Gelcoat cracks transom savers

It would be helpful if you told use the make, model of this 4 year old boat, also how its equipped engine, options, etc. Placed between the outboard and the trailer, savers not only protect gel coat finishes but can prevent weldpopping on aluminum boats. If it has to long gel time more than 2550min, you can probably get accelerator from your supplier to fix it. This process results in the smooth, mirrorlike finish typical of new boats. You can see that the motor mount has considerably more surface area on the out side of the transom. Cracks in gelcoat ausfish fishing australia, australian. No way are the cracks in the op caused by trailering, pot holes, transom savers or the anc.

Thats because when a boat is moving down a highway there is greater resistance, shock. He also said the transom feels solid and that i should just keep a close eye on the cracks. After its fully cured, wet sand with a block using the 300, then 600, maybe 1200. He is a big fan of transom savers, and did mention that the cracks are gonna keep happening but are very normal. If the cracks are only in the surface gelcoat, and do not extend into the laminate itself, your problem is merely cosmetic and is easily resolved with sandpaper and paint. Transom savers are used to support your boat while it is being trailered. Check out his boats on youtube or his website, unbelievable workmanship. You should have about 10 to 15 minutes of working time after adding the catalyst before it starts to harden and is no longer fluid. I spent a little time looking for a gelcoat repair shop near me that had a. My question is how frequently do people experience a hairline crack on their transoms, or is this the first one. Crazing in gelcoat, also known as spider cracks or stress cracks, plagues countless boaters. The information contained in these videos will show you the correct way to go about repairing more extensive fiberglass damage, and walk you through the process from start to finish. This layer of resin becomes the outer surface of the boat, and is called gelcoat. If your boat is more than a few years old, youll probably be surprised at the number you find.

Our 15 year old 16sl has developed a hairline crack on the transom. Repairing fiberglass powerboat transoms epoxyworks. Many of these are minor and limited to the gelcoat that smooth, shiny outer layer of the. Specifically if they change directions andor start to get wider. Gelcoat used to patch existing gelcoat, fiberglass repairs, and for new construction and projects. Crazing is an incredibly common issue on modern fiberglass boats, and although it usually starts off as a matter of cosmetics, in severe cases these surface cracks can grow, deepen, and eventually threaten your boats structural integrity. Spider cracks in gelcoat moderated discussion areas. How to repair gelcoat, fiberglass boat repair boating magazine. Apply gelcoat use a small wood or plastic putty knife to spread the gelcoat smoothly over the gelcoat repair. Gelcoat doesnt flex at the same rate as the underlying fiberglass layer fiberglass is more flexible, so stress cracks appeared all over. He has a 11 yer old class a, good brandi dont want to talk bad about the brand who is still in business, and he has these small cracks in the gelcoat, mostly where the darker colors are located. Hairline cracks, stress cracks or spider cracks star cracks that occur in gelcoat surfaces on fiberglass boats or other water craft are often seen as a cosmetic issue.

Im pretty sure the seat pan is gonna have to come out soon to be reinforced. Fiberglass repairs, surface fairing, gelcoat color matching, application and finishing. As for colour matching the gelcoat i just went down to bunnings and got some colour cards and matched it to the gelcoat and got them to give me tint for the amount i was mixing and came out great. These factors have a cumulative effect on structural failure. Using straight gelcoat or wax additive with gelcoat will not hold a shine very long, also on any givin day long after the repair you would beable to wipe the repair using rags with acetone, break off the blend line of the sprayed area and bring gelcoat to a dull finish.

Using the correct design, equipment, technique and materials, it is not difficult to obtain perfect results using contact moulding, particularly after some experience has been obtained. Moisture penetrates the plywood core, leading to delamination and eventual rot. Cracks in gelcoat at the transom january 23rd, 2011, 05. If i were you i would beef up the inside of the transom w some substantial flat stock to spread the load out more. Apr 02, 2019 gelcoat is the coating sprayed up against a highly polished mold at the beginning of the fiberglass layup process. Stress cracks, spider cracks, and hairline cracks in the decks of older boats are, of course, not rare.

Repairing hairline cracks and how to do repair gelcoat. Hairline crack on transom moderated discussion areas. This premium marine grade gel coat may be as gecloat for boats, gelcoat for pools or many other applications. Sometimes, theyre merely cosmetic, meaning they dont penetrate the gelcoat. He uses a rotary tool to grind the crack down to the fiberglass, then he fills it with and interlux epoxy filler called interprotect watertite, uses a longboard sander to sand and then it is ready.

Jan 24, 2016 join us on the sv hideaway as we explore floridas west coast seeking enlightenment on the course towards wisdom aboard a 23 com pac sail boat. The very basic reason for stress cracks in a gelcoat finish is the hull or surface that the gelcoat is bonded to flexed or moved an amount beyond the point that the gelcoat can flex, so it just cracks, because the gelcoat has no structural bearing attributes. Feb 23, 2016 im pretty sure the stress cracks are from rough water. Moisture can also penetrate the transom skin at hardware fasteners, around drain holes and io cutouts. Gelcoat is a fiberglass resin that has had a pigment added to it. Also there is a hole in front where it looks like it hit or rubbed something for a long time. The plan was to do the repair when i pulled the boat out for the winter. Spider or structural cracks around transom boat design net.

