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Gel Coat Stress Crack Repairs

Old 07-11-2007, 12:31 AM
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Default Gel Coat Stress Crack Repairs

I looked at a boat which had a lot of gel coat stress cracks which were repaired by grinding out the cracks, filling them, and repainting the entire area with Imron. Is this a permanent repair? Won't the same cracks just come back in the Imron?

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Old 07-11-2007, 07:37 AM
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Originally Posted by Michael1
I looked at a boat which had a lot of gel coat stress cracks which were repaired by grinding out the cracks, filling them, and repainting the entire area with Imron. Is this a permanent repair? Won't the same cracks just come back in the Imron?

Michael
Depends on whether they glassed them or just used the paste type repair. If it's got that many cracks I'd be looking at another boat.
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Old 07-11-2007, 09:13 AM
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Gel coat cracks are cause by stress in the body of the boat at that particular area. You can fix cracks all day but if you do not fix the problem underneath they can come back.
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Old 07-11-2007, 09:21 AM
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Originally Posted by FeverMike
Gel coat cracks are cause by stress in the body of the boat at that particular area. You can fix cracks all day but if you do not fix the problem underneath they can come back.

pretty much it. also it really depends on what was used to fill the area after it was ground down. many times they do return because of underlying problems or excessive rough water use.
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Old 07-11-2007, 10:53 AM
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I just got a lesson in gelcoat as I had my throttles moved and a few dings filled in.

The more important factor is the gelcoat itself, specifically its thickness. Fiberglass does have the ability to flex. The gelcoat above it needs to be able to flex as well. I don't remember the exact .-mil specs, but too thick, and the gelcoat will not flex, and it just cracks. Too thin, and the gelcoat will crack and flake away. Its a fine science.

Speeddoc here on OSO taught me a lot over the last 2 weeks. He did some great work on my boat.
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Old 07-11-2007, 01:00 PM
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Gelcoat has a military spec for thickness?
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Old 07-11-2007, 01:47 PM
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aprox. .010" to .020" is preferred
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Old 07-11-2007, 03:03 PM
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Originally Posted by Tantrum
Gelcoat has a military spec for thickness?
millimeters! See you get rid of the AT, and everything goes to pot.
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Old 07-11-2007, 04:34 PM
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My pot days went the way of tequila
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Old 07-11-2007, 07:22 PM
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This was on a mid-90's Skater, and I've been told they get a lot of gel coat stress cracks. Stay away from them?

When would you re-gel coat a boat, rather than fill and paint?

Michael
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