Cracks in glass, how worried should I be?

All surfing hardware topics here. Boards, leashes, racks, wetsuits, boardies, surfgear, ding repair, wetsuit repair, surf wax...... you get the idea

Cracks in glass, how worried should I be?

Postby Rickyroughneck » Wed Jun 01, 2011 11:26 pm

There have been some nasty looking cracks on the the bottom of my surfboard since I've had it, are they worth fixing or is it better to simply ignore them and let nature take its course?

The dimensions are 9'2" x 22 1/2" x 2 3/8". Being so thin it is easy to see how it cracks, but I have only thus far taken it out in small stuff.


(The leash plug is ugly but it is solid as hell)
Image

These are a few funny ones on the underside.
Image

Probably the worst, as it links up to one of the FCS plugs for left sidebite.
Image



Does it need repairing by a professional (price?), can it be done at home or simply left?
Rickyroughneck
Local Hero
 
Posts: 327
Likes: 0 post
Liked in: 0 post
Joined: Fri Apr 22, 2011 11:14 am

Re: Cracks in glass, how worried should I be?

Postby tony g » Thu Jun 02, 2011 3:38 am

It can be expensive to get the cracks removed. I know the local repair guy here sands the cracked areas down and opens the cracks up and brushes styrene(a resin thinner) into the cracks and then lays some light 2 oz cloth over the cracks and reglasses. You can also spray an acryllic clear spray finish into the cracks. The idea is the sparay will penetrate the cracks and help seal it up so water does not get into the cracks and damage your board by weighing it down and yellowing the foam and possibly delaminating the glass.
User avatar
tony g
Local Hero
 
Posts: 443
Likes: 0 post
Liked in: 0 post
Joined: Sun Nov 07, 2010 12:57 am
Location: Lincoln City, Oregon

Re: Cracks in glass, how worried should I be?

Postby kitesurfer » Thu Jun 02, 2011 7:21 am

Leave it, they will be fine. Cracks in the sanding coat are nothing to worry about. Remember the board has layers of glass underneath the sanding coat which will be water tight and it is highly unlikely that those cracks will penetrate through to the foam. You spray some laquer in but its really not worth it.

KS
User avatar
kitesurfer
Surf God
 
Posts: 3533
Likes: 0 post
Liked in: 0 post
Joined: Wed Oct 19, 2005 1:20 pm
Location: In the kitchen making Harmergeddon mead!

Re: Cracks in glass, how worried should I be?

Postby Rickyroughneck » Thu Jun 02, 2011 9:18 pm

Thankyou for the advice, that is interesting about the styrene, I guess styrene attack works both ways (in that it could be used to melt the resin on PU boards).


The cracks look quite deep, (especially the one adjoining the fin plug). Is it likely that they have penetrated the glass mesh as well? - I tried bending the board to see if they would open, but it was a bit stupid so I stopped.
Rickyroughneck
Local Hero
 
Posts: 327
Likes: 0 post
Liked in: 0 post
Joined: Fri Apr 22, 2011 11:14 am

Re: Cracks in glass, how worried should I be?

Postby kitesurfer » Fri Jun 03, 2011 7:04 am

No it is not likely that they have penetrated the board. They don't look at all serious to me.

KS
User avatar
kitesurfer
Surf God
 
Posts: 3533
Likes: 0 post
Liked in: 0 post
Joined: Wed Oct 19, 2005 1:20 pm
Location: In the kitchen making Harmergeddon mead!

Re: Cracks in glass, how worried should I be?

Postby bernard » Mon Jun 06, 2011 7:39 am

I agree with the comments to ignore it. I had a 9ft hobie that had a a load of cracks on the underside. I took it to a local shaper for their assessment and the verdict was leave it. As long as they don't go through to the foam you're fine. It doesn't look good, but the repair looks worse
bernard
New Member
 
Posts: 13
Likes: 0 post
Liked in: 0 post
Joined: Fri Jan 01, 2010 7:15 pm

Re: Cracks in glass, how worried should I be?

Postby billie_morini » Fri Jun 10, 2011 3:23 am

Ricky,
You wouldn't have this problem with a wooden board. I know where you can get a really pretty one.
billie
User avatar
billie_morini
Surf God
 
Posts: 3467
Likes: 0 post
Liked in: 0 post
Joined: Mon Nov 19, 2007 2:07 am
Location: Santa Barbara

Re: Cracks in glass, how worried should I be?

Postby Roy Stewart » Sat Jun 11, 2011 9:41 am

Ricky are you a surfing newbie ?
User avatar
Roy Stewart
SW Pro
 
Posts: 800
Likes: 0 post
Liked in: 0 post
Joined: Sun Apr 17, 2005 8:41 am
Location: New Zealand

Re: Cracks in glass, how worried should I be?

Postby Rickyroughneck » Sat Jun 11, 2011 3:15 pm

Roy_Stewart wrote:Ricky are you a surfing newbie ?

Yes and no, done it intermittently for years but not as good as I want to be. I had an nsp for a long time, horrible but tough, so I am quite new to board repair.
Rickyroughneck
Local Hero
 
Posts: 327
Likes: 0 post
Liked in: 0 post
Joined: Fri Apr 22, 2011 11:14 am


Similar topics

Return to Surfing Hardware