Hi guys,
My Triton has gelcoat cracks all over it, in places the gelcoat is an 1/8th inch thick!
When repainting, how should I go about removing the old flakey stuff? Does it all need to come off?
I'll take some pictures of some of the areas around bulkheads and under the undersides when I haul out... she was a racer in the past, so a few places show some stress.
Thanks,
Zach
Gelcoat cracks
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bcooke
- Master of the Arcane
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- Boat Name: Jenny
- Boat Type: 1966 Pearson Triton
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Old and flaky?
Then yes, it needs to come off. Otherwise it will continue to come off and take the paint with it. Filling the cracks only works temporarily but it might get you by if that is all you need.
A DA sander and 36-80 grit sandpaper works good at removal. (and a respirator)
Nathan solved his problem by laying a new skin over the whole deck. If your problem is widespread that might be an option too. I am not sure how the same solution would work on the hull though.
-Britton
Then yes, it needs to come off. Otherwise it will continue to come off and take the paint with it. Filling the cracks only works temporarily but it might get you by if that is all you need.
A DA sander and 36-80 grit sandpaper works good at removal. (and a respirator)
Nathan solved his problem by laying a new skin over the whole deck. If your problem is widespread that might be an option too. I am not sure how the same solution would work on the hull though.
-Britton
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Ceasar Choppy
- Boat Obsession Medal Finalist
- Posts: 622
- Joined: Thu Mar 09, 2006 11:05 am
- Location: Port Starboard, MD
As Britton says, old and flakey needs to come off.
I had this problem on my Renegade (almost all Renegades were this way). There is a difference between the crazing due to thick gelcoat and stress cracks. The stress cracks can be fixed on an indiviual basis, but you have to fix the underlying problem that cause the stress cracks.
For those areas where it is just cracked like a fine antique vase, you have three options:
1. take it all off and re-gelcoat or coat with epoxy and paint. Will be very expensive and time consuming.
2. Open up all the cracks and fill with gelcoat. Not very practical, very time consuming, and the cracks will come back because the gelcoat is still too thick. (This option works for the stress cracks though, provided you have fixed the cause of the stress cracks).
3. Deal with the areas that are flaking and try and fill all the crazing cracks. High-build primer alone will not do it on its own. I used spot putty all over the boat. When I painted, it was great for about 5 years, but the cracks came back. You will be damned to this Sisiphysean task every 5-10 years, but you will also be painting that often as well.
Pictures here: http://www.renegade27.org/paint.html
I had this problem on my Renegade (almost all Renegades were this way). There is a difference between the crazing due to thick gelcoat and stress cracks. The stress cracks can be fixed on an indiviual basis, but you have to fix the underlying problem that cause the stress cracks.
For those areas where it is just cracked like a fine antique vase, you have three options:
1. take it all off and re-gelcoat or coat with epoxy and paint. Will be very expensive and time consuming.
2. Open up all the cracks and fill with gelcoat. Not very practical, very time consuming, and the cracks will come back because the gelcoat is still too thick. (This option works for the stress cracks though, provided you have fixed the cause of the stress cracks).
3. Deal with the areas that are flaking and try and fill all the crazing cracks. High-build primer alone will not do it on its own. I used spot putty all over the boat. When I painted, it was great for about 5 years, but the cracks came back. You will be damned to this Sisiphysean task every 5-10 years, but you will also be painting that often as well.
Pictures here: http://www.renegade27.org/paint.html