when the cracking is extensive and the repairs will be re-gelcoated or painted. For small isolated spider crack repairs I suggest using a gelcoat for the repair. It can be thickened with 406 colloidal silica if necessary for vertical surfaces. Open the cracks up a bit - a good tool is an old style can opener with the V at one end. Scrape it along the cracks so they're wider at the top surface. Then use a squeegee to fill the repair areas. There is a company that can custom match gelcoat, old or new, and this makes the repair fairly quick and easy. Contact Mini-Craft of Florida (800-282-8244) and talk to their tech rep. - he's very helpful.
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pablo
Hey Rich!!!!
Where did you get the fiber buffing pad?? I have some epoxy that I need to sand down,round and smooth out. Tried it by hand . What a job. What steps do you recommend after I get it sanded down and smooth? Thought about using rubbing compound to get the finish out. Thanks Paul H S/V Linda Belle 95 H26
Where did you get the fiber buffing pad?? I have some epoxy that I need to sand down,round and smooth out. Tried it by hand . What a job. What steps do you recommend after I get it sanded down and smooth? Thought about using rubbing compound to get the finish out. Thanks Paul H S/V Linda Belle 95 H26
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Rich
Dremel tools at Sears, Walmart
Pablo, larger Sears stores or stand-alone Sears hardware stores have display racks of Dremel or Sears-brand rotary tool tips. I couldn't find a picture of the tool on the web, but it's the tip that resembles a triangle made with foam sanding pad material. Walmart also sells some Dremel tips in boxed kits. The rotary tool works well for taking down and cleaning off small gauges and cracks. For a big area you could probably find pads of similar material for hand sanding. Bruce's comment about the gelcoat seems to be the last word on what to use as a finish coat (at least if you're trying to avoid painting anything on, although regrettably that's probably the best solution).
Pablo, larger Sears stores or stand-alone Sears hardware stores have display racks of Dremel or Sears-brand rotary tool tips. I couldn't find a picture of the tool on the web, but it's the tip that resembles a triangle made with foam sanding pad material. Walmart also sells some Dremel tips in boxed kits. The rotary tool works well for taking down and cleaning off small gauges and cracks. For a big area you could probably find pads of similar material for hand sanding. Bruce's comment about the gelcoat seems to be the last word on what to use as a finish coat (at least if you're trying to avoid painting anything on, although regrettably that's probably the best solution).
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