Table of Contents
Advertisement
3. Wax.
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,
anti-fouling paint, etc. from the immedi ate area.
DO NOT excessively scratch or gouge the
sur round ing area.
2. Use a hard, pointed tool to open the gel crack.
Take care not to damage the sur round ing 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 60 degrees F (15 degrees C) and the
relative humidity below 70% immediately before,
during, and after the repair.
5. If the nick or gouge is deep and pene trates
through the gel coat, fill the area with fiber g lass
patching paste. Follow the directions on the can
when mixing the paste with the cata lyst.
6. After the gouge is filled and has dried, sand the
patched area. Begin by using medium-fine grade
sandpaper. Progres s ively 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
Fiberglass & Hull Information - Section P
coat should be used so that the entire area is
covered. The gel coat must be cata lyzed using up
to 2% MEK Peroxide which can be pur c ha s ed at a
supplier handling fiber g lass rein f o r ced products.
Contact your Four Winns dealer for assis tance.
8. After ample drying time, sand the area using very
fine wet/dry sandpaper. If the appear a nce of the
area is still not satisfac tory, repeat steps 2 through
4 as neces sary.
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 accor dance with
the anti-fouling paint manuf actur er's instruc tions.
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 experi enced
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 water proof. 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 indi cate
a defect in the boat structure or lamination. Four
Winns, along with most boat manufacturers, regard
gel blisters as a standard maintenance item.
Owner's Manual Page 173
Advertisement
Table of Contents
