Spyder cracks in Gel Coat

« **on:** August 01, 2008, 10:18:01 AM »

Is there a way to fix spyder cracking in an original gel coat? I have some, mostly on the deck and i would like to make it go away. I am thinking that if i can fix it, I will have the deck shot with paint and that is it, but I want to make sure it doesnt come back on me thru the paint.

Any thoughts??

« **Reply #1 on:** August 01, 2008, 10:26:13 AM »

there was a thread on another board on how to fix this. and what he did per a highly regarded shops recomendation. was to lay a sheet fiberglass down over the complete deck after it had been preped. and then block sand it down smooth and then finish with a thin layer of filler. prime, block and paint it because i know from past boats that just putting putty and then repainting the boat will not fix them they will come back.

« **Reply #2 on:** August 01, 2008, 10:59:08 AM »

go deep and cover with duraglass, some of mine came back, not deep enough, but not the main ones

« **Reply #3 on:** August 01, 2008, 11:02:39 AM »

You have to fix what caused the cracks in the first place or they will ALWAYS come back!! From all the ones I have seen they are caused by the bracing or the bulkhead. I would add some better bracing or just more bracing so all the stress is not in one or two spots.

« **Reply #4 on:** August 03, 2008, 08:53:53 PM »

Just so you know, the crack needs to be completely ground out, it's reeally scary and sometimes they go all the way through which sucks, also drill a very small hole (1/16") at the ends of the crack before repairs are made to prevent their return, the reason for the cracking (9 times out of 10) is exessive flexing, or a light spot in the layup causing the stress to amplified in that spot, so you need to try and reduce some of the flexing, I just leave the few cracks I have in mine because I'm lazy that way...

« **Reply #5 on:** November 02, 2008, 09:00:26 AM »

It is my experience the cracks will come back, especially if the boat has a very light lay-up. I had a 350lb Central Marine Renegade. Half of the cracks I ground out and fiber glassed over with roving, the other half the fiberglass shop that painted the boat repaired. In the 80 mile trek from paint shop to home almost all of the cracks came back, mostly around the corners of the tub. This was with nothing in the boat, just the flex of the hull on the trailer. Look at it this way, “It means you have a very light rig, not everyone has them for a reason”.

« **Reply #6 on:** November 02, 2008, 10:52:50 AM »

I was going to give you a buch of advice on wheather or not to bother and what not. Instead what do you whant from your boat? Racer, Looker, Famiily Tank, GArage project?