fiberglass repair question

[Snouch]

Hi Guys
just want to know if their are cracks in gelcoat and sanded down to fiberglass and cracks in fiberglass can I apply fiberglass bondo to cracks and then re apply gelcoat on top. Or do I have to apply resin with fiberglass to cracks.

Just some info I purchased a 14 footer fiberglass and I noticed lots of spider cracks on bottom. So I just wanted to know what options I have to repair. I have a one step gel coat but need some prep work ideas for spider cracks before I add the one step gel coat.

thanks

 

[Woodonglass]

Re: fiberglass repair question

If you don't repair the cracks in the glass they will re-appear in the gelcoat once you re-apply it. filling with bondo is not the proper repair. Polyester resin and csm is.

 

[jbcurt00]

Re: fiberglass repair question

What happened to this 14ft'r:
How do I gel coat my hull?

Or is it the same boat?

 

[Snouch]

Re: fiberglass repair question

Hi
This is a different boat. Is their a product that I can apply over the old gel coat to fill in all the cracks. Or do I have to sand out all the cracks. Theirs lots of cracks. Basically the whole hull.

 

[jbcurt00]

Re: fiberglass repair question

Cracks will telegraph thru unless you remove them. Chasing the cracks w/ a dremel tool is sometimes an option, but if most of the hull is spider cracked, remove the gelcoat down to the fiberglass, repair the fiberglass as needed, fill & fair the hull as needed to build the surface back like it was before you removed the gelcoat, apply gelcoat, then cut & buff as necessary.

You'll be working in reverse of how the boat was originally built, gelcoat last over an imperfect surface rather then sprayed 1st onto a mold.

 

[Snouch]

Re: fiberglass repair question

Are their any other ways to cover or repair cracks? Are their 2 part epoxys that I can apply over gel coat to seal cracks. This boat has lots of cracks in gel coat.

 

[ondarvr]

Re: fiberglass repair question

Are their any other ways to cover or repair cracks? Are their 2 part epoxys that I can apply over gel coat to seal cracks. This boat has lots of cracks in gel coat.

There are a couple of products that claim to possibly do it, but I've never seen it work. So the short answer is no.