Cracks in gel
Printed From: CorrectCraftFan.com
Category: Repairs and Maintenance
Forum Name: Boat Maintenance
Forum Discription: Discuss maintenance of your Correct Craft
URL: http://www.CorrectCraftFan.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=22685
Printed Date: November-19-2024 at 6:03pm
Topic: Cracks in gel
Posted By: karthur
Subject: Cracks in gel
Date Posted: July-19-2011 at 2:02am
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In the gel of my boat, there are small cracks in the gel I tried to make some pics today, but not sure if you can tell what I am trying to show. The previous owner kept this boat in a lift alot with the cover on it. Of course the cover just came to the rub rail, so everything below that was exposed to some sun.
Question is, can this be repaired with just sanding or will it have to have new gel coat? I think probably the later, but I have never done anything like this at all. (Wet sanded a toyota celica front fender once, but that is about all). There is cracks like this on the sides and the transom, but mostly the transom. The pic below is of the transom. They look like they are just on the surface. The "74" decal is about 3in tall. This is where he had it in dry storage and never took the bin numbers off. 
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Replies:
Posted By: Ed
Date Posted: August-05-2011 at 7:48am
| Not what anyone wants to hear, but it's done. Sand the crap out of it, fill all the cracks, sand again, polyester primer, and new gelcoat. Do you have more pics of the boat? It's a lot of work, but fairly simple. |
Posted By: dwcar
Date Posted: August-05-2011 at 11:01am
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Kirk,
It could be that you have rotten stringers. Alot of the older CC had wood stringers. They got wet,rot and then you get flexing in your hull. This will cause spider cracks. Yes you can fix the gel but unless you replace the stringers, you are likely to see the apider cracks come back. ------------- 83Ski |
Posted By: karthur
Date Posted: August-05-2011 at 1:22pm
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Ed,
Thanks for the reply. Like I said, Ive never done anything like this before, but would like to give it a whirl. Like I said, there are cracks in the sides like this and on the transom. Mostly on the transom though. I have some other pics if I can find them, I will post them too. Sounds like you have done this before. How is the gel coat applied? Is it sprayed on then sanded smooth I guess? |
Posted By: Ed
Date Posted: August-05-2011 at 1:26pm
| My motor box looked just like that! |
Posted By: Keeganino
Date Posted: August-05-2011 at 2:32pm
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Re-gelling a boat is a major expense and extremely labor intensive. Lots of people talk about doing it but very few actually do it once they find out what is involved. No point in doing it unless the structure of the boat is sound, or else they will come right back. A stringer job cost at least $2K and 2000 hours of labor. Do not have an estimate of time and materials for the gel but its months of work as all the old gel has to be removed, and most of the new gel you apply gets sanded back off to achieve a smooth surface. There are a few threads on the site that document the process. I would read up on those before I dive head first into this one. JMHO ------------- "working on these old boats may not be cost effective but as it shows its what it brings into your life that matters" -Roger http://www.correctcraftfan.com/diaries/details.asp?ID=4897" rel="nofollow - 1973 Skier |
Posted By: Keeganino
Date Posted: August-05-2011 at 2:38pm
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http://www.correctcraftfan.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=12569&KW=gel&title=span-classhighlightgel-span-coat-prep - Sanity's gelcoat thread ------------- "working on these old boats may not be cost effective but as it shows its what it brings into your life that matters" -Roger http://www.correctcraftfan.com/diaries/details.asp?ID=4897" rel="nofollow - 1973 Skier |
Posted By: Ed
Date Posted: August-05-2011 at 9:55pm
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Kirk,
Yes, you want to spray gelcoat for the best results and finish. After application, you wet snad and polish. There are a couple different methods out there. If you reade the thread that Keegan put above this post, that is one way of application. I did mine completely different. and it's a little faster process as well. Re gelcoating a boat does take some time and the prep is the most important step. You can do it yourself though! I can give you some simple advise if you want it. Take a look at your stringers as Keegan sugested. Did you just get this boat? |
Posted By: TX Foilhead
Date Posted: August-05-2011 at 10:51pm
| Having done a stringer job, it doesn't take 2000 hrs, but it will take you most of the winter. Gel can be repaired, if the cracks are single or in the same area, you might could get away with just redoing a few spots. |
Posted By: skicat2001
Date Posted: August-06-2011 at 12:22am
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As Don stated above, most likley those came from bad ol rotten stringers. Best to bite the bullet get them checked, and see to what extent you are at or they will come back. Wetsanding or compounding and buffing all you want they will just come back because of the rot of the stringers. Good Luck ------------- 1985 CC 2001-SOLD Lee Michael Johnson |
Posted By: karthur
Date Posted: August-06-2011 at 10:08pm
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Hey Ed,
I got the boat around the first of july (this yr). What process did you use to reapply the gel? The cracks on the transom looks to me like they are from sun exposure. On the sides there are similar cracks up high on the sides. Down low on the sides (near the bottom) there are some cracks that I would consider stress cracks. Here are a couple pics of the other cracks that I mentioned. The pics here are the port and starboard sides. These cracks are only in one area on each side (about midways of the length of the boat). That is, they dont run the full length of the boat. 
Starboard Side 
Port Side With cracks like this, will this boat take on water? I was thinkin that as long as the figerglass and resin was not cracked, it would not allow water to pass through. Before I bought the boat, I did check the bolts in the engine mounts. They are all tight. I'm not saying that the stringers are not in need of repair. I know that in order to fix this correctly, the root cause will have to be addressed first. |
Posted By: bbishop1974
Date Posted: August-07-2011 at 12:36am
| hard to tell with the size of your pictures but it looks like the cracks that are common below the water line at the windshield area?if it is it is due to hull flex because the stringers are rotted.it seems like the darker colors crack worse as well. |
Posted By: 8122pbrainard
Date Posted: August-07-2011 at 12:53pm
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Kirk,
I agree with the others who have commented on stringer condition. Don't go and try to fix the gel until you have investigated and done a stringer job on that hull. ------------- /diaries/details.asp?ID=1622" rel="nofollow - 54 Atom /diaries/details.asp?ID=2179" rel="nofollow - 77 Tique 64 X55 Dunphy Keep it original, Pete < |
Posted By: gun-driver
Date Posted: August-13-2011 at 11:38pm
| Keegan meant 2oo hrs on the stringers. He must have done a double tap on the zero's. |
Posted By: lakedog55
Date Posted: August-14-2011 at 12:06am
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Or maybe it seems like 2000 hrs with all the itching and wondering and thinking about the project when your not actually doing any work
Mike ------------- Lakedog55 |
Posted By: TX Foilhead
Date Posted: August-14-2011 at 12:18am
| That's the best part, drinkin' and lookin' at it, dreamin' about how it will be. Then reality sets in and you rush it to get back on the water. Lol |