Four winns 258 VISTA, Руководство пользователя

Страница: 177 / 259

Owner’s Manual Page Exterior Equipment - Section P
If this does not work, clean the area and sand lightly
with 400 to 600 wet or dry sandpaper and follow with
rubbing compound and wax.
B. Gouges & Cracks
Stress cracks and crazing are the appearance of
hairline cracks in the gel coat surface. When present,
these problems usually occur in the gel coat finish or
the outer “skin coat” fiberglass laminate. The appear -
ance of these cracks does not pose a threat to the
structural integrity of the boat. In most cases, they
are cosmetic and can be treated.
Cosmetic surface damage can be repaired as follows:
1. Sand the surrounding area with medium or fine
grit sandpaper. Clean all marine growth, dirt,
antifouling paint, etc. from the immediate area.
DO NOT excessively scratch or gouge the
surrounding area.
2. Use a hard, pointed tool to open the gel crack.
Take care not to damage the surrounding gel coat.
3. Sand the crack or gouge so the edges are smooth
and will allow proper “feathering” of the area.
4. Clean the area thoroughly. Make sure the area is
dry before proceeding.
NOTICE
Be sure the structure and the ambient
temperature are above 0 degrees F (
degrees C) and the relative humidity below
0% immediately before, during, and after the
repair.
5. If the nick or gouge is deep and penetrates
through the gel coat, fill the area with fiberglass
patching paste. Follow the directions on the can
when mixing the paste with the catalyst.
6. After the gouge is filled and has dried, sand the
patched area. Begin by using medium-fine grade
sandpaper. Progressively use finer grade sandpa-
per until the surface is very smooth. If necessary,
add filler and then sand the surface again.
7. Apply two or three light coats of matching fiber-
glass gel coat to the repaired area. Enough gel
coat should be used so that the entire area is
covered. The gel coat must be catalyzed using up
to 2% MEK Peroxide which can be purchased at a
supplier handling fiberglass reinforced products.
Contact your Four Winns dealer for assistance.
8. After ample drying time, sand the area using very
fine wet/dry sandpaper. If the appearance of the
area is still not satisfactory, repeat steps 2 through
4 as necessary.
9. If above the waterline, polish the area using a
fiberglass rubbing compound and then wax. If the
repaired area is below the waterline, the area
should be primed and painted in accordance with
the antifouling paint manufacturer’s instructions.
Gel coat, like paint, will change colors with time and
exposure to sunlight (ultraviolet). For this reason,
“matching” gel coat obtained from Four Winns may
not match the gel color of a boat that has been
exposed. However, this is the closest match commer-
cially available. A fiberglass technician can tint the gel
to be used in the repair to provide a closer color
match.
More severe fiberglass damage, especially when
structural, requires the expertise of an experienced
fiberglass repair technician. See your Four Winns
dealer for assistance.
NOTICE
Improper repair techniques can lead to further
fiberglass component damage.
C. Osmotic Blistering
Osmotic blistering or “boat pox” is an unfortunate
but not uncommon occurrence in fiberglass boats.
Fiberglass is water retardant, not waterproof. When
a boat is left in the water for a period of time, the
fiberglass will absorb water. It is a natural process
that can not be eliminated in production methods or
material selection and usage. However, there are
ways to control and possibly prevent blisters (see Sec-
tion P-6). If you do encounter blisters, be assured that
the blisters are merely cosmetic. They do not indicate
a defect in the boat structure or lamination. Four
Winns, along with most boat manufacturers, regard
gel blisters as a standard maintenance item.
The repair procedure for gel coat blisters is similar to
the procedures outlined in the previous section on
cracks and gouges. There is an exception however, in