While going through some gelcoat repair prep, I came across some fine spider like cracks that don't run up and down, but rather run in the same direction as the length of the boat.. these are small, very fine cracks, maybe 1" in length, but many of them... about 12"x6" for the total group on both sides of the kayak...
The interior on first glance looks good, but I'm not a fiberglass expert ether. When I press on the outside of the boat where these cracks are, along the curve of the hull, I can hear a faint cracking sound? When I press on the bottom of the hull, I don't seem to hear it... But then, when I press other parts of the hull, with no cracks, I can hear the faint cracking as well... The hull is flexible and can be pushed in, but does appear consistently firm within each structural area of the hull (keel, chine, bow, stern, etc)...
Delamination of the fiberglass layers? Don't want to over analyze this, but don't want to over look anything major either...
Thanks in advance for any input that can be provided...
jbmia
Probably these are just surface cracks
in the gelcoat. Also, if it’s a pure glass boat, it’s perhaps more likely to crack through OR crack on the inside layers than to delaminate where you can’t see it. It doesn’t sound like the hull is softened from damage.
If your kayak were not gelcoated, you could take it out in the sun, stick your head inside, and see damage like an X-ray. I personally don’t like gelcoat, but the market’s gotta have it.
Cracks…
Probably not to worry.
Are they in a location that look like the straps were tightened too much?
Could be…
Thanks for the responses… could be, based on their location…
My concern was that faint cracking sound… I’d read in other places that was a sign of delamination… But other than these faint cracks, I don’t see any other signs… The interior looks in okay shape… i.e., the fiberglass looks fairly consistent throughout… I’m not an expert though…
jbmia
Easiest way to check …
Tap on it with your key … If the sound is different ( lower ) than the surrounding ‘good’ area, somethings going on.