Im pretty sure the stress cracks are from rough water. Repairing hundreds of fiberglass cracks to get ready for spraying awlgrip paint. Repairing the transom is not that difficult if you have the right tools and equipment. Transoms are major structural parts of fiberglass powerboats, especially outboards. If not managed, these small cosmetic annoyances can lead to bigger problems down the road. Repairing the transom of the boat is a minor boat repair since the transom is the flat area located at the back of the boat. In the opinion of some owners, bright, shiny boats dont sail any better or catch more fish, so why bother with maintenance. It is hard to make evaluations from such small photos, but if one of the cracks is suspected to be more than just a gelcoat issue, then the other one should be treated the same way. The boat is in pretty good condition for its age in my opinion, but the hull does have some minor hairline stress cracks. It will move quite a bit, but there is no cracks in it yet. In addition to the transom replacement, dr gelcoat eliminated several stress cracks in the hull and exterior transom surface.
As that way i can get a few seasons out of it before i tear it apart. But keep in mind that maintaining your boat s gelcoat will help you catch more customers should you ever want to sell. Apr 02, 2019 owner apathy and dull, tired gelcoat go hand in hand. Follow along and see how to make a boats gel coat come out looking amazing. When to tell if a fiberglass bass boat transom is badspider. It has been getting progressively worse since i discovered it, and spreading to the re. Follow along as i attempt to repair a damaged section of our boats gel coat. But in many cases, the solution is simple and inexpensive. In boat repair circles it is a job for a professional yard tear the old transom away and replace it. This damage is often caused by slight flexing of the hull.
These loads are concentrated on the fiberglass skin and core where the mount is located. With the strain a transom takes i would be very leary about taking that boat out on any big. Heres a small example of what things looked like before i started, cracks highlighted with a sharpie pen so theyre easier to see. How to fix a crack or hole in a fibreglass boat the new. West marine is committed to outfitting your life on the water. Jun 10, 2017 hairline spider cracks must be opened wider and filled with an epoxy filler to be permanently repaired.
Hairline crack on transom moderated discussion areas. Customer photo gallery fishing boat seats, bass fishing boats. I just want to get my studies finished before i start redoing the transom,floor and stringers as its a large project. If i took the boat to get it regelcoated at a shop, approximately how much would it cost me. This will take more time, but you will have to perform the job as early as possible or risk incurring higher repair costs for other parts of the boat that may be affected by a water breach. In addition to the transom replacement, dr gelcoat eliminated several stress cracks in. And there again, does the expense of a new transom increase the value of the boat no. This boat will be used in fresh water lakes inland and be trailered after e im thinking of the vivid. Theyre not affecting the integrity of the boat, so dont stress out pun intended if you have a few. If your boat doesnt have scratches, youre likely not fishing where bass live in springtime.
Fiberglass repaired and carefully hand shaped to recreate the multiple curves on the transom deck of this boat. This of course assumes that your crack was caused by water getting into the transom and freezing. Our expertise includes fiberglass and gelcoat repair, aluminum boat repair, custom gelcoat color matching, as well as cosmetic repairs, faded gelcoat rejuvenation, structural repairs, recoring decks and hulls, rotted wood floor and transom replacement, wood restoration projects, paint jobs from deck to hull painting, mass painting, custom composite fabrication work and total boat restorations. This boat is 2 years old and to be honest i never expected to find something like this. These hairline fractures also occur in boats of the mid 1970s vintage which often had thicker gelcoat layers than newer boats. Spider cracks are not an indication of the boat self destructing there would be more visible damage somewhere such as separating stress points perhaps rust and large cracks around any holes that go through the hull itself fiberglass is some really durable stuff.
Anyone else having this problem i have a 2000 triton 186 that the gel coat has been getting hundreds of tiny white cracks on the right gunwale since 2008, when i first noticed it. Crazing is an incredibly common issue on modern fiberglass boats, and although it usually starts off as a matter of cosmetics, in severe cases these surface cracks can grow, deepen, and eventually threaten your boat s. This image shows the stress cracks i noted while inspecting the boat the drive is off in the picture, but you can clearly see the stress cracks went well beyond the drive mounting area. Thermal fatigue cracks when gelcoat repeatedly expands or contracts. Repairing hairline cracks and crazing in gelcoat is a pain in the transom, which explains why most people dont do it. Repairing fiberglass powerboat transoms epoxyworks.
