Mac wrote:

On Sat, 27 Nov 2004 10:52:38 -0800, Michael G Adams wrote:

[snip]

1- Should I grind out every crack, starbust inpact fracture and flaw
in the gelcoat on the hull, Then repair with epoxy putty? Sand,then
spray with epoxy primer before I paint?

I don't think so. Only if the material around the cracks is loose would I
grind it out. But I am definitely not an expert.

One thing to watch for is places where the hull has been stressed. For
example, if you see a ridge of cracks along a bulkhead, it could be a sign
of broken down fiberglass underneath. I'm not sure what you can do about
that, but it could indicate a serious problem.

2-Can I sand the decks, wheelhouse etc. Epoxy prime, sand, and then
paint? There are a million small fracture cracks everywhere, will the
epoxy primer repair these?


-----------------

If you paint over the small hairline cracks the paint or epoxy will just
bridge over them and they will reappear when the air or moisture in them
expands with temp.

you must 'seal' them with something like Capt Tolley's (available in all the
marine catalogs or online) or some other very low viscosity primer or sealer.


regards
paul oman
progressive epoxy polymers
www.epoxyproducts.com