Minor fiberglass repairs

D

drfeno

Member
Joined
Jun 19, 2008
RO Number
30284
Messages
133
Hi,

I have an older Silverton 31' Convertible (1981) it is in good structural condition, but there are some small surface cracks in the fiberglass up on the flybridge and in other locations. These are more cosmetic in nature, but I would like to repair, or cover them up. Would this be a job for Fiberglass/gelcoat repair, or would it be done with paint? These cracks eminate from old screw holes, and other areas on the bridge.
 
Stress cracks in the gel coat. Usually repaired with gel coat. The cracks have to be opened up and filled for a proper repair.
 
Dremmel tool. Matching the gel coat is the trick. Good luck.
 
Do you acutally use gelcoat to fill the cracks, or do you fill with epoxy and then finish with gel coat?
 
If you are using actual gel coat, you have to use a filler first, sand and then spray the gel coat. You can purchase premixed gel coat patch paste and it works well but, based on the age of your boat, the colow will not match. Either product can be colored to match. I've had very good luck with the patch paste. It wet sands easily and polishes out. The hard part will be to match the color. I don't have a good eye for that.
 
stress cracks will most likely return. I've seen them on 3 mil.$ boats. A boat owning fact of life.
Probably not worth fixing unless water is entering the laminate.
Buzz
 
Yeah! Unfortunately, the name reflects the cause. Basically, some movement is the cause(though shrinkage during mfg could be a factor). It could be just surface cracks or deeply in the fiberglass.

Procedure for repair depends on each case.
 
Thanks all,

I have cracks, which I will probably fix since its a small area, but I really need to fill some small and large holes drilled and/or screwed into the flybridge "dash".These are from years of different navigational and other insturments mounted and remomved from there. I haven't done a ton of research, but sprayable gel coat would probably work best once the repairs are made. Since the season here in new england is about half over, I will probably focus on mechanical stuff and leave most of the cosmetics for the fall/winter.
 
If you fill the holes with gel coat it will shrink when dry and need filling again, so don't spray gelcoat over them until you've got a solid repair.
Better to get a kit with colors to match rather than trying to spray gel coat which may or may not be even close, and which will require careful wet sanding to blend in.
Also, re.: cosmetic work in Fall/Winter--remember that resins need temps. about 70* minimum to dry, and that means warming the resin to that temp. first.
Buzz
 
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