Need advice restoring Alberg 37 MKII 1975

[Oldsailor27]

Hey guys,
I just bought Alberg 37 1975 and started to bring it back to life.
Boat has a lot of small cracks on the gelcoat above waterline and lots of these cracks are extended below waterline. I have grinded down some
of them down to blue staff almost to the fiberglass and it looks like they go all the way to the fiberglass. Fiberglass seem to be intact. I guess I need to send off all the cracks down to fiberglass and put some barrier coats on top.
Can anybody give me some advice on the best curse of action as how to repair these cracks.

[Benz]

They're just cracks in the gelcoat. Sand it all off, prime, and paint. If you try to paint over them, they'll just show.

[tkeithlu]

Quote "the best curse of action "

I like the Freudian slip.

Benz speaks with wisdom. Paint does not fill cracks, it shows them off.

Sand them or fill them. It might be easier to fill them. Gelcoat is not structural, it's cosmetic, so a cosmetic solution is just fine.

[Oldsailor27]

Originally Posted by Benz

They're just cracks in the gelcoat. Sand it all off, prime, and paint. If you try to paint over them, they'll just show.

Thank you Benz. The cracks are spread for about 3/4 of the gel coat above waterline and probably 1/4 of below waterline. I guess I need to sand it off to fibreglass and then prime and paint. Looks like above the waterline I need to strip almost all of it. What kind of paint would you recommend above the waterline. And I would need to fair it as well a guess. Looks like lots of work, but I am willing to do all it takes. This is my first boat, so I am kind of new.

[Sailmonkey]

Originally Posted by Oldsailor27

Thank you Benz. The cracks are spread for about 3/4 of the gel coat above waterline and probably 1/4 of below waterline. I guess I need to sand it off to fibreglass and then prime and paint. Looks like above the waterline I need to strip almost all of it. What kind of paint would you recommend above the waterline. And I would need to fair it as well a guess. Looks like lots of work, but I am willing to do all it takes. This is my first boat, so I am kind of new.

May I suggest just sailing it as is for a year or two? It’s just cosmetic so take this opportunity to bump into docks, bring unfyendered tenders alongside, etc.... before making a bunch of work

[Wilyum]

you should fill them first with a 2 part epoxy, then sand that down. West Systems or Total Boat have such products. Lots of Youtube videos on this procedure.

[Benz]

Originally Posted by Oldsailor27

Thank you Benz. The cracks are spread for about 3/4 of the gel coat above waterline and probably 1/4 of below waterline. I guess I need to sand it off to fibreglass and then prime and paint. Looks like above the waterline I need to strip almost all of it. What kind of paint would you recommend above the waterline. And I would need to fair it as well a guess. Looks like lots of work, but I am willing to do all it takes. This is my first boat, so I am kind of new.

For fiberglass boats, you can't do better than Awlgrip's 545 primer and Awlgrip topcoat. Everything else, though more affordable, is less durable. Regardless of topcoat, 545 primer is worth the money, IMO. It's just a good base for any paint.

[Amordobarco]

You bought a beautiful and capable boat. It’s well worth spending money on.
I have an Alberg 30, I’m very happy with it in all respects.

[Oldsailor27]

Thank you Amordobarco, I really like it, the more I on it,- the more I like it.
I am sending all the crucks down to fiberglass and I see lighter color traces on the fiberglass under the crucks. The fiberglass seem to be ok though. I am also finding a small 1 mill to 3 mill sort of voids on the fiberglass and I am sending them down in order to fill them later Some areas has more of it, some less. The hull is very dry, like 7-8% moisture. Should I chase them or just leave them and just prime over them.
So far I am sending most of the gelcoat down to fiberglass areas where crucks are in abundance, and leaving some gelcoat where there are no crucks at all.
Am I doing anything wrong? Should I strip all the gelcoat and chase all the small voids?
Also, when I sanded old through hull to glass it over I found out the laminate also has sort of voids when I send it, is it normal or should I start start worry?
Here are the pictures.

[SVSOLITAIRE]

Originally Posted by Sailmonkey

May I suggest just sailing it as is for a year or two? It’s just cosmetic so take this opportunity to bump into docks, bring unfyendered tenders alongside, etc.... before making a bunch of work

Great suggestion. This is what I chose to do and I’m really happy I did. Not only did I save time and money initially, but when I paint it in the next few months the finish will last longer and look better because I have the experience to keep it that way.