He felt they were cosmetic and recommended repairing the gelcoat. They are all around the seats, cooler, rod box, and trolling motor. Most people are unwilling to have a large and unsightly screw hole in their boat deck, so it is clear that it needs to be removed before it can spread into a crack in the gelcoat. Fill the repair slightly higher than the surrounding surface to allow for sanding. Im studying to become a ship engineer so i only get to do a little now and then,more in the summer. Prep the area removing all of the damaged gel coat keep the repair as small as possible. The one on the left looks like is a gelcoat stress crack, but the one on the right looks like its deep enough to be in the laminate. Crazing is an incredibly common issue on modern fiberglass boats, and although it usually starts off as a matter of cosmetics, in severe cases these surface cracks can grow, deepen, and eventually threaten your boats. Follow directions on the gelcoat patch kit and put gelcoat on the top of the patched hole. If the cracks are in the fiberglass putting gelcoat over will not work. White gel coat, precolored gel coat, clear gel coat, neutral tintable gelcoats. A fiberglass layup that is too wet, or has too much resin will crack also. Since 1968, west marine has grown to over 250 local stores, with knowledgeable associates happy to assist.

There are many ways to repair cracks in fiberglasswhich ones the best. I am doing lots of reserch and want to do this rjght so i need to be clear on which processes to. Im almost finished with the interior and a pretty much brand new engine. It is about 4 inches on either side of the motor mounts. I bought a repowered 2000 25 cc in april of last year.

Buy products related to gelcoat repair kit products and see what customers say about gelcoat repair kit products on free delivery possible on eligible purchases. When a boat is built, a layer of polyester resin is applied to the inside of the mold before any fiberglass is laid down. This resin can be used as a protective surface over the top of fiberglass, or simply as a finish, much like you might varnish a piece of outdoor furniture. When the transom loses its stiffness, so does the outboard motor. No matter how careful you are, fiberglass boats collect dings and gouges over time. Jul 07, 2011 transom savers add stress to the motor mount from the trailer as they are now connected. Spoon 3 tablespoons one oz of gelcoat into a paper cup. All the cracks except for in the transom area i just noticed it the other day are spreading. Mar 05, 2017 i had an unfortunate incident with the boat which created some cosmetic gelcoat damage to the underside of the vessel. Aug 27, 2012 i have lots of hair line cracks in the gelcoat. May 23, 20 this will take more time, but you will have to perform the job as early as possible or risk incurring higher repair costs for other parts of the boat that may be affected by a water breach.

But first, do a gel test on it before you use the same gelcoat again. Use a fine grit sandpaper to smooth out the cracks and prep the surface of your boat. Tips and repair methods to avoid michigan fiberglass sales. The fiberglass was delaminating at the transom and the 14 foot hull was a foam cored hull where the fiberglass was delaminating from the foam core on the deck. Transom gelcoat stains if this is your first visit, be sure to check out the faq by clicking the link above. Mar 02, 2012 the only correct way of doing this is to clean it and start again. If your boat has a case of dock rash it could be time to think about repairing and refreshing your gelcoat. Gelcoat is the outermost layer over the fiberglass. Cracks must be ground out prior to applying patch paste. Boat gelcoat repair tips from carl at cosine youtube. At that time the surveyor pointed out some very small cracks in the transom gelcoat around the rim of the exhaust.

If you have used gelcoat on your boat, then you may find that removing any screws from the decking will result in an extralarge and visible hole. The work was to peel off the top middle of the transom and use a piece of 3 x 3 fiberglass to tie it to the core structure of the transom. Here you can learn about what is needed to apply a gel coat. With the passage of time, unprotected gelcoat will oxidize and eventually take on a chalky appearance. So contrary to its name, gelcoat is not a decorative coating applied over the fiberglass.

The lower 14 of the transom was rotted, allowing the outer skin to flex. While i did buy a 14 foot hull for 45 bucks and it did have cracks at least as bad as those, and i did repair them, i would still not buy your hull if i were you. As gelcoat ages it can get hard and brittle, and it starts to crack near fittings and in highstress areas. From the pics it doesnt appear to be a 3 piece build, hence just remove the cap, treat, seal and refix. Spider cracks can indicate impact damage or serious structural problems that will need to be addressed to prevent spreading, but most often they result from relatively inflexible gelcoat that is. Any fill done externally is just a temporary fix, whether gelcoat, resin, glue etc. With time, it is possible that gelcoat can become cracked, simply through wear and tear or a specific incidence of damage. In most cases this is true, however it is important to seal them correctly otherwise water may penetrate into the fiberglass and cause more serious damage. Hairline spider cracks must be opened wider and filled with an epoxy filler to be permanently repaired. Ive fixed all my rotten wood issues so im ready to fix the cracks.