I have some hairline cracks around the chain plate. Any suggestions as to how and fix so it does not become a larger problem.
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Mostlikely those are just cracks in the gelcoat due to the fiberglass flexing...nothing wrong with a little flexing from time to time. So, I would just apply a new layer of gelcoat over the area, sand smooth and take her sailing. If the cracks re-appear soon, then it's time to do something about it. If not, then it may have been just a result of somebody not sailing the boat right and in very very rough conditions and shouldn't be much of a worry.
To fix if the fiberglass is weak? The hardest part is keeping the fiberglass out of your clothes and old fiberglass and gelcoat out of the water then you grid it off...in otherwords, not too big of a deal.
Just grind away the gelcoat and if you see the fiberglass cracked, grind that down until you either run into the last layer of fiberglass or you found solid glass (want to keep last layer for a backing to lay new stuff to give it the proper shape). Grid to a slope of at least 12 to 1 ratio against clean solid glass so the new glass you put down will have a good area to stick to and there will not be any hard spots (if you add on an additional 1/4" thick of glass and stop it all in one place, that is going to transfer all stress to that stopping place which will make the result weaker than it was originally...you want the stress to be displaced evenly). If there is no crack in the glass, then you just need to add additional layers but once again, layer it so the strength in the glass decreases gradually. Also, don't underestimate the range of area you should be glassing.
When done, put on at least 12 coats (I prefer 15) of gelcoat and sand. When mixing the colors into the gelcoat to match the color, do so very gradually to the whole amount you think it will take to do the job. You do not want to have seperate colors in coats because when you sand, it will look camoflagged
Also when mixing, just add a little drop of color agent, stir, and then dab a little on the hull/deck to compare color. Keep doing until they match.
Don't worry about making a mistake with either the glass or the gelcoat. You can always sand/grid it off and re-do it.
To fix if the fiberglass is weak? The hardest part is keeping the fiberglass out of your clothes and old fiberglass and gelcoat out of the water then you grid it off...in otherwords, not too big of a deal.
Just grind away the gelcoat and if you see the fiberglass cracked, grind that down until you either run into the last layer of fiberglass or you found solid glass (want to keep last layer for a backing to lay new stuff to give it the proper shape). Grid to a slope of at least 12 to 1 ratio against clean solid glass so the new glass you put down will have a good area to stick to and there will not be any hard spots (if you add on an additional 1/4" thick of glass and stop it all in one place, that is going to transfer all stress to that stopping place which will make the result weaker than it was originally...you want the stress to be displaced evenly). If there is no crack in the glass, then you just need to add additional layers but once again, layer it so the strength in the glass decreases gradually. Also, don't underestimate the range of area you should be glassing.
When done, put on at least 12 coats (I prefer 15) of gelcoat and sand. When mixing the colors into the gelcoat to match the color, do so very gradually to the whole amount you think it will take to do the job. You do not want to have seperate colors in coats because when you sand, it will look camoflagged
Also when mixing, just add a little drop of color agent, stir, and then dab a little on the hull/deck to compare color. Keep doing until they match.
Don't worry about making a mistake with either the glass or the gelcoat. You can always sand/grid it off and re-do it.
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