Front Panel Crack

[gsm x2]

While washing our SeaPine I noticed that a crack is developing on the front panel.  See here:  http://home.earthlink.net/~gsmx2/crack.jpg

I would prefer NOT to replace it because it isn't under warranty.  Am open to any suggestions on how to glue, heat, tape, or caulk it.  Please help.

Thanks,

gsm x2

[tlhdoc]

I don't have first hand experience, but first see if your dealer will replace it for you.  Fleetwood has had a problem with cracks.  If you don't have any luck with the dealer I have heard you can drill a hole at the end of the crack so that they will not get any bigger.  Good luck with the repair.

[Camping Coxes]

While washing our SeaPine I noticed that a crack is developing on the front panel.  See here:  http://home.earthlink.net/~gsmx2/crack.jpg

I would prefer NOT to replace it because it isn't under warranty.  Am open to any suggestions on how to glue, heat, tape, or caulk it.  Please help.

Thanks,

gsm x2

Scott --

We have the same problem.  Paul looked high and low to figure out how to access it to put a piece of plastic or sealant or something behind it to keep it from getting bigger.  He couldn't figure out a way to get to it and the dealer said there's no way because of the lining inside the storage.  Let us know if you have any better luck.

[Rebel823]

I just acquired a little experience in patching a front panel of my Bayside because I started a small crack while drilling a hole in it to attach a bubble leverler.  The material is fiberglass I believe, or some similar composite, so I bought a small fiberglass repair kit at Dixieline.  It involves mixing an epoxy with a certain number of drops of hardener. I then added a white coloring agent.  You soak a precut piece of mesh in this goo then apply.  After drying it sands out pretty well.  It's as tough as a rock and the color match is pretty close.  I don't think adhesives work so well, maybe JB Weld would however.  The reason I drilled the panel was because adhesives had failed to hold the device on through the summer heat.  Hope that helps.

[Tim5055]

I also have a small crack starting to appear.

I was wondering about a kit like this.

Anyone have any ideas??

[Rebel823]

I looked at that kit and wasn't too impressed.  The panel material is pretty thin and once the integrity is broken with a crack, however small, I was concerned that it would continue to crack outward like a fragile eggshell. The fiberglass repair kit solidified the entire area around the crack, not just the seam of the crack itself, which the plastic welding kit seems to do.  I had put a small molly fastener through the panel wall and was concerned that the back pressure it generated would eventually cause more problems and hence I like the area repair I achieved.  Sorry to make this sound so complicated.  I think the name of my kit was Everbond and they sell the whitening agent also.

[mike4947]

Tim, I was going to say that I didn't think the plastic welder would work on ABS, but the plastic welding rods they show for sale with the welder include ABS. So it might be worth a try.Got to be cheaper than a replacement panel with shiping costs and if it doesn't work you can always let the DW have it wor super fast hair drying.

[Papaso]

I've done the crack repairs to corners up on top of the front and rear panels and on the roof also. I drill 1/16" holes at both ends of the crack and then I use Marine-Tex www.marinetex.com the stuff is bullet proof it mixes easily and the color is very close. After it sets up but not quite rock hard I take an old tooth brush and get the texture pretty close. Mix a little bit before you do any repair to check out it's properties, it's forgiving while it's soft but once it hardends you can grind,sand,drill and paint if you wish. I have repairs on my boat that are over 10 years old. Point blank it's really good stuff.

[gsm x2]

I've done the crack repairs to corners up on top of the front and rear panels and on the roof also. I drill 1/16" holes at both ends of the crack and then I use Marine-Tex www.marinetex.com the stuff is bullet proof it mixes easily and the color is very close. After it sets up but not quite rock hard I take an old tooth brush and get the texture pretty close. Mix a little bit before you do any repair to check out it's properties, it's forgiving while it's soft but once it hardends you can grind,sand,drill and paint if you wish. I have repairs on my boat that are over 10 years old. Point blank it's really good stuff.

Papaso and all,

Thank you all for your replies. Glad and Sorry to hear that I am not the only one with this problem.  I think that I'll do the drill and Marine Tex repair.  I have a little experience with Marine Tex and know that it is the marine equivilant of duct tape.  Thanks for the reminder.

gsm x2

[topcat7736]

gsm x2,

From the picture, it appears that the crack widens when you push on it from the front. When you remove pressure, if it goes back together, then I would use a 2-tube epoxy (available at Home Depot) to seal it up. If there's not a white version of the brown one, a small amount of touchup paint could be used once it hardens.
 
I used the epoxy to put the drivers side plastic mirror case, on my Jimmy,  back together & it hasn't broken again. You can remove most of the excess before it hardens and it can be sanded smooth once it's cured.

[MommaMia]

If, while doing the repair, you are going to be drilling a hole at the end of the crack to help prevent the crack from getting any bigger, why not shoot some expanding foam insulation into the dead space in the wall.  This may help prevent the crack from getting bigger because then the panel can't be bowed into the dead space when the cracked area is pushed against.