Impact or void?

Morning All,


Following the recent purchase of this craft, would it be possible for someone to advise on the preferred method of repair for the below damage ( the vertical line in the second picture is to be ignored this is only masking tape residue - aplogies)?

I would think it has struck an object in the water and has been hit from astern...

N.B., Purchased 'Fibreglass Boats' by Hugo du Plessis.

 

It's hard to tell from the pic, but it looks like the gel coat is very thick, it also looks like that area has been beat up a bit.

If the gel coat is too thick it can crack easily when flexed, even if little or no damage was done to the laminate. This would be the best case scenario.

The only real way to tell though is to remove the gel coat and see what it may be hiding.

Grinding out the crack and filling it may work if the gel coat is the correct thickness and there is no underlying damage, but if the gel coat is thick or the laminate is damaged the cracks will return the next time that area is stressed.

 

It could be a compounded issue from impact(s), but looks more like stress cracks in the gel coat.

Yep, as mentioned, grind it down to mat and see what's going on. You might have some luck just grinding a single crack down, to see if the underlying laminate also has damage. If trying this, pick the worst crack and see it the mat is also torn up.

 

It may just be the lighting but it looks to me as if there has already been some repair work done. It looks like the gelcoat on the corner is a slightly different color that the flat. My guess is the corner got crunched. They just filled in the corner and made no structural repair. The structural damage allowed too much flex which caused the subsequent larger gelcoat stress cracks.

As others said, grind away. You need to see how much filler crap they stuck on the corner and the extent of the structural damage.

 

read the signs that are there . those are impact marks !!!

What part of the hull is it ??
Its had a hell of a bang at some time and the cracks are from the impact on that corner . The gell coat is telling you of the underlaying problems under the gel coat so out with a grinder and clean all the surface gelcoat off that area and have a look at the shattered fibreglass layers as well . Its no good just doing gel repairs or in a very short time it will look the same again . Th damaged glass will have to be ground back and got rid of and replaced then sanded and a proper repair done then regelcoated !!!

 

Where in the UK are you?

 

Removed old gelcoat

Thankyou all for your help.
All non original gelcoat has been removed, no damage to the laminates could be found should a layer of epoxy be added for safetys sake before adding the gelcoat?

 

As was suspected, the gel coat is too thick and no, you don't want or need epoxy on this job. The gel coat is (was) the problem, possably combined with some impacts.

 

Thankyou Par.
Should the crazing/cracks be taken down to the laminate (holes drilled either end) then filled with Gelcoat?

 

The cracks should be opened to insure they're only in the gel coat. If in the laminate, grind down until you see good mat, then fill with resin and more material as necessary. Gel coat is just a thin cosmetic surfacing treatment and has zip for strength. If too thick it'll crack, which is likely the case here. If it was me, I'd grind away the whole area, past any cracks, fill with resin and mat as required, fair the surface, then gel coat. Actually, I wouldn't bother with gel coat, I'd just paint it. She's likely got other gel coat issues and is need of paint all over anyway.

 

come on !!! open your eyes !! look at the damaged glass !!!

I can see just looking at the picture of the glass is stuffed its shattered and looks like layers have separated and that will right back to where the cracks start that you have ground out !! read the signs !!!!
That no way to do gel coat repairs !! the corner at some time has had a one hell of a bang and if you just repair the spider webs they will be back again in a month just about stake my life on it !! and if you dont do the repair properly you can only blame yourself when the cracks reapear again .
Its like pitting a sticking plaster over a gapping wound for God sake !!!
Check inside the corner of the transome as well it could have damaged aswell or even to the point of come loss of delaminated the very corner of the plywood packer !!

 

Paint all over

Thankyou Par for the reply.

First underlined quote: what is the material that might be required ?
Second underlined: Fortunately it doesn't need paint as the UV here is not so severe.

Would this sytem be suitable?

Regards,
Covers.

 

Thankyou Tunnels.

Sledge hammer to crack a Walnut?
Inside the transom shows good. Shall, with a very fine bit, grind the cracks and inspect the laminate. What would you recommend if the laminates need repair?

 

Take what i say how ever you want! ive been and done repair work for many years ,whats on the surface is telling you a story of whats below !!! its shattered and you will find out once you stop ***** footing about and get the gel coat off so you can see it
Its a rear impact right on the corner and will have compressed the side laminate and shattered the layers of glass . Dammaged glass shows as white marks within the layers of glass and yours is all white that why you cant see where it starts and ends !!

what a silly question !!!!What would you recommend if the laminates need repair?

 

Sorry, was refering to types of mat, West System or other etc. Keep up!