Gell coat crackes in the stern and bow

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   I have hull # 191 built in 1985. I have many gel coat cracks in the stern and starboard bow. Is this common? I have moisture in the stern that keeps evaporating out after I put primer on it. Any ideas on how to fix it. I have gotten to the point I am going to grid it down and put one layer of 6 oz cloth and epoxy resin.

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Virginia H. Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Crew Joined: 03 March 2012 Location: Hampton, Va Status: Offline Points: 46	Post Options Post Reply Quote Virginia H. Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Topic: Gell coat crackes in the stern and bow Posted: 20 December 2012 at 11:31pm
	I have hull # 191 built in 1985. I have many gel coat cracks in the stern and starboard bow. Is this common? I have moisture in the stern that keeps evaporating out after I put primer on it. Any ideas on how to fix it. I have gotten to the point I am going to grid it down and put one layer of 6 oz cloth and epoxy resin.

Bill Layton Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Commodore Joined: 15 September 2002 Location: Canada Status: Offline Points: 551	Post Options Post Reply Quote Bill Layton Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 20 December 2012 at 11:39pm
	There are a small number of boats with cracking in the gelcoat. Effective repair procedure for cracking is grinding out the cracks and some of the underlying glass then re glassing/fairing and paint. Any other method is short term patching. So yes your on the right track. Peeling the transom with a gelcoat removal tool may be the easiest method. If you have moisture trapped there it may need some time to dry out before glassing.

Virginia H. Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Crew Joined: 03 March 2012 Location: Hampton, Va Status: Offline Points: 46	Post Options Post Reply Quote Virginia H. Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 27 December 2012 at 11:14pm
	Which resin should I use? Polyester, epoxy or vinylester? I have all of the gelcoat off in the stern. Should I v out the cracks first or just glass over them?

Bill Layton Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Commodore Joined: 15 September 2002 Location: Canada Status: Offline Points: 551	Post Options Post Reply Quote Bill Layton Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 28 December 2012 at 9:20am
	The cracking occurs in the layer of glass under the gelcoat. So I would remove the next layer of glass. Once you are at the kevlar (yellow material) you are safe to reglass. I would do it with epoxy since it's a secondary bond.