I have a 2006 Catalina 22 Sport. I noticed this year I have developed quite a few hair-line cracks in my cabin top. The are quite literally the size of hairs or even large spider webs. I can't imagine they go much deeper than the surface of the fiberglass. The is not moisture inside the cabin. Is anyone familiar with this type of crack? Should I be worried about them. What causes them and is there anything I can do about them? Maybe some white silicone caulk?
Hairline Cracks in Cabin top
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Don't use silicone.
Use this:
http://www.westmarine.com/webapp/wc...=-1&searchKeyword=captain+tolley#.UggX5j_pz-I
Use this:
http://www.westmarine.com/webapp/wc...=-1&searchKeyword=captain+tolley#.UggX5j_pz-I
Are those cracks near any hardware? Often you can get cracks from water intrusion. If there is any hardware in the area, the biggest fix would be properly bedding the hardware. Take a look at Maine Sail's how to articles if this is the case. (http://www.pbase.com/mainecruising/boat_projects)
Spider Cracks
Thxs Sam
Spider Cracks is what there called this happens alot on fiberglass boats whats happening is the jelcoat is cracking they normally don't leak the proper way to fix it is to grind out a bigger crack and refill with jelcoat and sand buff and rewax but 9 times out of ten they come back i would just fill with spot putty and repaint deck done properly looks like new again but it's a bit of work to repaint.
Thxs Sam
More on spider cracks
I have a few of these on my 2001 C-310. The local fiberglass expert said they are limited to the gelcoat and are caused by flexing of the deck. He wasn't too concerned about any long term problems that they might cause.
A previous post recommended a couple of ways to deal with them.
I have a few of these on my 2001 C-310. The local fiberglass expert said they are limited to the gelcoat and are caused by flexing of the deck. He wasn't too concerned about any long term problems that they might cause.
A previous post recommended a couple of ways to deal with them.
Many times gel coat cracks appear due to flexing of the area. That's why you should fend off by pushing on shrouds, not lifeline stanchions. So if cracks ARE caused by minor flexing you are wasting time trying to cosmetically repair. They'll come back.
Re-inforce hardware with (thicker) backing plates or learn to live with it. It comes with the territory when you buy a production boat. Generally speaking they're harmless.
Re-inforce hardware with (thicker) backing plates or learn to live with it. It comes with the territory when you buy a production boat. Generally speaking they're harmless.
Captain Tolleys is great if you don't want to grind the cracks. If you grind/widen the cracks, use 2 part gel coat paste instead of the one-part paste in a tube or putty. If it is color matched correctly, the fix will be almost invisible and no painting wil be required. Spectrum sells some gel paste premixed for newer model boats (first link), or you can add thickener to gel coat yourself (second link)
http://www.spectrumcolor.com/ProductDesc.aspx?code=F553510K&type=4&eq=&desc=F553510K&key=it
http://www.spectrumcolor.com/ProductDesc.aspx?code=F111000Q&type=0&eq=&desc=F111000Q&key=it
http://www.spectrumcolor.com/ProductDesc.aspx?code=F553510K&type=4&eq=&desc=F553510K&key=it
http://www.spectrumcolor.com/ProductDesc.aspx?code=F111000Q&type=0&eq=&desc=F111000Q&key=it
If they are not near lead bearing hardware or indicating water intrusion, leave them and alone and live with them. I recently heard a surveyor say that they considered this cosmetic and of no concern ... UNLESS they see that repair work has been done. At that point they start investigating further to see is some significant issue or previous damage is being covered up.
Can Captain Tolleys be color matched?
If I do elect to widen the cracks and use a 2 part color match product, what is the best tool to use to wide the crack without doing more damage than good.
BTW, does anyone know just how thick Hunter applied the gelcoat on the deck?
If I do elect to widen the cracks and use a 2 part color match product, what is the best tool to use to wide the crack without doing more damage than good.
BTW, does anyone know just how thick Hunter applied the gelcoat on the deck?
It doesn't need to be, it's an almost very thin liquid that literally dives into the cracks and doesn't leave any residue on the outside.
Regardless of the layup, if you choose to open up the crack, I suggest you do some reading up on repairing gelcoat and fibergalss. The details are pretty long to type in here.
It doesn't need to be, it's an almost very thin liquid that literally dives into the cracks and doesn't leave any residue on the outside.
Regardless of the layup, if you choose to open up the crack, I suggest you do some reading up on repairing gelcoat and fiberglass. The details are pretty long to type in here.
Also air voids
A gelcoat guy once told me it can also be due to air voids between the gelcoat and the fiberglass layup. I have more than a few on my Hunter 376. Many are in the corners around the companionway, line lockers, and sea hood. If they are deep, you need to fill them with epoxy and then finish over with gelcoat or gelcoat patch. Use the stuff from Spectrum sold through iboats. They have pre-color matched gelcoat for many makes and years of boats based on age and anticipated oxidation rates.
epoxy and gelcoat dont mix.
Be careful about using epoxy to fill voids on the deck. If you choose to paint ,epoxy is OK, if you choose to gelcoat , use polyester. I use a dremel with spyirel cutter that has a small blunt tip to open voids and large cracks. Tape off and pour in some finish gel coat (waxed) in the crack. The job is actually very easy. if the void is large enough to require filler then mix some polyester laminating resine with filler fill void leaving some room for gel coat.
I use a hand held can opener to rake out the cracks. brush in 2 part gel coat and sand lighltly. Bye bye cracks
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