Geoffrey,
It could be a lot of things, I'm not an expert, but based on the location it doesn't look structural. Could be due to natural flexing and expansion and contraction of a 20 year old hull. I'd think if anything bad was going to happen, it would have happened by now. I'd just do the repair and keep an eye on it.
I have the same cracks on my 1.5 cat 34. I am marking them and watching if they get larger. I will probably have the yard fix next winter season.
Geo : Have you confirmed that they are cracks that go all the way thru the fiberglass? Or are they cracks in just the gelcoat???
A few thoughts
Quote from: Ron Hill on May 20, 2021, 02:11:42 PM
Geo : Have you confirmed that they are cracks that go all the way thru the fiberglass? Or are they cracks in just the gelcoat???
A few thoughts
They definitely look like gelcoat cracks to my eyes.
All - thanks for the feedback - these are definitely gelcoat cracks - I've not opened them up to see if the extend to the underlying glass (not my boat). Inside the lazarettes looks fine - so I am guessing they are more cosmetic in nature.
As always - thanks for all of your feedback.
Geoff Wright
Sundowner III
Hull 1494
Goe : To fill those cracks on your MKII and chips in the same place on the MKI boats - I used a filler and made a gelcoat paste which is MUCH easier to work with and fills nicely! Then sand it with 1500 grit and you'll never notice it!!
A thought
They look like stress cracks in the gelcoat. I just repaired mine last year by grinding them out filled them in but still have to gelcoat them, but the boat went in the water before I could gelcoat because of covid19
Quote from: Ron Hill on May 23, 2021, 01:58:34 PM
Goe : To fill those cracks on your MKII and chips in the same place on the MKI boats - I used a filler and made a gelcoat paste which is MUCH easier to work with and fills nicely! Then sand it with 1500 grit and you'll never notice it!!
A thought
I wish there was a way to practice this.
Glenn : With a gelcoat paste it's easy. I believe they call the filler for paste "micro balloons" ??
Put it on and the use a piece of tight wax paper taped over the fill. Then - when dry lightly sand with rough 200 wet dry wet paper. Then final finish with 1500 wet/dry wet paper!!
A few thoughts
Our '98 has one in the same place. We gave the MagicEzy HAIRLINE FIX a go this year, and sadly, I wouldn't bother with it. There are no shortcuts in life. Next fall or spring we'll do it the right way as suggested by Ron.