checkmark91
07.05.2021 13:19:16
Wash the area with acetone a second time to remove all sanding dust.
See full version: How to Fix Spider Cracks in Fiberglass
Wash the area with acetone a second time to remove all sanding dust.
Clean off the sanding dust with acetone.
Pull all of the loose bristles out of a cheap paint brush. Loose bristles may become embedded in the gelcoat. more
Sand the area with 300-grit sandpaper to begin smoothing it. Re-sand it with 600-grit, then 900-grit and so on. Keep jumping 300 grit at a time until the repeated sanding has produced as smooth of a finish as you require.
Pat is also right, if you want to fix them right, grind away the gel coat and re-apply. here
I will say that if I was looking at a 4788 and all else was good, I would not sweat the ones I saw in the photo too badly. here
Yes older boats can get spider cracks, but I can say that my 17 year old 4788 only has them on the swim platform corners, clearly impact damage. here
Otherwise they are impact damage as Pat indicated more
If the cracks are directly above the lifting strap tags then theoretically that could be the cause.
The good news is that it’s fast and easy. You should be able to spray and wipe your boat in less time than it takes to wash and dry it, after the initial application. Many boat owners use Kwik Shine after every time they use their boats instead of washing. It has good UV protection and regular use will prevent fading.
IN SUMMARY, the quick answer is NO, but here are your options: more
Your boat was built from the inside out. The manufacturer sprayed clear gelcoat into the mold, followed by the metalflake/colored gelcoat and then laid up the various fiberglass layers to give the hull and deck its strength. The clear gelcoat allows the UV rays from the sun to penetrate down to the colored surface and the metallic particles reflect it back through the clear gelcoat, in effect burning it from both sides. This type of finish should be kept covered when not in use and only the best quality synthetic boat polish with good UV protection should be used. It’s better to polish these finishes more often as the UV protection in all polishes will degrade over time. Water may continue to bead, but the sun is eating your boat. [links]
Hydrostream made a great boat. Their designs were years ahead of their time. I can understand why you would want to restore and keep it. [links]
Answer:
For your convenience, I’ve highlighted the hyperlinks. Click on the hyperlink to get more information about the selected product.
IN MORE DETAIL:
The metalflake particles will always be rough and sanding will only dull the surface more. Waxes are not very good at protecting your boat surface against environmental damage. [links]
Watch the video below to see just how easy it is.
These problems occur as a result of: more
Quite often however, it’s near impossible to prevent these unsightly cracks due to the fact gelcoat is so brittle and rigid. [links]
One quick and easy way to repair gelcoat stress cracks yourself is by using MagicEzy Hairline Fix – A purpose built DIY repair solution for stress cracks in gelcoat and fiberglass. [links]
In most cases this is true, however it is important to seal them correctly otherwise water may penetrate into the fiberglass and cause more serious damage.
Spider cracks can be avoided by countersinking holes just through the gelcoat, so the load is placed on the structural fiberglass rather than the brittle gelcoat. There’s also a great article on how to drill holes correctly to avoid chipping and cracking in fiberglass. [links]