Has anyone got any advice as to how to repair a crack in the paint on the base of my pedestal? Looks like the white paint? has cracked.
Pedestal paint crack
- Thread starter SEMPERAVANTI41
- Start date
Yes indeed, either a heavy impact from above or below or the coating job was defective. Is that exposed fiberglass? It may need a gel coat repair.
If that is a fiberglass pedestal then, believe it or not, a gelcoat repair is far easier than a paint repair. Go to the Spectrum Color website and search for a Gelpaste Repair kit that is color matched for Hunter, about $25 for a 2oz jar. Sand the chipped area well with 80 grit and wipe clean with acetone. Apply the gelcoat paste thick with a small brush and allow to cure. Sand with 120 to get mostly level and even, then 220, then 320 (all dry). Then go 400 wet and then 600 wet. Buff with rubbing compound and you'll never see the repair area.
The pedestal may be metal, thats what it looks like to me anyway. I see some white chalky corrosion, maybe the surface wasn't prepped well enough when it was made. Anyway, for a short term fix you can sand the chipped area and use automotive paint repair pens to do a short term fix, but it will probably be noticeable. In the future, when you have some time in the off season, take apart your pedestal and remove it. Take it to a professional powder coater, they will sandblast or glass-bead blast it and reapply a super tough powder coat. The place I use in San Diego would probably only charge about $150 to do a pedestal in white.
The pedestal may be metal, thats what it looks like to me anyway. I see some white chalky corrosion, maybe the surface wasn't prepped well enough when it was made. Anyway, for a short term fix you can sand the chipped area and use automotive paint repair pens to do a short term fix, but it will probably be noticeable. In the future, when you have some time in the off season, take apart your pedestal and remove it. Take it to a professional powder coater, they will sandblast or glass-bead blast it and reapply a super tough powder coat. The place I use in San Diego would probably only charge about $150 to do a pedestal in white.
jssailem, 2007. I thought the pedestal was manufactured by Lewmar. Will be at boat next week and more carefully investigate.
cloudriver, powder coating sounds like a good idea. How hard is removal of the pedestal?
cloudriver, powder coating sounds like a good idea. How hard is removal of the pedestal?
jssailem
SBO Weather and Forecasting Forum Jim & John
- Oct 22, 2014
- 24,523
SA No personal experience to know. If it is Lewmar they have an extensive download manual database. http://www.lewmar.com/support-download-files
Will require you to know the actual name of the pedestal. I looked at their "Cobra" model that looked a little like the image of your base. The manual would be helpful if you were to take the unit apart for powder coating the base. Looks to be a couple of weekends job with what ever wait needed for the powder coating. My classification, "meticulous task - not impossible"
Will require you to know the actual name of the pedestal. I looked at their "Cobra" model that looked a little like the image of your base. The manual would be helpful if you were to take the unit apart for powder coating the base. Looks to be a couple of weekends job with what ever wait needed for the powder coating. My classification, "meticulous task - not impossible"
Removing the pedestal in two weekends may be possible, but it might be a good idea to pick a couple of four-day weekends like Thanksgiving. You may need them. Photos seem to show that besides the steering cables, Hunter 50AC pedestals (it looks like there is one to Port and one to Starboard) include sets of wind/speed instruments and possibly a GPS or radar display. They are firmly bolted and bedded to the cockpit sole. Before you can even attack the bolts all the electronic equipment will need to be unmounted and disconnected. The compass and its wiring (there's a light for sailing at night, no?) will have to come out. Then the steering cables can be loosened and the steering chain removed. (I couldn't find anything that said the steering was hydraulic, but that would have to come apart too, to get the pedestal off.) If you're lucky, the bolts will be accessible from below without removing the overhead. If not.... When you get to the bolts, they may be corroded to their nuts because of electrolysis and need some penetrating oil (and time) to work loose. Then you can remove them and hope the bedding material gives up more easily. Line up the powder-coating place, get the pedestal to them, and then you get to put the whole thing back when they're done. Hopefully they color-match the other pedestal. It can be done, but it is a major hassle.
I would simply get some good paint and be done with it.
I would simply get some good paint and be done with it.
I would try grinding it out in place. Then coat it with a primer and paint. That looks like a pretty involved fix for a 2x2 spot. Maybe check on bare metal treatments to keep them from corroding prior to painting. My guess the whole thing is aluminum which corrodes quickly.
If the repair-in-place does not work, you can always go the long route later.
If the repair-in-place does not work, you can always go the long route later.