What is the finish on the deck?.

mushman

mushman

Junior Member
The last couple of years I've noticed small cracks forming on the deck.They're around 3/4 inch long and all clustered together in 1 spot.They are about 1 foot by 1 foot area near the rod boxes this time.There are no soft spots that I've noticed.I think the cracks are from expansion or just the sun beating down on the deck.I used to always cover the boat till the original cover fell apart so now it just has a bimini.
I noticed a few around 3-4 years ago near the rear of the deck.They were only a few inches by a few inches,I sanded then tried to color match and spot repair with gel coat, they never came back.
What is the original finish is it paint or tinted gelcoat with grit?.I'd like to find something I can apply that will have the same look as the original finish.The color matching didn't work out so well so I think I have to repaint the whole thing.I think a fine knap roller would work well.
Any suggestions?.
 
randlemanboater said:
Blood and fish slime allowed to cure in the sun will cover those cracks.
Click to expand...

That is true, I guess I'll wait for the blue fish to run, they always seem to get blood all over the place.
Now that the boat is sitting on it's trailer I have all theese ideas, but once the strippers start to run I know I'll never get any of them done.
 
My thought is that you have some moister under the floor, I did and had a lot of stress cracks as I called them.
Here it was caused from the water under the deck skin and freezing in the winter, exspan and cracking the deck.

Floor is just glass and gel coat like the outside of the boat with texture mix throwm in for griping.

Then real wat to fix them is to use a dermeal tool and V out the crack, and filling with a filler, I like Fromula 27 but it has to be top coated with something as it will assorb water if not.
After filling you can gel coat again or get some Deck paint, I and a few others got Duraback with texture and it has held up real good!

If you have any large deep cracks then you will need to due the same, but maybe some fiberglass cloth to make it hold toghter and not crack, sand and again cover with gell coat or paint.

Here is a link for that Duraback, it will cost you $100+ but it is great stuff!

http://www.nonslipcoating.com/
 
Thanks Macojoe, how does moisture get under the deck skin?, is it condensation from underneath?.
If it's from the top I'll just try to seal the whole thing in one shot.

I have a brand new cointainer of Seafit marine surfacing putty I bought a couple of years ago, would this be o.k. to use on the cracks or is that formula 27 a better choice?.
 
All them cracks are letting water in there as we speak, just need one. ellcraft also was not good about sealing edges of holes they drilled, or were hatches were put in. Same goes for mounting areas, I never saw any sealing stuff any were, so over time it get's in there also.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top