SH-T !!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Cracked the Gel Coat....

[TiMaH]

Need help from the experts PLEASE.....

So I was installing

this thing (not actual picture)on my SX190 transom to protect the ducer wire....and made 2 of the three holes clean......taped, reverse drill to start, bevelled, marine super glue on the screws, tightened gently - PERFECT ......but I dont know wtf happened to the third hole but it chipped - just like below.......obviously not that big nor the tail scrape - but the screw doesnt grab the fiber glass at all......

So I just filled the the 3rd screw with glue and snugged it up through the GAP for now.....

HELP PLZ guys !!!!!!!!!!



Installing

 

[4x15mph]

I like your fix with glue but I would have used 3m 4200 to make the chip water tight. Other than that, can't even tell.

 

[TiMaH]

My dealer gave me a tube of "super glue" its not infront of me right know but he did say its marine grade....

 

[TiMaH]

My worry aside from H2O leakage - is the potential for spider cracks underneath the the swim platform

 

[swatski]

At this point you might just as well use the good old method of 1. overdrill, 2. fill with epoxy resin (use white if cosmetic appearance is impotant), 3. redrill (smaller) - for the exact screw size. Set the screws in 3m 5200.

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[TiMaH]

Ok TYVM Swatski...... so would I allow the epoxy to come over the exterior edge of the oversized hole to prevent spider cracks ????

 

[swatski]

Ok TYVM Swatski...... so would I allow the epoxy to come over the exterior edge of the oversized hole to prevent spider cracks ????

No, I would make it as even as possible - epoxy is MUCH harder than gel coat - and harder to sand/buff/polish. The key to avoid spider cracks in gel coat when putting screws into it is to have the exact match between the drill bit/hole size and the screw. Importantly, it is different in different materials, so if you are testing the match in plywood - you will need a slightly larger diameter hole in fiberglass/gelcoat. I always save scraps of any fiberglass/FRP cutouts - so that I can test the fittings.
That said, epoxy is super hard, so it is unlikely to expand enough to cause cracking of the surrounding gelcoat.

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[Zonie]

I just did some Gel Coat repair using the Spectrum Kit. It was far easier than I expected and it's a perfect color match.

I know there are other threads that have better repair pictures but this is pretty good.
Good luck!

http://yamahajetboaters.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=64072&hilit=spectrum

http://www.iboats.com/Boat-Gel-Coat...id.318320661--uattr.brand:231--view_id.246645