Repairs will only be authorized after skeeter is satisfied that there is a defect in material or workmanship. Custom color matched gelcoat applied and blended in. Defects in the exterior cosmetic gelcoat finish cracks or crazing and upholstery imperfections. Stress cracks in fiberglass bass boats, canoes, kayaks. I am doing lots of reserch and want to do this rjght so i need to be clear on which processes to. Repairing hairline cracks and how to do repair gelcoat. My boats plans repairing spider cracks on a boat master boat builder with 31. How to fix crazing in gelcoat, also known as spider cracks or stress cracks which. This yamaha boat sustained damage to the fiberglass and gelcoat at the portside aft deck. Our boat does not need it but we are considering some winter upgrades possibly including a color change. My father in laws transom on his 87 skeeter is very weak, but has been like that for the last 2 years. If there are no cracks in the fiberglass, it would be necessary to dry the fiberglass completely with heat lamps andor heat gun before resurfacing it with new gelcoat. Also small stress cracks in the gelcoat at the ends of the top of the transom indicates flexing under load, another sign of a weak and getting bad transom. It has been getting progressively worse since i discovered it, and spreading to the rest of the gunwales.
I am concern about the stress cracks in the transom even though the. Fiberglass boat repair tarpon springs fiberglass repair. Jul 26, 2014 outboard motors apply a considerable load to the transom. I have not had the boat for a while, i got it through a trade. Repairing hundreds of fiberglass cracks to get ready for. They are all around the seats, cooler, rod box, and trolling motor. I didnt know it at purchase, but these are cracks from too much flexing. You can read a lot of glass boat repair manuals and never see anything on the selfrepair of transoms. May 24, 20 the boat has been around almost 12 years i would expect to see some wear and tear somewhere. Im pretty sure the seat pan is gonna have to come out soon to be reinforced.
Warranty period runs one year 1 from the date of delivery to the original retail purchaser. Below is a detailed guideline on how to repair the transom on your boat. Stress cracks, spider cracks, and hairline cracks in the decks of older boats are, of course, not rare. Please browse my before and after pics in the photo section. I have a 2011 wx 1850 and when wiping it down last week i noticed the fiberglass showing stress cracks in the hull.
The effects of the motors weight are magnified when the boat is accelerated under normal operating conditions, and when the boat is bouncing along on a trailer. Today we will be fairing out the transom and spraying the gel coat on our 1992 23 ocean master project boat. This boat will be used in fresh water lakes inland and be trailered after e im thinking of. Spider cracks are nonstructural damage to the gelcoat of a boat. Im actually very happy that you agree with me on the design issue. Feb 27, 2008 whole boat should move down a little on the trailer. How to repair deep cracks in fiberglass boats with the new west system fiberglass boat repair kit. Hairline spider cracks must be opened wider and filled with an epoxy filler to be permanently repaired. When to tell if a fiberglass bass boat transom is bad. Rot repair in glass boats epoxy products to repair and. I am completely restoring a 1987 fourwinn 200 candia.
Crazing is an incredibly common issue on modern fiberglass boats, and although it usually starts off as a matter of cosmetics, in severe cases these surface cracks can grow, deepen, and eventually threaten your boats. On top of the stress cracks in the hull there are numerous other ones throughout the boat but this is the most alarming. Complete cosmetic and structural boat repair specialist. Fiberglass boat repair sacramento sacramento boat repair. These might be in a parallel pattern or a nondirectional pattern.
