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⛵️ Gelcoat crazing experiments on our hurricane-damaged catamaran. Ep 663
18 January 2026 · 25 min · 75K views · Chatham County, United States
What this video covers
Mads tests two methods for repairing gelcoat crazing on the deck and hull of a 44-foot Antares Yachts 44 catamaran.▶ 0:12 Using two sugar scoop hatch covers as test subjects, he compares the workflow, cost, and durability of stabilising the laminate with lightweight twill fiberglass and high-performance epoxy versus using chop strand mat (CSM) and polyester resin.▶ 1:02 The epoxy method proves easier to apply and cheaper, costing approximately $20 compared to $28 for the polyester repair.▶ 11:19 The CSM fails to conform to tight radii, resulting in air bubbles that require additional fairing.▶ 9:38 Mads concludes that applying a single layer of lightweight glass over the surface provides cheap insurance against future stress cracks and uneven laminate, even when most of the original gelcoat is removed.▶ 18:18 He plans to monitor these test patches over several years to determine the most efficient long-term refinishing strategy for the entire deck.▶ 19:17 Additionally, he begins preparations to remove and replace the vessel's aluminium water tanks, which requires extracting the diesel tanks and cutting into the main bulkhead.▶ 3:55
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