How to repair boat gelcoat

How to Repair a Boats Gelcoat. The rule of thumb is 4 cc of hardner for 1 pint of gelcoat or 30 cc per gallon.

Make sure you over fill the repair and that the gelcoat goes outside the edges.

How to repair boat gelcoat. This gel coat repair DIY if you need to fix a boat ding crack or s. BoatUS Magazines Mark Corke takes you through the steps for how to repair boat gelcoat. Also deep gouges may need structural fiberglass work or filler before you repair the gelcoat.

On horizontal surfaces liquid gelcoat works but for vertical surfaces a paste is easier to apply. The first step is identifying the finish on your boat. If playback doesnt begin shortly try restarting your device.

Over time and with use the gelcoat on your boat can become dull making your boat look old. Restoring your gelcoat can help restore the shine of your boat and protect its surface. Use a nail dipped in the gelcoat to scratch around in the repair assuring good adhesion and filling all the voids.

Sort of like a dentist filling a tooth. He doesnt just drop a big glob in place. Make sure you over fill the repair and that the gelcoat goes outside the edges.

Gelcoat shrinks 25 by volume. How To Repair DIY Chipped Gel Coat fiberglas Boat. There are a few points you must take care of when repairing your boat.

Unprotected gelcoat is highly vulnerable to oxidation. Protect your gelcoat surface by applying a wax layer on top of that. Itll help gelcoat stay like new for years or maybe decades.

Gelcoats dont wear off quickly. Not even after using the boat for decades. Fiberglass Gelcoat Repair So you hit something with your boat - YouTube.

The rule of thumb is 4 cc of hardner for 1 pint of gelcoat or 30 cc per gallon. However mix only what you plan to use and read the label before mixing. If you add hardener to the whole quart the gelcoat will kick off right in the can and harden.

Its also important to use the right thinner if your repairs call for spraying on gelcoat. When youre satisfied you have a good smooth surface cover it with a piece of plastic wrap to allow it to cure completely. Some gelcoat repair kits will include plastic film for this purpose because gelcoat paste must be sealed off from the air to cure 100 percent.

Wet-sand the cured gelcoat with 320-grit wetdry paper on a soft sanding block. Confining work to the immediate repair area continue wet-sanding with 600-grit paper until nearly even with surrounding gelcoat. Finish wet-sanding with 1000-grit paper.

Then buff out with rubbing compound followed by a coat of wax. How to Repair a Boats Gelcoat. If the problem is a minor scuff or scratch try wet-sanding and see if that makes it disappear.

Assuming wet-sanding doesnt cut it get a gelcoat repair kit with gelcoat paste and hardener pigments if the gelcoat is colored a plastic spreader or putty knife and release film. 6 Applying gelcoat When you think youre there with the colour add the catalyst mix thoroughly and apply to the repair. You will need to apply a number of coats usually around 3-5 leaving 15-20mins between each application.

If you can run your finger over it without picking up any of the gelcoat the surface is ready for another application. Boat Gelcoat Cracks Repair Because of The Suns Ultraviolet Rays. That said its always recommended to work on the gel coat someplace shady or during an overcast day.

You dont want the sun damaging the paint-job in between gel coat applications so you better choose an appropriate place to work first. If you choose to do a DIY gelcoat repair you can seal hairline cracks using a DIY repair solution kit. The solution applies easily and will seal most cracks.

Sealants come in a variety of colors to match your hull. They provide a smooth streamlined look that restores your boats surface. Gelcoat is essentially pigmented polyester resin.

Start the repair by spraying or brushing about 20 mils of color-matched gelcoat onto the waxed backer. Check the gelcoat thickness with a toothpick. 132 is about 30 mils.

How To Repair Boat Gelcoat Before getting into the actual repair its important to understand what gelcoat is. Gelcoat is the first thing sprayed into a female mold when a boat is built usually to a thickness of 5 to 1 mm. Depending on the method of construction layers of chopped mat and fiberglass cloth are then built up on top to form the.

Let the epoxy cure wash it and sand it to shape. After final fairing apply two coats of unthickened WEST SYSTEM Epoxy to seal the repair area. Wash and sand the cured seal coat of epoxy then apply a topcoat of paint or gelcoat.

See Fiberglass Boat Repair Maintenance pages 19-25 for detailed instructions.