2015 FC 23FB Shower Wall Crack Help

[modo]

Hi all,

New to me 2015 FC 23FB shower developed a crack in the wall yesterday while using. We are on a 5 month trip and I’m trying to figure out the best way to fix this until we can get it replaced. Seems to me the wall is ABS as there are no visible fibers along the crack like there would be if it was fiberglass.

Thinking of caulk and waterproof tape or water weld epoxy. Thoughts?

Thanks,

MM

[dznf0g]

I believe it is indeed fiberglass. I think you have just a gel coat crack.
I would just use a bit of gorilla tape, sealed well until you can get some colored gel coat from the shower manufacturer. In the meantime, read up on gel coat repair on boat and canoe forums an sites. Not terribly hard to repair and make invisible.

[modo]

Thanks for the reply. I’m familiar with doing gel coat and fiberglass on a boat, but like I said if this is fiberglass it’s like nothing I have ever seen. Clean cut all the way through with no exposed fibers, almost like it was done with a saw and not my foot resting on the wall.

[kidjedi]

It wouldn't be very easy to clean up once you got back to the "real world" to fix it properly, but the JB Weld made for underwater is pretty amazing. I fixed a hole in the floor of a hot tub six years ago, and it's still holding.

[Wayne&Sam]

See if you have access to any part of the back of the shower. I do on my 25' through the compartment where the water pump lives. I realize your layout is different, but that access clearly showed that my enclosure is iberglass. I could reach around and slap a big old ugly patch to the seal the crack and strengthened the area.

[modo]

Just got a response back from airstream and they confirmed that it is plastic. Has to be replaced. Everything else is a temporary fix. Probably go with epoxy since I’ll have to replace the wall anyway.

[delrossa]

I second the use of gorilla tape. I had an issue on the road with my shower and googled clear gorilla tape and found it at Walmart.
I put over my damaged shower wall and it held for a couple of months until I got to the mother ship.
It’s great stuff.

[Ken G]

Ask a plumber or plumbing supply shop, there are technicians who repair fiberglass tubs. We used one often in home construction when tubs would get damaged during other work happening around them. Repair was roughly $125.00 and took a couple of hours - just like brand new.

[tjdonahoe]

Lord makes a plastic repair..used in automotive body shops...it is a 2 part and use heat to set it..

[Sitesee]

Suggestion: Drill a small hole at each end of the crack. This will hopefully prevent the crack from spreading. Make sure to prep your repair. Clean and then wipe with alcohol.

[drbob46923]

I would first apply 3M™ Extreme Sealing Tape 4412N, and then go over that with sail tape. The 3M™ Extreme Sealing Tape 4412N is stretchy and sticky and the sail tape would provide a long lasting protective cover. I used sail tape in 2015 on a 8 inch tear on a sail after being caught out in gale force plus winds and it is still holding really well. Good luck replacing the shower enclosure, doesn't look like an easy job. Since you will be eventually replacing the shower this would be a great time to possibly fabricate a custom shower stall, limited only by your imagination. Either way, I would like to see you post photos along with details. On a positive note, everything inside an Airstream trailer is carried through the door at the factory.

[tbashin]

I used Permatex Plastic Welder to fix my cracked shower and some of the other plastic junk in my Excella. I worked into the crack and smoothed flat with a razor blade. Once dry I sanded it smooth and touched it up. It's as strong as the original plastic.https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1