Treating fine deck cracks around stanchion bases

[dcr]

Hi Guys,

My first post so hope I'm in the right place etc - Good to be here though!

So, how best to DIY repair fine gel coat cracks, I would appreciate your help and advice to achieve good, low cost long term results.

Thanks

 

[30boat]

If you want long term results you have to fix the underlying cause.The sockets must be removed and the backing plates,if you have them,as well.The laminate is then beefed up and a better supporting backing plate fitted preferably bedded in thickened epoxy .On deck the cracks are opened up and filled with gelcoat filler.

 

[Blue5]

The cracks will fill with Gel Coat Filler but the question you need to ask is what caused the cracks

 

[TradewindSailor]

Some decks were moulded with core material in way of the stanchion bases. The load from the stanchions can crush the core and crack the upper deck laminate. If this has happened on your boat you will need to dig out the core under the stanchion base a re-laminate with cloth/resin (I prefer epoxy .... but if you are using a polyester gelcoat or filler there will be compatibility problems).

Another possibility is that you have plywood or hardwood inserts moulded into your deck to take the stanchion loads. Water can seep down the bolts and rot the wood. Once again you have to remove the rotten wood and re-laminate.

 

[oldsaltoz]

Hi Guys,

My first post so hope I'm in the right place etc - Good to be here though!

So, how best to DIY repair fine gel coat cracks, I would appreciate your help and advice to achieve good, low cost long term results.

Thanks

Hi dcr and welcome to the YBW forums, it will help if you fill in some info on your bio, boat make, type, etc, this will help you get better responses from others with the same craft.

Cracks around stanchion bases is common and caused by pulling /pushing the tops or just poor design / build.

Any repair to the gel coat should be left until the base has been properly repaired.

First establish what is under the stanchions, ply moulded into the glass is common, composite can be a problem if not stiff enough, no backing plate or poorly bedded plates can also be problem.

Repairs are best done from inside to preserve the original deck finish. Most repairs involve re drilling the bolt holes oversize and filling with epoxy and micro fibres, then re drilling to the required size, this ensures no water will enter and provide a non compressible base for the bolts; to prevent movement in future you need to good backing plates to stiffen everything up.

All backing plates should be bedded in with resin thickened with micro fibres (not balloons) left to cure then tightened fully.

The deck cracks can be ground out using a Dremel tool or the point of a rat-tail file, then cleaned with Acetone just prior to coating.

Rather than using gel coat that has no wax and needs to covered with cling wrap to avoid oxygen contact so it can cure, try some Flow coat, this is resin with wax added and pigment for colour.

All you need to do is mask the area and apply. it will cure in a matter of hours, try to get the flow-coat or gel-coat higher than the surrounding area to help drainage.

You can avoid the mixing of oxides to get the colour match by using a contrasting colour.

Tell the crew not to pull on the safety wire or stanchions when boarding.

Hope this helps.

.