Cracked GRP

[rob and jen]

All,

I own an Abbey Spectrum 620, 2005 model and have just noticed that I seem to have a circular craking on the paint work on the fron GRP pannel of the van. The area is probably about 10" in diameter and the crack only appears around the edge of this area. My van is under waranty so I am sure I should be OK to get this repared through the dealer but did wonder if anyone had any experience of this and any idea of what causes it?

 

[rob_jax]

Hi,

Cracking in a GRP panel - actually in the self coloured GEL coat (the top 1mm or so of the GRP) - is usually because:

1. The panel was stressed during assembly - the panel didn't fit quite right and was forcibly screwed in place. Then as the van is towed or heated and cooled, forces are released by cracking the GEL coat. Quite common - the cracks run in the direction of the force.

2. The panel was fitted correctly - but something is pressing against the underside - causing a stress crack radiating from a central point.

3. You had a bird strike or similar whilst driving at a speed of 50 mph or more - this will cause a circular stress crack in the GEL coat. It sounds as if something like this has happened to you - the give away is the circle.

A few years ago I had a bird strike on the left wing of my (Glasflugel) Libelle 15m sailplane - and these circular marks are quite distinctive - and are an insurance claim rather than a warranty claim - but see what the dealer says.

Although a GEL crack will be OK this year, eventually it will spread in diameter and probably through the GRP - and then it will leak. GRP can be easily, safely and invisibly repaired, and without removing the panel. If the van is dry, then I'd rather have the panel repaired rather than replaced.

Robert

 

[trucker]

Hi rob I had a cracked grp front panel on an abbey aventura which was repaired a couple of months ago Abbey did the repair themselves at my dealers and I wouldnt have known that there was a problem. It was repaired under the waranty with no problems at all. Will the repair last??? who knows, they stated it would be repaired twice and each given a 1 year waranty and then replaced if it did not correct the problem.

Good luck

Kevin H