I've attached a photo of the cracks on my deck. They are on both sides of the companionway hatch in the forward corners. I'm pretty sure they were there when I bought the 1995H23.5 two years ago. What I don't know is if they are getting worse. What should I do? ...RickM...
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simple repair in a usual place
That is common and what may be the problem is too much putty in the area in drain well which could have created it. YOu will need to dremel out and fill in with two part epoxy or some type of marine filler with glass in it. Sand and then regel. In the non skid area, sand smooth and then take a brush using a gel style putty which you can make with the white gel and cabosil to mimick the nonskid. Hope this helps you. Not a structural item just looks bad.
That is common and what may be the problem is too much putty in the area in drain well which could have created it. YOu will need to dremel out and fill in with two part epoxy or some type of marine filler with glass in it. Sand and then regel. In the non skid area, sand smooth and then take a brush using a gel style putty which you can make with the white gel and cabosil to mimick the nonskid. Hope this helps you. Not a structural item just looks bad.
You're not the only one Rick
I also have them as I'm sure many Hunter Owners do. Thanks for the suggestion Dave. Would Captain Tilly's Crack filler work? It is obviously not as through as your method but would it work for a quick fix to keep water form migrating down in?
I also have them as I'm sure many Hunter Owners do. Thanks for the suggestion Dave. Would Captain Tilly's Crack filler work? It is obviously not as through as your method but would it work for a quick fix to keep water form migrating down in?
Cracks
I think these are more cosmetic than structural. They usually appear at tight radius corners. I dont think water intrusion to the core is an issue because it is just the gel coat that is cracking. Dave any thoughts on this?
I think these are more cosmetic than structural. They usually appear at tight radius corners. I dont think water intrusion to the core is an issue because it is just the gel coat that is cracking. Dave any thoughts on this?
Chasing cracks
If you want/need to get rid of the cracks, Dave's method makes sense. But in most cases I think you'd be forever chasing new cracks around the boat as it ages. It would have been a fulltime job on my old O'Day 19. Ron Mehringer h26 Hdyro-Therapy
If you want/need to get rid of the cracks, Dave's method makes sense. But in most cases I think you'd be forever chasing new cracks around the boat as it ages. It would have been a fulltime job on my old O'Day 19. Ron Mehringer h26 Hdyro-Therapy
Dave - tools and details?
Thanks Dave, that helps. The instuctions are very similar to what was suggested for the crack at the bottom of the transom where it separates from the hull. I had to go to a hardware store to see what a dremel was. It looks to me like a cross between a router and a dentist's drill and you can get 1001 different bits for it. Can one just use an electric drill with the right bit? What shape of bit and what diameter for these deck cracks? Does such a bit come in different material (eg like drill bits and sand paper is made for wood or metal) and what should one use? I have a small kit of white Marine-Tex. Does that qualify for the two-part epoxy that you mentioned? I've never seen gelcoat: Is it a liquid or something to mix? Does it come in small quantities? Do you apply it with a brush in these cases? Do I use clear or white or does it only come one way? It sounds like something I could manage but given the questions that I had to ask, let me know if you don't think I should try it myself.
...RickM...
Thanks Dave, that helps. The instuctions are very similar to what was suggested for the crack at the bottom of the transom where it separates from the hull. I had to go to a hardware store to see what a dremel was. It looks to me like a cross between a router and a dentist's drill and you can get 1001 different bits for it. Can one just use an electric drill with the right bit? What shape of bit and what diameter for these deck cracks? Does such a bit come in different material (eg like drill bits and sand paper is made for wood or metal) and what should one use? I have a small kit of white Marine-Tex. Does that qualify for the two-part epoxy that you mentioned? I've never seen gelcoat: Is it a liquid or something to mix? Does it come in small quantities? Do you apply it with a brush in these cases? Do I use clear or white or does it only come one way? It sounds like something I could manage but given the questions that I had to ask, let me know if you don't think I should try it myself.
...RickM...voids and cracks
Usually, you will find hair line gel coat cracks in curvatures and so forth. It could be that there is a void, too much putty behind the gel coat, or to thin which is the least of the three. Simply removing the gel coat and applying more gel does not take care of the fix in my books. You have to go deeper to see what it is. Generlly, I have found voids where the glass did not get rolled up against the gel coat in manufacturing or there may be too much putty. I usually dig it out and then do the repair and re gel. The reason I like the dremel as it has so many bits and in small places, it is great. I use it with my N Scale model trains. I feel I have better control with this tool but anything can work. As for gel coat which I refer to, it is a paint basically if you want to call it that. It is hard to match white to white but if you had to get some, look for bright white or a duller shade for the older boats. If you are near a dealer, maybe he has some for your use.
Usually, you will find hair line gel coat cracks in curvatures and so forth. It could be that there is a void, too much putty behind the gel coat, or to thin which is the least of the three. Simply removing the gel coat and applying more gel does not take care of the fix in my books. You have to go deeper to see what it is. Generlly, I have found voids where the glass did not get rolled up against the gel coat in manufacturing or there may be too much putty. I usually dig it out and then do the repair and re gel. The reason I like the dremel as it has so many bits and in small places, it is great. I use it with my N Scale model trains. I feel I have better control with this tool but anything can work. As for gel coat which I refer to, it is a paint basically if you want to call it that. It is hard to match white to white but if you had to get some, look for bright white or a duller shade for the older boats. If you are near a dealer, maybe he has some for your use.
Dremel tool
Rick, if you're gonna do this, follow Dave's advice and use a Dremel tool. This is fairly fine work and trying to do it with a bulky drill will be difficult at best. Not sure which bit is the best, but probably one of the diamond tipped "dentist" bits. Click on "related link" to see an inexpensive assortment of bits. Ron Mehringer h26 Hydro-Therapy
Rick, if you're gonna do this, follow Dave's advice and use a Dremel tool. This is fairly fine work and trying to do it with a bulky drill will be difficult at best. Not sure which bit is the best, but probably one of the diamond tipped "dentist" bits. Click on "related link" to see an inexpensive assortment of bits. Ron Mehringer h26 Hydro-Therapy
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