American boat restoration,certified, exceptional quality fiberglass,gelcoat and polyflake boat repair service. Our professional fiberglass boat repair shop is equipped to handle any repair work your boat requires. You are no longer able to take it on the water and miss out on a lot of peaceful evenings on the river or bay but fusion fiber marine is here to help. Gel coat cracking on 2000 tritonanyone else having this problem. Please subscribe, leave a comment and give us a thumbs up. Im not sure how to post pictures here but i could email you a photo of the. In this short video i take a minute to fix up an old bad repair. How much does it cost to regelcoat the entire exterior.
Up on the transom exactly at the side edge of the thick plywood. Learn how to treat wearinduced spider cracks that appear along the hull of your dinghy. Whole boat should move down a little on the trailer. And there again, does the expense of a new transom increase the value of the boatno. Transom gelcoat stains if this is your first visit, be sure to check out the faq by clicking the link above. Use a fine grit sandpaper to smooth out the cracks and prep the surface of your boat. But a rep at fiberglast pretty much told me that was a bad idea, even for a jet boat transom. We repair transoms,floors and specialize in smooth finish gelcoat. If the transom bends on top even just a little run. Repairing hairline cracks and how to do repair gelcoat magicezy. The lower 14 of the transom was rotted, allowing the outer skin to flex. I have found most cracks to be gelcoat cracks anyway.
I know some have painted their hulls instead of gelcoating. Gelcoat doesnt flex at the same rate as the underlying fiberglass layer fiberglass is more flexible, so stress cracks appeared all over. Spider or structural cracks around transom boat design net. With over 250 store locations, 100,000 products in stock, and knowledgeable associates, trust west marine for your boating, sailing, fishing, or paddling needs. How to repair gelcoat, fiberglass boat repair boating magazine. Radial cracks spider cracks, star cracks caused by impact or by a fixture bolt that puts strain on a certain area of a boat and cracks occur around the hole. Also, older fiberglass boats tend to have a thicker application of gelcoat which means they are more susceptible to cracking. This is a discussion for the topic need help with transom replacement on the board gelcoat paint.
How to decide if you should refurbish or sell your boat power. I am considering buying a used bass boat, the seller says that it could use a new gelcoat from the docking strip up. I wold like to change the color to today new cranberry metallic and off white or light gray. I bought a used ranger 363v once had terrible cracks in the transom. Outboard motors apply a considerable load to the transom. Would you avoid a boat with the cracks in these pics. Transom test when buying or repairing a boat the united. Scratches that go through the clear gel and into the color or flake cant be completely removed. Unless you can stop the flexing, youre wasting your time fixing the cracks. I assume that may have been due to cost and or availability. Now this is how i think it is supposed to be done, correct me if i am wrong. If i wanted to do it myself, how much would the equipment and supplies cost, and how many hours would it take two people. I get nervous every time we go on a big lake in it so we take my boat to rough water lakes. The discovery of hull blisters elicits a mental oh no.
Jun 24, 2011 long term, the plywood in the transom looses strength and becomes very flexible, allowing the gelcoat and fiberglass to crack. They arent spidercracks,just simple small cracks pretty much in line. But you can renew the gelcoat as long as it hasnt deteriorated past the point of no return. Ive seen guys put aluminum or steel plates on the transom and remount the engine, but, thats like putting a bandaid on cancer. Need help with transom replacement jet boat forum and.
Hull showing cracks skeeter boats indepth outdoors. By far the most experienced and professional repair facility. Gelcoat or paint which one should i use boatworks today. All the cracks except for in the transom area i just noticed it the other day are spreading. Crazing in gelcoat, also known as spider cracks or stress cracks, plagues countless boaters. Cracks in gelcoat at the transom i would like to add that the cracks are vertical maybe to 12 inch long,and there are 5 of them all together on both sides. While it is a pretty complicated job, replacing the transom core isn. The loads by the outboard are likely being transmitted symmetrically to both corners of the transom and the structure is symmetrical too. The next time youre cleaning and waxing your boat, take the time to look for small cracks, scratches and chips in its gel coat.
How to fix crazing in gelcoat, also known as spider cracks or. Ever wanted to fix a crack or hole in a fibreglass boat. Dr gelcoat was very creative in this process and answered my numerous questions along the way. As a very discriminating customer, this type of close interaction was certainly appreciated.
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