Spider Cracks

[91 charger stv]

Hey guys so I pulled the boat out from the tarp yesterday to get started on fixing the gel coat spider cracks and a couple of bigger pressure cracks. So first off the spider cracks so when I bought the boat last year out of a field were it sat for 15 years all of these cracks were on the one side of the boat that got the most sun what I have researched is I need to grind a v pattern into each Crack and the fill with gel coat and sand flat. Now since these cracks are all on the side of the boat will the gel coat I apply just run down the side of the boat due to gravity or is it pretty sticky stuff and any suggestions on type of gel I should use?

[91 charger stv]

Now for part 2 is these big cracks they will need to be fiber glassed from the inside and re gelled and they are in a pain in the ass spot to. So my question are how much do I grind out and how do I fill in such a big area with gel coat without it pooling do to gravity

[XstreamVking]

I usually just grind the whole area where the spiders are. It will work better than a bunch of fingers filled with gell. You have to remove/replace glass where the cracks are also. Gell is for the top 1/16'' or less and not for fixing anything. Grind out, glass with some matt, sand flat and cover with gell. The bigger stuff, grind out, glass with some 1708 and cover with some matt. Glass a pc on the inside if holed thru. Same thing as spiders for finish. Gonna have to spray it or build up with a series of coats of gell applied with a spreader.

[tunnels]

Hey guys so I pulled the boat out from the tarp yesterday to get started on fixing the gel coat spider cracks and a couple of bigger pressure cracks. So first off the spider cracks so when I bought the boat last year out of a field were it sat for 15 years all of these cracks were on the one side of the boat that got the most sun what I have researched is I need to grind a v pattern into each Crack and the fill with gel coat and sand flat. Now since these cracks are all on the side of the boat will the gel coat I apply just run down the side of the boat due to gravity or is it pretty sticky stuff and any suggestions on type of gel I should use?

The gel coat cracks are just the gel coat at the surface and it tell you a story !, its the damaged and possibly shattered glass under the gel coat that needs to be repaired and re-strengthened !
What was the cause of the damage ??
its obviously something bad, this doesn't happen for no reason !!

[91 charger stv]

Well the big cracks is from the previous owner jumping for a high dock on to the side the spider cracks not to sure but it can't be from hitting something cause there is no point of origin it has those small cracks all down the one panel and they are all vertical

[XstreamVking]

Is there anything contacting the interior area of the spiders? Most spiders are from the panel being pushed out ward. But, will need ground out and glassed....

[Gorilla0178]

I try to stay out of these conversations at this point.... just a thought, those do not appear to be "spider cracks" from an impact. That's 15 years of sun damage that cracked the gelcoat. If the cracks are not from a impact and the glass underneath is not damaged, they just need to be ground out and filled with a quality filler, if they are in fact from an impact and the glass is damaged they will need to be ground out and a little glass over them, or they will come back.

[91 charger stv]

So yesterday i climbed underneath and there r no signs of impact in the fiberglass so it must be from the sun obviously the big crack has damage and will need glassing I'm going to start sanding the spiders next week I will be doing them in groups in stead of individuals so it's will be harder to see the new gelcoat

[Gorilla0178]

when you dig them out, youll be able to see if there is any damage. I suspect sun damage.

[tunnels]

Well the big cracks is from the previous owner jumping for a high dock on to the side the spider cracks not to sure but it can't be from hitting something cause there is no point of origin it has those small cracks all down the one panel and they are all vertical

Those vertical crack are from the gunwale having lots if weight on it bending and bellying the side of the hull outwards because the cracks are radiating from the chine upwards , Once you get some of those cracks sanded back to see the glass the damage will be outside not inside for sure ! and a person jumping onto the side deck would make that much mess its something else dropped on the side deck that's done that kind of damage ! SO if you find damaged glass it need grinding out properly .

[91 charger stv]

[91 charger stv]

[91 charger stv]

[91 charger stv]

Sorry it took me so long to get this up to date so as u can see it was alot of work and those little cracks turned into so big ass spots lol but it turned out very good for my first ever fiberglass and gel coat job

[XstreamVking]

Good job.... Especially for the 1st try. Can't even see the repairs in the pix....