DIY Tips to repair spider cracks
Painting
It is the quickest and easiest way to remove spider cracks on the boat. Inspect the boat and figure out the areas that have cracks. If the spider cracks are above the waterline, it is ideal to paint the cracks. It is, however, advisable to avoid painting the entire boat if only a specific area needs repair. Before you start painting, remove all the accessories and hardware from the area that needs painting to finish the job in lesser time.
Ensure that you remove all the wax and grease from the areas that need a repair, and you can also use an acetone wash for the job. The next step is sanding the area and applying a primer as per the manufacturer's directions and leave the area to dry. Sand the area with 120 grit, wipe down and put another coat of primer (only if required). The last step involves sanding with 220 grit, wiping down and applying the top coat. Use a foam roller and tip with a good quality brush or foam pad to apply the paint.
Gel Coating
Use acetone to wipe down the surface with spider cracks and sand the damaged gelcoat down to the fiberglass. Ensure that the fiberglass resin or cloth doesn't come out while sanding. Wipe down the surface with acetone again and catalyze the gel coat and brush it on the exposed area. Make sure to match the color of the gel coat with the color of the hull and this might take a few tries. Spray Polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) after several hours as it serves as an air barrier so that the gel coat removes the problem properly. Leave the gel-coat on the surface for a day or two before washing the PVA with spat water. Use a 1000 grit paper on a DA sander to sand the area and later use 1500 grit to 2000 grit paper to add shine to the surface.
A salvage or used boat requires a thorough check up and more maintenance than a new boat for the obvious reason that it either had some performance issues or met with an accident. A DIY job works well, when it comes to repairing spider cracks. The only thing you need to remember is to use a good quality paint or gelcoat so that the problem doesn’t occur at the same spot.