Paint over gel coat cracking repair

May 23, 20 if your gel coat already shows signs of aging, its time to repair it or to reapply a fresh layer to revitalize your boats look. White gel coat, precolored gel coat, clear gel coat, neutral tintable gelcoats. Tips with fiberglass and gelcoat repair methods by john. My plan is to remove the many coats of antifouling paint below the waterline, then apply three coats of the west system epoxy and. If your gel coat already shows signs of aging, its time to repair it or to reapply a fresh layer to revitalize your boats look. Preparing and painting fiberglass is unlike preparing and painting metal or aluminum. Acrylic is easy to clean and will be less likely to develop mold or mildew in a shower stall because the seal created has a nonporous surface. Also, older fiberglass boats tend to have a thicker application of gelcoat which means they are more susceptible to cracking. I have a few small areas of peeling gel coat that i need to repair. Gel stain is formulated more like paint than traditional stain. It comes in many colors, and in most cases it has additives that make it resistant to ultraviolet rays. Fibre glast offers premium polyester gel coat that can be perfectly matched every time. The easiest repair method is to sand the surface heavily and roll on two coats of epoxy primer followed by two coats of twopart linear. Aug 18, 2011 the spider veil is stress cracks in the gel coat if you simply sand a regelcoat or paint over it they will come back very quixkly and you will be back where you started dont like to say it but need to sand the gel coat off to the glass underneith.

Oct 15, 2019 i have a few small areas of peeling gel coat that i need to repair. The other repair for spider cracks involves a little more work. Jan 21, 2020 yes, you can apply gelcoat over a surface thats already covered with gelcoat. How to prepare your boat for painting a gelcoat sail. Gelcoats that are more heavily cracked or crazed will require additional preparation and labor. Another benefit is that your spray gun is less likely to be clogged by paint that is starting to set before it is applied. Crazing can be from poor cure, gel coat being too thick, or too much flex in the laminate.

The gelcoat has crazing just about everywhere and it seems to go all the way to, and stops at, the fiberglass. I have a 2001 tr21 that is starting to do the small stress cracks just in front and behind both consoles. These premium quality isophthalic npg gel coats are. One of the things i had thought about was to have her professionally painted. The other option is cutting out the whole area and remaking which really requires a mold in your case. Bottom cracks hi markus most boats have some cracks in the bottom. Use to fill gouges, chips, scrapes and deep scratches in the fiberglass gel coat. Just sand enough to remove the loose dead gel, fill and sand holes with an epoxy like marine tex, and you are ready to apply primer and paint. If the surface of your boat looks like a cracked eggshell, the gelcoat is suffering from. Your gel coat may be tough, but it will succumb to the constant battering of the marine environment over time. For smaller surface areas, like a chair, apply the gelcoat using a paintbrush using short, vertical strokes. Gel coats eventually fade and can not be cleaned or waxed to look new. Step 2 then toughen the laminate that contains the crack or cracks by solidifying it. For areas with deep cracking or crazing, start with 36 to 60grit sandpaper and apply a highsolids epoxy, such as awlgrip hullgard.

Surface gelcoat scratches can be buffed with polishing compound, and deeper scratches can be filled. Hold the sprayer 6 to 10 inches from the surface while you paint. The clear exterior coat on fiberglass boats is formed by a substance known as gelcoat. The cracking has stemmed from a crack below the gelcoat and in the fiberglass. Using a dremel tool, remove the gelcoat on either edge of the crack, all the way down its length. The easiest repair method is to sand the surface heavily and roll on two coats of epoxy. This premium marine grade gel coat may be as gecloat for boats, gelcoat for pools or many other applications. Spider cracks can be avoided by countersinking holes just through the gelcoat, so the load is placed on the structural fiberglass rather than the brittle gelcoat. Fiberglass boats come new with a colored gel coat, not actual paint.

Whether you select an ral favorite, or choose one of 730 custom instint colors, all of these gel coats feature high gloss, uv protection, and blister resistance with excellent adhesive properties. These gel coats are also easy to use and easy to repair. Color gel coat ships same day 100s of colors fibre glast. Repairing hundreds of fiberglass cracks to get ready for spraying awlgrip paint.

When deciding between an acrylic or gelcoat repair for a shower stall many factors should be considered. How to paint over a gelcoat on a boat gone outdoors. That being said, for the home repair job of a gelcoat only crack, using the stock color gelcoat would be easier, filling the sanded out area. Heres an easy way to fix and color stress cracks in seconds and its so tough it comes with a 3 year durability guarantee magicezy hairline fix is a revolutionary precolored fiberglass and gelcoat repair product that fixes and colors fine stress cracks spider cracks, and hairline fractures fast in one application it penetrates deeply into the pores of even the finest. Using color blender deltron 2000 dbc 500 mixed with dt reducer a 1 to 1 mix ratio dt885 reducer works well ppg products, spray one medium wet coat over the repaired area and outside the shade color then allow 20 minutes to tack up, when you stop with your spray gun after your sweep spraying approximately 12 inches bring your spray gun out and. Gelcoat is used for a protective layer over the fiberglass but also doubles as paint. How to repair spiderweb cracks in fiberglass with gelcoat. The number of boats that develop serious blister problems is extremely small. If its reads the same all over then it not a problem.

