Fiberglass Pop-Top Cracking/Leaking

[rusty]

I have a 1985 Sportsmobile.

The fiberglass pop-top has some small cracks all over the top - no really big holes just cracks. If I get a heavy rain or melting snow some water does get in.

I was thinking of painting the rubberized roofing (silver) that you would add to a flat roof on a house. It is real thick and fills all cracks. But don't want to ruin it.

Any and all suggestions welcome.

Thanks

[daveb]

I'd think you have to take weight into consideration. Usually water leaks are from something that has been drilled through the top like the PH top bolts, roof racks or something like a vent, not the typical hairline cracks I've seen. Depending how bad it really is, I'd suggest having the top re-gel coated, cleaning up the hardware and seal anything bolted on to it. There are several threads on how to do this on the site along with ways to add a Rhino line it. In a pinch the Rhino type lining can be applied but that isn't really the best way to fix the problem.

Any close ups of the cracks?

Here is a good post on the Rhino type application:
http://www.sportsmobileforum.com/for...iner-6660.html

And here is a post of replacing the bolts if it's necessary. BTW there have been a few members selling pre-made top bolts.

http://www.sportsmobileforum.com/for...tion-4355.html

[TexGX]

Just color matched Raptor Lined my top. Priced right at $200 all in with supplies. I would rate it 2 stars out of 5 for difficulty. Prep is the hard part. Spraying was fun.

TexGX

[larrie]

Just remember that any coating you add to the top will increase its weight. We have an 89 with hairline cracks and no leaks. I did replace some of the penthouse top bolts when I installed our solar system. That allowed me to reseal the holes.

[rob_gendreau]

I used Monstaliner, basically a urethane coating which I guess is rather like other truck bed lining. It didn't add that much weight; think of what, a gallon of paint? I brushed and rolled it on, and had a few little flaws but you don't see 'em up there. I had to do it outdoors so spraying wasn't gonna work for me. The prep is not anything special, just annoying as it usually is with painting. Stuff is great. I would definitely seal a lot of flaws.

[bendbile]

I am having the same issue. I have the Raptor top (after SMB replaced the first top). Is there a clear product to recoat the Raptor top?

[daveb]

Originally Posted by bendbile

I am having the same issue. I have the Raptor top (after SMB replaced the first top). Is there a clear product to recoat the Raptor top?

It's showing cracks through the raptor lining???

[bendbile]

Hairline cracks on the top. I found the thread about replacing all of the hardware on the top. I'll bet that is more of an issue.
My canvas (new 4-5 years ago?) is stained again. Bummer.

Jon

[daveb]

Originally Posted by bendbile

Hairline cracks on the top. I found the thread about replacing all of the hardware on the top. I'll bet that is more of an issue.
My canvas (new 4-5 years ago?) is stained again. Bummer.

Jon

I'll have to take a look at my top one of these days. It's been Raptor lined for several years. I figure being it has a rubber type texture it wouldn't suffer like a gel-coated fiberglass top.

Can you supply a picture?
Thanks.

[rob_gendreau]

Originally Posted by daveb

I'll have to take a look at my top one of these days. It's been Raptor lined for several years. I figure being it has a rubber type texture it wouldn't suffer like a gel-coated fiberglass top.

Can you supply a picture?
Thanks.

Wow. Raptor is urethane, right? I've never seen that crack, except in a massive failure kind of way. It's rather flexible. Usually problems with it arise due to improper prep and bonding with the surface, where it peels. But if you take off a peel of it you can actually bend it without cracking, usually. I think I got some color samples from Monstaliner that were on flexible paper and you could only tear 'em, not crack 'em. Weird.