Fixing cracks in a hull/keel

[Rltgold]

I am getting ready to start repainting my bottom. I have some small horizontal cracks in the gelcoat where the keel meets the hull.( Probably from the flat rock we run over last year).
I am hoping they are just in the gelcoat which would be easy to fix.
My question is How thick is the fiberglass at that point in the hull ?

Thanks

 

[pclarksurf]

The foreward most section of the keel trunk is substantial -- one of the strongest points on the boat. Don't dig for China--
take a modest grind along the lateral damage and assess-- very likely a good swath of epoxy tidies you up nicely. For more aggressive or wider damage-- grind wide and epoxy with fiberglass....

 

[Rltgold]

PC like I mentioned I only plan to start by taking off the paint. then the gelcoat.All of the cracking on the boat so far is only gelcoat. Unfortunately the cracks can be scene on the inside as well but never any leaking.

 

[pclarksurf]

pretty typical (short of a major accident) -- you're on the right path. Take the gel coat off to expose the matt-- if it doesn't look dramatic-- fill / fair and forget. And someone's bound to point out that if it's not leaking -- sand into the gel coat to retard the crack and forget it. Sounds like you need to spend as much time and energy on this as your Aesthetic sense requires.

 

[greg_m]

Pictures?

 

[shemandr]

If you see cracks in the bilge or inside of hull you should check the tabbing of the pan to the hull and bulkheads to the hull. There can be damage far away from the point of impact from a hard grounding. Only you know how hard you hit the rock and where on keel the impact was. But 2-3 knots on the front edge can cause damage.

 

[Rltgold]

We hit the edge of a flat rock and slide over it at about 2 knots. There are fine surface cracks in the bilge but those are the only thing I've found. Never any leaking.
The hairline cracks in the keel hull turned out to be just in the primer filler and after sanding down are going away.

I started sanding at the top of the waterline yesterday in preparation for bottom painting. The last boat yard failed to prep the first 2" at all and the paint fell right off after about 3 months. So I decided to do that myself. My hull is in great condition with only a few very small blisters. There is a series of vertical hairline cracks in the port side about 12" wide that look like something bashed into the sides of the boat. These are very fine to the point you can even feel them with your fingernail.
My question is , Do I fix them or not ? A friend told me leave it alone.

 

[shemandr]

Pics? I guess you could sand the hairline cracks and see if they go through the gel coat. If so you may need to place a barrier coat there before the bottom paint. Bottom paint doesn't prevent water ingress into the laminate.

 

[Doug Doty]

My question is , Do I fix them or not ? A friend told me leave it alone.[/QUOTE]

Give this a quick watch, relevant content on this video !!!

I think it should be sanded thru and re-gelcoated for a boat that will sit in the water seasonally for sure. Not as urgent for a trailer sailor. I have to admit all of my prior experience is with heavier layups where I have never came across this exact situation below waterline.

 

[greg_m]

Also check out Boatworks Today YouTube channel where Andy does a big deck repair and some smaller areas of cracks in gel coat.

 

[Hardhead]

Honestly, just about every boat I've been on has dozens, or hundreds, of hairline stress cracks in the gelcoat, particularly at corners, or where the gelcoat took a hard nock from something at some point. Some boats in my family have had them for 30+ years, and they've never turned into a problem at all. As long as they aren't significant and allowing water into the laminate, I really wouldn't worry about them. I've always believed they were just a normal aspect of cosmetic wear and tear on fiberglass boats. Keeps me happy that way--

 

[Rltgold]

Well things are working out great. Got the waterline sanded down and all the small cracks were no problem. It at my local boat yard now being primed and painted. Let's hope the rain stops long enough for them to get it finished

 

[Rltgold]

The bottom paint is almost finished. They lifted and moved it to paint the stand spots today. Back in the water next week!

 

[Hardhead]

Looking good & the season is right around the corner.

 

[Rltgold]

Thanks Hardhead.
We don't have a on /off season here in Southern California but it has been very stormy lately. Hope to splash it in the water next week!

 

[Hardhead]

Thanks Hardhead.
We don't have a on /off season here in Southern California...

Man - that's rubbing it in... I'd love to be out there. Do you take any destination type cruises?

 

[Rltgold]

Sorry Hardhead, I am buying a new trailer that will allow me to feel much better about traveling with my boat. The one I have now is great for local trips. I am eyeing Baja California and the Eastern US