Swim ladder cover cracking - how to stop?

[Ozshadow]

My swim ladder is covered by a fiberglass shell in the center of the swim platform. It is made like a shoebox top. In the middle on both sides a crack comes up the sides and across the top about 1"

How can I stop the cracks from spreading even more?

*****PICS ADDED IN POST BELOW*****

 

[Lazy Daze]

Is this a structural crack or is it cosmetic - meaning only in the gelcoat?

 

[Ozshadow]

Completely through the 1/4" marterial.

 

[Lazy Daze]

If it's completely through, then that's structural. It's made of fiberglass, just like the boat, and can be fixed the same way. The hardest part will be matching the non-skid on top. There's some how-to's on this forum, along with plenty on the interweb and places like the West System's website. How comfortable are you with fiberglass and gelcoat repair? But, generally speaking, you have to drill a small hole at the end of the crack, grind the crack larger and to a shallow angle, then lay in a piece of glass, then fill with thickened epoxy to finish the surface level and perfectly match the edge radius, then match the gelcoat and add pebble non-skid.

How did that happen? That's a strange one to have it crack like that. Maybe someone stepped on it, but the lid wasn't closed all the way because it was resting on the ladder (wasn't slid back in all the way)? Just curious.

 

[Ozshadow]

No idea. It was like that before I bought it last year. Do you think it could be repaired primarily from the underside? That would avoid cosmetic issues if so.

 

[The Sandbar]

I have seen a hard rubber foot or peg molded into the underside of some of the newer covers for the swim ladders. The covers really not designed to handle too much weight. For that reason I have looked into adding a solid piece of round 1.5" plastic or UHMW type of material as a peg into the center of mine. The only draw back would be the stainless fastener to hold it in place would be visible. If the fastener is counter sunk, white caulk could be an option.

 

[Lazy Daze]

If you're careful with your grinding and the hole you drill, it's worth a shot. By first flexing the joint open a bit, it would allow the epoxy to better seep into the edges of the crack. I'd say it has a fair chance of being successful.

Those "rubber" feet are actually just a latching mechanism. There was no structural component to them whatsoever. You could certainly look into adding a structural foot - but make sure the area below the ladder can support it. Not that I've seen 'everything' - but I can't remember the last time I saw a swim ladder hatch break/crack. Given they only cover a short span, they're pretty stout. I'm betting somebody had to be doing something pretty rough or stupid with it to cause that. Another option, besides the "foot" would be to glass a crossmember onto the underside, such as a fiberglass L-channel.

 

[PMC]

Post a few pictures of both sides demonstrating the damage. it is likely that you can do the bulk of the repair from the underside. However if it cracks through you'll have topside finish work, gelcoat, non skid to deal with.

 

[Ozshadow]

Ok, here is a photo. It is cracked on the other side too. This is a 90 degree bend in the cover. When open, the transom pull handle hit in line with the cracks, so I would guess someone hit it too hard or leaned on it while open before I owned it.

I need to fill a few screw holes from davits I am removing, so I figure I will get this done too. Color just has to be white, not perfect.

Thoughts now on how to repair ?