Calling all shipwrights: Should this be repaired?

[@elliottscott6179]

If there's cracks anywhere a chainplate goes, that needs fixed, chances are the rest is cosmetic. You can use a rubber hammer to check for different sounds to find interior delamination. But for your casual use, I would only worry where the chainplates go. The hammer is good check on the cabintop for the core of the deck and where the tabernackle goes. If it's a hollow thud, you have watersoaked core. You can search checking fiberglass with a hammer and get tons of hits with sound comparison. I worked in a boat shop 20 years.

[@projectseahorsesailing]

@@elliottscott6179 Thanks for this advice. Glad to hear from a professional. I tapped with my knuckle but I’ll go over it with a rubber hammer to make sure!

[@elliottscott6179]

@@projectseahorsesailing The cheapy one at china freight with the yellow ends, the small cheap one, is perfect.

[@MadelineStkitts]

Hello, I'm happy to see another video. ❤

[@projectseahorsesailing]

@@MadelineStkitts Hello 👋 Thanks for the support

[@gabehill4035]

If you care about it enough grind out the cracks with a die grinder and fill with fairing. They may come back if you don't do anything and paint over it, but like you said it doesn't have to be perfect and it's just a daysailer

[@erikwilliams7009]

It looks like gelcoat cracks to me. The hammer as suggested below. Sand and paint. Go sailing:)

[@erikwilliams7009]

PS glad to see you publishing a video

[@projectseahorsesailing]

@@erikwilliams7009 Thanks, I’ve found some inspiration lately to get the project going again

[@restrothunderroad]

Good to see the Seahorse is back! I'm no shipwright, but my 2 cents I wouldn't worry about those cracks until they show getting a lot worse. Thunder Road has a bunch of stress cracks like that and I've been sailing her for years now. I painted right over'em. Get her wet. 🤙⛵

[@projectseahorsesailing]

Finally putting some time back into it! Almost sold her... but figured I'll just take a break instead. Any of your cracks show back up in the paint? I'm hoping the 2 part epoxy primer will help keep them hidden

[@restrothunderroad]

@@projectseahorsesailing You can still see the cracks through the paint but they haven't gotten any worse. I bet a few coats with the 2 part primer would work really well.

[@texarama]

Cosmetic gelcoat cracks. Good hard sanding, cover with a 2k epoxy primer to stablize surface, and call it good. Not a 50 year fix, but it'll do you fine. In corners or areas where repeated hull stress caused the cracks, add a layer of "silk weight" .06 glass over the cracks to further stabilise the area. If you want to do it right, get a gelcoat peeler, take down the entire hull, and start from scratch.

[@davidbaumer1724]

Good to see you back. Paint your Mariner, put her back together, and go sailing.

[@projectseahorsesailing]

Thank you! It's time she saw the water again

[@jimmorris8158]

When in doubt, Grind it out.

[@theresnobodyhere5778]

yehh thats common after a hit spider cracks and the further out they stretch looks like a half circle one after the other each one getting smaller if you paint they will show through as boat flex,s on top side and cockpit the will always leak water in , i had lots of these on side of my hull , what i did was grind them with grinder on its side about quarter inch wide but i only went in deep enough to expose the glass fibre them i gave the hull surface a good 40 grit sanding the crack lines i filled with epoxy and fine chopped glass to thicken it and i filled cracks then sanded it all back faired ir and primed it ,how strong ir will be i dont know but it wont leak in water and wont open up when boat flexi,s so wont show through paint its all you can do other than layup a huge patch too much work on not an expensive boat , it will be fine just to fill and keep an on them in future if they open up

[@Worldviewsandthoughts]

It depends on if your restoring it or not? If your restoring then yes do it right.