Gel coat crack

[Eric Schmidt]

Hi,Question.I notice a few cracks in the gelcoat in the swing keel housing below the waterline.Is this something that needs immediate attention and is critical or can I put my coat of antifouling paint and I should be fine for the coming season? I would plan to redo the buttom next winter. I should say that the boat will be in the water all summer.Any advice would be welcome.Thanx

 

[Rich Clough]

My surveyor says yes

I just bought a used 96 H26 last summer. My survey showed cracks forward of and radiating out from the centerboard trunk. The cracks penetrated through the gelcoat. My Surveyor recommended hauling the boat this winter to allow several months of drying time, slightly Dremel routing the cracks through the gelcoat, filling the routed cracks with an appropriate material and then bottom painting. I would suggest you determine the depth of your cracking and proceeding based upon that observation. My Surveyor also suggested that since these are stress cracks ( probably normal and to be expected ) that I could have a professional lay a few strips of fiberglass over that area of high stress if I so desired. My choice is to Dremel rout repair and then observe conditional changes in the future.

 

[Crazy Dave Condon]

gel coat cracks

Often these are called stress cracks and so forth. You have an older boat. Most of the time you will find then in curvatures or areas that flex. I have seen in some boats where the gel coat was old and it cracked because of that which surprised me. If below the water line, yes they need to ba addressed in time. Would I do it now? Maybe bor maybe not on the repairs. If the boat is not leaking and you cannot see cracks in the glass, I would go ahead put some expoxy filler in and go sailing. Then take the boat out next winter and let it dry. Then take a look and see if the two part epxoy filler worked assuming you are speaking of a small crack. If large then you need to take care of it.Crazy Dave