spiderweb cracking...

[jasontrucks76]

I have a fiberglass boat and have noticed that I am getting some spider web looking cracks in the finish where I was cleaning off some dock rubs…. Have any of you had a similar issue? If so what did you do to prevent it from happening further besides the obvious… Not rubbing the doc. I fish alone from time to time and have to tie up to the doc so I will get a couple bumpers but the cracking in the finish has me concerned….

Thanks for any input!

JT

[big_crappie]

Spider cracking or Grazing is normal in an older fiberglass boat. It is only in the gel coat and does not weaken the strength of the glass. It is cosmetic for the most part. It can be fixed fairly easy in the garage. Allthough patience and a strong arm for sanding are helpful.
Unless you have it in the sparkly part of the boat then the repair becomes a little more interesting.

[jasontrucks76]

Thanks for responding. It is a 2003 model and yes the cracking is in the white part of the boat. I noticed it when I was cleaning off the doc rubs and unless you get within 2 inches of it you cannot see it. So I am not too concerned about looks at this point as long as it doesn't get worse. And now that I know it is surface I feel a little better. What would repairing consist of?

Thanks Crappie

[REW]

Jason,
Actually, it is a bit tough to repair.
Often, all that the fix will do is to prolong the damage.
Normally, the spiderwebbing with do its thing and then stop.

Take care
REW

[Derwood]

I would agree with REW... it can be very difficult to fix right. Certainly that is realtive to how "handy" you are, but I looked into it one time to see what it would take. It's very involved if you want to do it right...

[jasontrucks76]

Sounds like more than I would tackle then.... I am quite handy and if it was something that you could see from a distance I would fix it but.... Like the old saying, Out of site.....Out of my mind.

Again,
Thank you for the replys! I have learned allot from this site.

[Brad1]

Difficulty of repair depends on the cause of the cracks (called "Crazing" BTW). If the cause is structurally related (ie. the fiberglass is flexing), you must first reinforce the glass (typically from the backside of the laminate) before fixing the gel coat. If the cause is impact, then reinforcement of the glass is not necessary (provided the impact wasn't so severe as to actually damage the underlying glass). The repair is actually quite easy. First, using a dremel tool with a cutting bit (this is the one I use: http://www.toolbarn.com/product/dremel/114/) gently grind out the crack. Do not go into the glass, just make a groove where the crack is. Next, wipe the repair area with acetone. Mask around the area to be repaired. Using a body puddy squeegy, apply the gel coat (I use custom color matched "patch paste kits" from spectrum color. They match the color dead on. Just tell them the make and yr of the boat). Once the gel coat is cured, begin wet sanding. Start with 220. Once the gel coat repair is even with the masking tape, switch to 400. You'll start sanding the masking tape off (get it? the masking tape is a guage to help ensure adequate depth of gel coat repair). Once your just about done sanding off the tape, switch to 600 grit, then 800 grit, then to 1000 grit. BTW, be sure to use a sanding block and keep the paper very wet. Once your done sanding, dry the area off and apply some 3m wax and buff. Follow that procedure and you won't even be able to tell where the repaired area was. Seriously, it is very easy to fix gel coat. That's the beauty of the gel coat. It might get gouged, scratched, or chipped, but fixing it is so easy.

[Derwood]

Yeah, like I was saying.... hahahahaha

[Miami Vice]

Jasontrucks76
Cracking gel coat is just one more reason to get a tin boat.
Gel coat is improving all the time. Older boats used to crack more.
Maybe some day in the future they will have a break through where gel coat will not crack at all unless there was an impact.
Even if you repair the cracks, they will almost always come back in the same spot.
Miami Vice.

[Brad1]

Jasontrucks76
Cracking gel coat is just one more reason to get a tin boat.

Yeah, but then you got the whole electrolysis thing going with tin boats. I'd rather have to deal with a gel coat repair than having my entire hull dissolving. With the right precautions, electrolysis should not be an issue. But if there's stray curent in the water due to negligence on the part of your marina neighbor, or the marina itself, there's not much you can do, right?

Don't get me wrong, I love tin boats (I own, and have owned several), but my point being, they've yet to develop the perfect hull material. If it's not one problem, it's something else. Just gotta learn how to deal with it.

Gel coat repairs really are a piece of cake. I stink at doing auto body work, but I can do a gel coat repair in less than 1 hr (not counting the time it takes the gel coat to cure), that no one (even myself) can see where the repair took place. Once you've done one, you'll realize just how easy they are.

[Derwood]

I don't know much about the "elctro whatever" with the aluminum boats. What I do know is that I have had several aluminum boats, and one glass boat. I've heard so many arguements about which is better. I do feel with my glass boat that I tend to "baby" it more at the dock... but really, I think I just "worry" about it more, because I did the same thing with my Lund. I don't like scratches and dents in any boat and I do feel that a handful of simple steps each time out help preserve my boat... and while many make fun of me for it, saying things like "I fish my rig hard" and "boats are gonna gets dents, blah blah blah" it really isn't that hard to take care of something. For me, the ride and stability of my glass boat (Champion Fishunter 190) is much, much better. I like that my kid sits safely behind the windshield in a lower seat that doesn't move. I think if you take care of your stuff, the tin boat is just as difficult to preserve as the glass one. There are so many variables (size, width, brand, tiller, console, location of the consoles like in the LE's vs other Lunds, etc), too.

[jasontrucks76]

Thank you for all the replys..... I did not intend for a Glass/Tin war and it really has no importance to me what anyone thinks about that in relation to this post.

I was simply asking for advice on an issue. ( grow up)

Brad1,
That does sound like an easy fix. Thank you! If the problem gets any worse I am sure I can make the repairs you described. I do not belive there is any damage to the glass... It looks like a surface crack in the gell.

Thanks again!

JT