Fix Gelcoat cracks RIGHT 🏆 NO INSTAFIX, DO IT PROPERLY!

Fixing gelcoat cracks on your boat is one of the best ways to bring it up to code again! Unsightly cracks aren't always a serious problem, and if there's no fibreglass damage below they're easy enough to fix in ONE DAY!
Are gelcoat repair kits worth it? Do they work? If they actually include gelcoat, MEK and thickening agent then possibly, yes. But as a fibreglass boat owner you probably know that having gelcoat available to cover scuffs, chips and scrapes is a good idea anyway - so do yourself and your boat a favour, and get the right stuff!
You'll need gelcoat - the same colour as the area you're fixing; Colloidal silica or tiny glass spheres to thicken the gelcoat; A rotary tool with small grinding bit; sandpaper and your favourite cutting compound, polish and wax!
We would NEVER recommend using cheap comes-in-a-tube products to repair gelcoat cracks - using a different material with different properties can only make the problem WORSE over time!

[@DLTJR1959]

Thank you for the great video. I really appreciate it. I've got a 22 year old bass boat that has spider cracks. At least now I know how to fix them. A lot of guys just let them go. Looks like a good project for this old retired guy to take on. Thanks again.

[@reviewtime39]

Looks great! 🎉

[@robertcain3426]

A thing to consider is that spider cracks just don't appear for no reason. There are three reasons for spider cracks;
1. Impact - in which case all the gelcoat needs to be ground off to expose the damaged laminate.
2. The gelcoat has been wrongly applied too thick. Gelcoat doesn't like to flex so the thicker it is, the less flex it has. Also, as it ages it become harder and stiffer and the cracks will appear.
3. The laminate is too thin and flexing too much for the gelcoat. The laminate spec is, therefore, not enough.
It also could be a combination of 2 & 3. Cheers

[@tylerhoward2703]

gelcoat starts to crack just like this after 20ish years. ive seen it on 2 machines my familys owned since new. you wont convince me it was anything other than the sun and elements on these and so imo your 3 ways are not the only 3 ways possible. if the machine is a year old with cracks. sure.

[@robertcain3426]

@@tylerhoward2703 What happens is that over the years, styrene is leached out of the resin/gelcoat and it becomes more and more brittle. And, which exacerbates those three deficiencies I listed. Cheers

[@anthonywhitehouse2295]

hi guys how is the boat coming along when will we see the new videos of her progress ?

[@piotrtrocki3842]

what about fumed silica to mix with gelcoat

[@TheSilverSurfisher]

Thanks for the video. Quick Question: But what if the cracked gelcoat’s clear (and glitter flakes underneath)??🤔

[@ProjectFury]

Oh boy, I wouldn't want to be the one fixing that...I think you'd probably sand back and feather a wider area around the crack down through the flake, re-apply the glitter flake/resin layer(s) and then clear resin on top, but I've not had to do that before myself.

[@andrewhicks8663]

You can also use dynaglass that has resin mixed with it

[@andrewhicks8663]

People say it’s not waterproof but you spray gel coat over top of it and dynaglass is much stronger but a little more expensive but you get the money back by how much less time you have to sand on it vs gel coat with silica on it

[@ProjectFury]

I have some experiments planned with different patching mixtures for later in the year, I'll add that to the list!

[@goofyfoot2001]

Fine and dandy when it's not a textured surface

[@ralphdukes2650]

Video is useless

[@narmale]

because you dont understand it... its not a "for beginners" tutorial