Gelcoat used to patch existing gelcoat, fiberglass repairs, and for new construction and projects. Two additives will help with a desired final finish. Either way youll end up having to paint the entire panelarea. The problem is if the cracks arent removed theres a very good chance theyll be back soon. If the gelcoat is in good condition with no major cracking or crazing, the job is relatively straightforwardclean and prepare the surface, apply an epoxy primer, sand the primer, remove the sanding residue and then apply the topcoat. The issue with the spider webbing or cracks stems from a manufacturer defect. How to refinish a gel coat on fiberglass gone outdoors. Ive seen this problem occur on several black cars, including mc2hills truck, the black dodge ram that was detailed by daytonajae, mc2hill and myself and now this 99 accord.

These marks were not apparent during the wash or claying process. Thorough dewaxing and sanding is needed to make sure that contaminates are removed. If the surface of your boat looks like a cracked eggshell, the gelcoat is suffering from crazing sometimes called alligatoring. Start by wiping down the area with acetone and sanding the damaged gelcoat down to the fiberglass. Since 1968, west marine has grown to over 250 local stores, with knowledgeable associates happy to assist. Repairing hairline cracks and how to do repair gelcoat. If you see cracks take the gelcoat in that area down to the substraight. It can also contain wax to give it a marblelike finish. If it is gelcoat crack only common in older boats with thick gelcoat, i sand the crack out, making sure the surrounding gelcoat has a good bond, fill with thickened epoxy, fair, prime and paint. Gelcoat blister repair and prevention technical bulletin 1011. If the underlying problem for the hairline cracks is not handled, regelcoating over them will only be a temporary fix. The gelcoat will bridge the cracks rather than filling them, and the crazing will soon return. Acrylic is a synthesis of polymers that creates a durable, nonporous seal.

Gel coat cracking on 2000 tritonanyone else having this problem. The tape will help to ensure that your fresh layer of resin doesnt go too far across the surface. This kits contents allow you to make repairs to your white, fiberglass bathtub, shower or shower pan. Start by wiping down the area with acetone and sanding the damaged gel coat down to the fiberglass. How to repair gelcoat, fiberglass boat repair boating magazine. Gel coat chip or crack sea hunt boats owners group. Over time, the cracks get larger and the structure may begin to delaminate andor blistering starts to occur. Gelcoat blister repair and prevention pettit marine paint.

As i say, things may have changed a bunch since i did glass. Now that the cracks are ready, mix your gelcoat repair kit and the hardener together. How to fix spider cracks, hairline cracks, and crazing in boat. Once the gelcoat has fully cured, sand the repair smooth wet sanding works particularly well with gelcoat. Well in this episode of ship shape tv, john tackles all these issues as well as redesigns and preps his pursuit for a new amazing paint job. Aug 30, 2017 gel stain is formulated more like paint than traditional stain.

Do i have to sand the gelcoat off entirely when preparing for paint. My plan is to remove the many coats of antifouling paint below the waterline, then apply three coats of the west system epoxy and repaint it. Before you tackle repairing hairline cracks in gelcoat, youll need to prepare the area well by washing and. We, as the rv body shop, did a great job getting out the spider cracks in the paint jobgel coating in the rear. You can successfully complete basic fiberglass boat repair by following these steps. Take care that they are completely mixed together, otherwise the hardener and gel coat will not set properly, and you will be left with a sticky mess for weeks. Ive heard that krylon fusion spray paint for plastic works reasonably well for painting epoxy.

Step 4 as soon as the crack has been channeled out, wipe it clean. Its primarily used on wood, although it can be used on other surfaces, including fiberglass and metal. The plastic sheet lets the gelcoat harden with a smooth finish with no sanding, although you can sand it with wet 600 grit sandpaper, if you want a totally. Aquatic gelcoat repair kit in white35rkwh the home depot. Finally, apply a coat of highquality marine polish and your repair is complete. You can paint over gel stain as long as the surface is.

Gelcoat is a fiberglass resin that has had a pigment added to it. I striped my boat a few weeks ago with scrapers it took 5 hours with lots of beer and. Old gel coats are often porous and may have absorbed years worth of waxes and oils, a condition that reduces the ability of new paint to adhere to the surface. Painting over cracked and chipped gel coat moderated. 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. Extensive spider cracking common on older boats is due to aging of the gelcoat. Sstv 1 dealing with spider cracksprepping and painting boat. How to repair gelcoat, fiberglass boat repair boating. As it cures, gelcoat bonds to the layers of structural fiberglass laid on it to create a smooth, shiny. To maintain your gel coat and your hulls integrity, follow this simple gel coat repair guide.

