Fiberglass crack? Is it okay or does it need repair?

[ZFrog]

Took the gas tank out and noticed this little crack.. It seems like it goes through but no sure how to test permeability. I but a vacuum on one end and did not feel suction on the other end. It was on the lake for 30 minutes and it didn't seem to take on water.

Should I do a patch from inside?







Thanks!

[TMali]

Re: Fiberglass crack? Is it okay or does it need repair?

It goes all the way through for sure, the correct way to do this would be to grind out all bad cracked glass and patch it with epoxy resin fiberglass, especially with kawasaki SMC hulls. Cant buy the fiberglass junk at your local hardware or auto parts store.

[hyosung]

Re: Fiberglass crack? Is it okay or does it need repair?

since it is not leaking water ,this is how i would repair > use a low viscosity Kintex epoxy resin with a slow catalyst > use a 80 grade wheel on a grinder and grind /sand back the surface outlined in the pics "" do not dig into the cracks AS POSTED ABOVE """ > wash / soak the areas well with acetone and blow dry with compressed air > apply 3 layers of 250 woven roving s on the inside an 2 layers to the outside , mix some cabosil to a paste ( about the same consistency as polyester bog) and use that to smooth out on the outside >> to easy ...

[whazguude]

Re: Fiberglass crack? Is it okay or does it need repair?

...or you could get a good bilge pump and ride it till it sinks, or breaks in half.

Repairing it is the better choice, though.

[ZFrog]

Re: Fiberglass crack? Is it okay or does it need repair?

Thanks!

What products do you recommend?

Found this video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ogoPfYD64fQ

[ZFrog]

Re: Fiberglass crack? Is it okay or does it need repair?

It goes all the way through for sure, the correct way to do this would be to grind out all bad cracked glass and patch it with epoxy resin fiberglass, especially with kawasaki SMC hulls. Cant buy the fiberglass junk at your local hardware or auto parts store.

What products do you recommend?

I saw those valvoline products but they cant be ordered without business.

[WFO Speedracer]

Re: Fiberglass crack? Is it okay or does it need repair?

Us composites epoxy resin they can also supply you with anything else you may need

https://www.uscomposites.com

[TMali]

Re: Fiberglass crack? Is it okay or does it need repair?

since it is not leaking water ,this is how i would repair > use a low viscosity Kintex epoxy resin with a slow catalyst > use a 80 grade wheel on a grinder and grind /sand back the surface outlined in the pics "" do not dig into the cracks AS POSTED ABOVE """ > wash / soak the areas well with acetone and blow dry with compressed air > apply 3 layers of 250 woven roving s on the inside an 2 layers to the outside , mix some cabosil to a paste ( about the same consistency as polyester bog) and use that to smooth out on the outside >> to easy ...

Lol "do not dig into the cracks AS POSTED ABOVE " Thats a joke!

If you dont grind out all of the broken and delaminated fiberglass and remove all of it, it would then be like if you had cancer and the docter only took out some of the tumor then slapped a band aid over instead of stitching back up.

Ive done many of glass repairs and custom work and know what im talking about.

I normally buy my fiber glass from US Composites or if im in a pinch i grab it from a local glass shop but they are spendy.

[TMali]

Re: Fiberglass crack? Is it okay or does it need repair?

Here is some work i did a few years back on a 550 hull
-----------------------------------------------------------------

The nose had a crack that was pretty big and i kept discovering more as i ground into it and this is what i ended up with


Got a few layers of glass behind it and reinforced some some of the nose


Also had a few bad spots on the very bottom im fixing up while im doing all this work, i have a couple more to go too. I ground a crater on each side of it and filled it in


Glassed the outside and ground and sanded off the extra

[ZFrog]

Re: Fiberglass crack? Is it okay or does it need repair?

Wow! What am I getting myself into!!!

Thanks for info, I will look into buying the material and fixing the hull.. Problem is I have to work with a complete jetski so I can't just flip it and work easily on it.

[hyosung]

Re: Fiberglass crack? Is it okay or does it need repair?

Here is some work i did a few years back on a 550 hull
-----------------------------------------------------------------

The nose had a crack that was pretty big and i kept discovering more as i ground into it and this is what i ended up with


Got a few layers of glass behind it and reinforced some some of the nose


Also had a few bad spots on the very bottom im fixing up while im doing all this work, i have a couple more to go too. I ground a crater on each side of it and filled it in


Glassed the outside and ground and sanded off the extra

that's impressive !!! LMAO , you wasted allot of time when you could have achieved the same outcome with the way i described above "" then again " ? what would i know about fiberglasing , http://www.pwctoday.com/showthread.php?t=425767 , wait is that a rn SJ bottom "" that i modded ""??? ? is that a big pump i see there ??? HMMM , i think you are a bit out of you league here "" young fella""

[hyosung]

Re: Fiberglass crack? Is it okay or does it need repair?

""grasshopper""" should not contradict """master""" !!!

[WFO Speedracer]

Re: Fiberglass crack? Is it okay or does it need repair?

Okay time to chime in here, as most of you know I am a fiberglass master also, the way Tmali did his repairs is the correct way, Hyosungs way may work for him, your results doing it his way may vary.

[hyosung]

Re: Fiberglass crack? Is it okay or does it need repair?

Okay time to chime in here, as most of you know I am a fiberglass master also, the way Tmali did his repairs is the correct way, Hyosungs way may work for him, your results doing it his way may vary.

listen here grasshopper !!!! ,i have had good results many ways when it comes to repair of fiberglass ,all it takes is "" logic "" , certain types of damage do not call for ""text book 'google search' repair procedures"" , the repair the OP needs to do is a simple sandwich type repair , the SMC appears to be still sound IE: not leaking and not in a structural area , hence my direction to repair the way i suggested ,"" IF ''' ((big if)) i was going to go to the extremes that "part flipper" had gone to on the beat up old 550 hull , "" i would"" chop out the entire area that was "fractured" , re`laminated a new portion into the hull (using a section mold if need be) , that IMO would be the easiest way to remove fractured SMC , SOOOOOOO much easier than digging , , grooving , chasing insignificant hairline cracks , 4 simple cuts leaving a wide birth of the damaged area , a bit of feathering , laminate ,""" jobs done """.. BTW ? do you like the mod job on the SJ

[whazguude]

Re: Fiberglass crack? Is it okay or does it need repair?

I just put cheese on my burger when it is 75% done. Turn off the grill and close the hood. Cheese melts, burger finishes
cooking.

I think the OP should learn how to do this, by the book. Removing all fractured glass/SMC is the correct way to do it.

After he has learned how to work with glass, that's when he can make the decision on how/where to save time and materials.
We all have our own way of doing things. I personally feel that you should lean proper technique and develope a skill set, and then
progress from there.

(boy, that was hard. I didn't even curse)

I may have urinated into my shoe while typing. My toes are warm and mushy.