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Tyler Riverside, CA
Boat Name:
Model/Year: 1974 C22
Hull No. 2625
Hailing Port: Riverside, CA |
06/16/2009 5:26 PM Pacific Time
My 1974 C22 has some cracks and worn spots in the gel coat- both above and below the waterline. The boat is trailered when not in use, and I live in a warm dry climate (southern california).
Do I need to redo the gel coat or repaint the boat to protect it from damage?
Basically, I'm asking if cracks in the gel coat are simply a cosmetic issue that can be put off, or if they could lead to more serious problems if not resolved immediately. |
Pat Lindsay Huntsville, AL
Boat Name: Stargazer
Model/Year: 1983
Hull No. 11735
Hailing Port: Lake Guntersville, Al |
06/18/2009 5:53 AM Pacific Time
Tyler, most of the time the cracks are just cosmetic. It depends on the crack. If the crack appears to be a hairline with no depth to it, odds are it's superficial. Cracks like this can usually be handled in one of two ways:
1) Apply a crack filler such as 'Captain Tulley's' to it. I don't know exactly what Cpt Tulley's is made of, but it is thin as milk, seeps into the crack and then hardens. (It may be adequate for a crack above the waterline; probably not adequate for a crack below the waterline.) After the material has hardened, sand lightly.
2) Using a small drill bit, drill a shallow dimple (the depth of the gel coat) at each end of each crack. This keeps the crack from growing. Then open the crack to a V-shaped channel (very narrow, like the tip of a can opener). Don't go any deeper than the gel coat. Then use a filler such as Marine-Tex to fill the crack. Sand smooth when it dries. This should work below the waterline.
Most boats will develop small cracks (called crazing) in the gel coat at various placed around the boat. Many of them will never grow, deeper or longer, even if you do nothing. For the tiniest of cracks, I just keep an eye on them, wash and wax the boat as normal, and go sailing. |
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