Gel coat crack

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  • Craig Kaufman
    • Oct 2010
    • 12

    • Oakville

    • 2011 Super Air Nautique 230 Team 2008 Super Air Nautique 220 Team (sold)

    #1

    Gel coat crack

    does anyone know what would happen if I don't repair a crack in the gel coat?
  • teamseal
    Senior Member of PLANETNAUTIQUE
    • Dec 2006
    • 384

    • Panama city, Florida.

    • 2009 196 ZR-6

    #2
    Depends on where the crack is. If it is ain an area where the glass needs to flex to some degree then the crack may propagate.
    where is your gel coat problem or damage lecated?

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    • SquamInboards
      Senior Member of PLANETNAUTIQUE
      • Sep 2005
      • 397

      • Squam Lake, NH

      • '82 2001 '84 2001 '86 2001 '98 NSS '87 American Skier

      #3
      If it is deep enough, water will get into the glass and promote osmotic blistering I believe. Depends how big the crack is, and where, but it is always a good idea to repair. Your boat is covered by ~20 mils. of gel coat, and a layer of chop strand mat (skin coat) which is reinforced with vinylester resin. These two components are protecting the structural layers of laminate, which is a good thing. Cracks in GC can be especially bad along the chines, where builders will generally lay tow to fill the tight radii. The tow is just a bunch of pieces of unidirectional fibers which can act like long straws when exposed to water, allowing the water to migrate quickly along the rest of the chine.
      How 'bout a little reverse action...

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