Gouges,.Cracks,.&.Blisters; Osmotic.blistering - Four winns 348 vista Owner's Manual

If.this.does.not.work,.clean.the.area.and.sand.lightly.
with.400.to.600.wet.or.dry.sandpaper.and.follow.with.
rubbing.compound.and.wax.
B. Gouges & Cracks
Stress.cracks.and.crazing.are.the.appearance.of.
hairline.cracks.in.the.gel.coat.surface..When.present,.
these problems usually occur in the gel coat finish or
the outer "skin coat" fiberglass laminate. The appear-
ance.of.these.cracks.does.not.pose.a.threat.to.the.
structural.integrity.of.the.boat...In.most.cases,.they..
are.cosmetic.and.can.be.treated.
Cosmetic.surface.damage.can.be.repaired.as.follows:
1. Sand the surrounding area with medium or fine .
grit.sandpaper..Clean.all.marine.growth,.dirt,.
antifouling.paint,.etc..from.the.immediate.area...
DO.NOT.excessively.scratch.or.gouge.the..
surrounding.area.
2.. Use.a.hard,.pointed.tool.to.open.the.gel.crack..
Take.care.not.to.damage.the.surrounding.gel.coat.
3.. Sand.the.crack.or.gouge.so.the.edges.are.smooth.
and will allow proper "feathering" of the area.
4.. Clean.the.area.thoroughly..Make.sure.the.area.is.
dry.before.proceeding.
NOTICE
Be sure the structure and the ambient
temperature are above 0 degrees F (
degrees C) and the relative humidity below
0% immediately before, during, and after the
repair.
5.. If.the.nick.or.gouge.is.deep.and.penetrates.
through the gel coat, fill the area with fiberglass
patching.paste..Follow.the.directions.on.the.can.
when.mixing.the.paste.with.the.catalyst.
6. After the gouge is filled and has dried, sand the
patched area. Begin by using medium-fine grade
sandpaper. Progressively use finer grade sandpa-
per.until.the.surface.is.very.smooth..If.necessary,.
add filler and then sand the surface again.
7. Apply two or three light coats of matching fiber-
glass.gel.coat.to.the.repaired.area..Enough.gel.
coat.should.be.used.so.that.the.entire.area.is.
Exterior Equipment - Section P
covered..The.gel.coat.must.be.catalyzed.using.up.
to.2%.MEK.Peroxide.which.can.be.purchased.at.a.
supplier handling fiberglass reinforced products.
Contact.your.Four.Winns.dealer.for.assistance.
8.. After.ample.drying.time,.sand.the.area.using.very.
fine wet/dry sandpaper. If the appearance of the
area.is.still.not.satisfactory,.repeat.steps.2.through.
4.as.necessary.
9.. If.above.the.waterline,.polish.the.area.using.a.
fiberglass rubbing compound and then wax. If the
repaired.area.is.below.the.waterline,.the.area.
should.be.primed.and.painted.in.accordance.with.
the.antifouling.paint.manufacturer's.instructions.
Gel.coat,.like.paint,.will.change.colors.with.time.and.
exposure.to.sunlight.(ultraviolet)..For.this.reason,.
"matching" gel coat obtained from Four Winns may
not.match.the.gel.color.of.a.boat.that.has.been.
exposed..However,.this.is.the.closest.match.commer-
cially available. A fiberglass technician can tint the gel
to.be.used.in.the.repair.to.provide.a.closer.color.
match..
More severe fiberglass damage, especially when
structural,.requires.the.expertise.of.an.experienced.
fiberglass repair technician. See your Four Winns
dealer.for.assistance.
NOTICE
Improper repair techniques can lead to further
fiberglass component damage.
C. Osmotic Blistering
Osmotic blistering or "boat pox" is an unfortunate .
but not uncommon occurrence in fiberglass boats.
Fiberglass.is.water.retardant,.not.waterproof..When..
a.boat.is.left.in.the.water.for.a.period.of.time,.the.
fiberglass will absorb water. It is a natural process .
that.can.not.be.eliminated.in.production.methods.or.
material.selection.and.usage..However,.there.are.
ways.to.control.and.possibly.prevent.blisters.(see.Sec-
tion.P-6)..If.you.do.encounter.blisters,.be.assured.that.
the.blisters.are.merely.cosmetic..They.do.not.indicate.
a.defect.in.the.boat.structure.or.lamination..Four.
Winns,.along.with.most.boat.manufacturers,.regard.
gel.blisters.as.a.standard.maintenance.item.
The.repair.procedure.for.gel.coat.blisters.is.similar.to.
the.procedures.outlined.in.the.previous.section.on.
cracks.and.gouges..There.is.an.exception.however,.in.
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