How to Cure Fading & Cracking on a Fiberglass Bass Boat

Cracking

• 1

  Locate the crack or damaged area.

• 2

  Wipe the surface area of the crack with a wet sponge or cloth to remove surface contaminants.

• 3

  Open all of the cracks slightly with a V-shaped scraper.

• 4

  Apply a resin/hardener mixture inside the cracks, wetting the surfaces between the cracks.

• 5

  Apply the epoxy mixture to a mixing stick. The mixture should have the thickness of light peanut butter.

• 6

  Wedge the mixing stick into the cracks. Apply the epoxy to the inside of the cracks to fill them up.

• 7

  Allow the epoxy to dry.

• 8

  Use 180-grit sandpaper to make the surface smooth.

• 9

  Apply a thin layer of gelcoat to the top of the newly cured area, covering the epoxy.

Fading

• 10

  Remove the hardware of the boat as well as its aluminum window frames if the fading occurs nearby.

• 11

  Cover or remove the plastic parts, hand railings and coverings of the boat that come in contact with faded areas.

• 12

  Cover any other areas you don't want to paint over with plastic or paper wrap.

• 13

  Use 180-grit sandpaper over the faded area to make the surface smooth. Allow for the epoxy primer to bond with the fiberglass.

• 14

  Brush or spray epoxy primer to the faded areas and allow it to dry.

• 15

  Brush or spray acrylic latex paint over the dried primer and allow it to dry.

• 16

  Reassemble all of the removed parts and remove the plastic or paper wrap.