When a shower stall is cracked, chipped, scratched, or faded, there are two options for repair acrylic and gelcoat. It hid the fact that the gel coat below the water line is blistering, cracking and flaking off. How to paint over a gelcoat on a boat gone outdoors your. A prior owner had fixed a few with evercoat gel coat scratch patch gel coat repair, with ugly results. Typically, glitterflake is used in molding applications. Magic fix for hairline cracks in gelcoat practical sailor. I was shown where the last bottom paint job was applied over the previous bottom coat by the prior owner. Hairline spider cracks must be opened wider and filled with an epoxy filler to be. If you dont want to use paint, you can grind away most of the crazed gelcoat and replace it with a fresh application of colormatching gelcoat paste. Apr 21, 2012 ive seen this problem occur on several black cars, including mc2hills truck, the black dodge ram that was detailed by daytonajae, mc2hill and myself and now this 99 accord. Of fiberglass cracks to get ready for spraying awlgrip paint. Nov 03, 2008 crazing can be from poor cure, gel coat being too thick, or too much flex in the laminate.

What wont work is to paint over the crazing with new gelcoat. Magicezy hairline fix is a onepart, pretinted available in 10 colors sealant that allows you to complete the repair in seconds without having to grind out the. The last step 1530 minutes later is to remove the plastic sheet. How to prepare your boat for painting a gelcoat sail magazine. Wax in the gel coat rises to the surface when it is sprayed, rolled, or brushed, creating a film and barrier that enables the curing to. It is necessary to first apply 12 14 mils of wet catalyzed gel coat. Step 3 now, once youve removed all hardware, toerails, and other paraphernalia.

The gel coat is in pretty rough shape cracked, chipped and pitted. It is important to catalyze this cover layer at the recommended levels as over or undercatalyzation can cause various problems including premature yellowing, cracking and a reduced gloss. Sep, 2011 one of the things i had thought about was to have her professionally painted. How to repair spider cracks on your fiberglass boat. Gel coat cracking on 2000 tritonanyone else having this.

How to fix crazing in gelcoat, also known as spider cracks or stress cracks which plague countless boaters. There are many ways to repair cracks in fiberglasswhich ones the best. Gel stain is also used for faux finishing and glazing. The highestquality, iso npg marine finish gel coat used to permanently repair or replace original, highgloss finish. Mar 09, 2015 we, as the rv body shop, did a great job getting out the spider cracks in the paint jobgel coating in the rear. My son and i have started restoring a 1968 boston whaler footer i have owned since 1972. Step 1 figure out what caused the cracks to begin with. Magicezy hairline fix is a onepart, pretinted available in 10 colors sealant that allows you to complete the repair in seconds without having to grind out the existing damage. Tips with fiberglass and gelcoat repair methods by john gabriel. Repairing hairline cracks and how to do repair gelcoat magicezy. Epoxies can be used to cover the cracks, but youre relying on the epoxy to be strong enough to bridge over the cracks and not fail, but as soon as it gets. Aug 02, 2017 for areas with deep cracking or crazing, start with 36 to 60grit sandpaper and apply a highsolids epoxy, such as awlgrip hullgard. Achieve professionallooking results with the aquatic gelcoat repair kit.

How to repair a gelcoat scratch bottom paint store. This is followed by special primer coats that improve adhesive properties. If its a large surface such as a boat or a bathtub, use a gelcoat spray gun to apply a coat over the existing coat. With time, it is possible that gelcoat can become cracked, simply through wear. Try not to remove any of the fiberglass resin or cloth. Next you place a sheet of plastic included in the kit over the repair and gently press to make the surface smooth. Things like durability, ease of repair, professional or diy, and effects as aging occurs are at the top of the list. This kits contents allow you to make repairs to your white. As soon as you start with ssr definitely necessary on th. Like paint, gel stain coats the surface instead of penetrating it. As for painting above the waterline, the light blue interior and white exterior gel coat need refinishing. My method above allows an easy return to the correct panel shape as the filler sands easily as opposed to the gel coat so levels are easier to maintain. If the gelcoat has been damaged to the point where you can see the cloth pattern underneath or it has become delaminated, it will need to be repaired prior to.

Repairing hundreds of fiberglass cracks to get ready for. The epoxy fills and seals the cracks, and the polyurethane restores the color and gloss. A twopart system consisting of polyester resin and catalyst, gelcoats the first thing into the mold during manufacture. Do not apply antifouling paint before the minimum dry time, as mud cracking of the antifouling may result. I am thinking of just sanding off the loose stuff, putting a thin layer of epoxy over the area, sanding smooth and painting. You can start with 220grit sandpaper and, for a really slick surface, finish with at least 400 or 600grit. One quick and easy way to repair gelcoat stress cracks yourself is by using magicezy hairline fix a purpose built diy repair solution for stress cracks in gelcoat and fiberglass. Additionally, acrylic repairs resist staining and fading as well as having a glossier finish than a gel coat. Stress cracks first appear as very fine hairline cracks. Gelcoat blisters wouldnt be more than a cosmetic concern, if theyre treated and not ignored. The panel isnt sufficiently supported, allowing it to wobble causing the paint or gelcoat to crack. I would check with mm and see if anty place is more wet then others if so i would grind the cracks let dry with some heat and epoxy coat.