Can a newbie fix a "minor" gel coat problem


toofast

toofast

Active member
Not a good day...had a "new" boater raft off me in a bay...wind kicked up a bit...when they left made a WRONG turn into my brand new gel coat.....ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

Anyway....left a gash about 1" long by 1/2" wide by about 1/8" deep. It is only in the gel, but it looks like HECK.

I am a bit luck that it was on the white gel and not the imron...but still it stinks.

Anyway for a novice to make this fix. The rest of the hull around is pristine of course...with about 98 layers of wax...so this mark really sticks out, plus it is making me crazy.

I have seen some of the work on a few of my friends sea rays...and even with the cruddy gel coat on a sea ray the repairs look like repairs.

If you guys think I could do it...is there a kit? I've seen gel coat repair at marine stores..but the gel is always an off white or buff...and most of our boats are nice bright white.

Any advice would help.

Thanks in advance.
 
sure can, if you are up to it. use marinetex to get the scratch filled in, and order the exact gelcoat from your formula dealer. get a prevail sprayer at your hardware store, and spray it yourself. after you spray, cover and let cure for a couple of days, wetsand and buff.
 
Man, that sounds way too easy.

Do I need to sand the marinetex first? I

Do I need to leave the marinetex a bit "lower" than the surrounding gel so the new gel will not be "higher" than the old gel?

How far do I need to spray so that it blends...is a few inches on either side ok?

Sorry for all the questions...I just really had no idea. I will try and do some more research...but it looks like I should be in good shape.
 
CLEAN OUT DAMAGED AREA WITH A DREMEL TOOL OR 80 GRIT SANDPAPER. MASK REAL CLOSE TO AREA WITH DUCT TAPE. APPLY MARINETEX WITH A SINGLE EDGE RAISER BLADE, BEING CAREFUL TO GET THE ELEVATION JUST A LITTLE HIGH. LET DRY. SAND WITH 80 GRIT TILL SMOOTH, AND BLENDS IN, AND ELEVATION IS PERFECT. GO TO 150 GRIT NEXT. REMOVE ALL SANDING SCRATCHES. GO TO 320 GRIT, AND GET REPAIR PERFECT. CLEAN WELL WITH ACETONE BEFORE YOU SPRAY GELCOAT. ONCE YOU SPRAY GELCOAT, START OUT REAL CLOSE TO REPAIR, ABOUT AN INCH AWAY. SECOND COTE GO OUT ABOUT TWO INCHES, AND FINISH ABOUT 4 INCHES AWAY FROM REPAIR. WHEN GELCOTE DRIES, WETSAND WITH 320 GRIT, AND STEP UP WITH 400 GRIT, 800 GRIT, AND FINISH WITH 1200. BUFF TO MATCH SHINE.
IT IS ALWAYS BEST TO HAVE SOME AUTO BODY EXPERIENCE, BUT NOT NECESSARY.
 
Thanks for the details...that is exactly what I was looking for.

Last question is for the gelcoat "coats", do I apply the 2nd, 3rd coat right away...or do I need to wait till each coat dries.
 
WAIT A FEW MINUTES BETWEEN COATS. IT WILL LESS LIKELY RUN. IF YOU DO GET RUNS, DON'T WORRY, THEY WILL SAND OUT. GOOD LUCK.
 
Toofast - I am in the same boat. I need a gel coat repair in my brand new gel coat as well. I am too much of a chicken and I am trying to get the Formula service center to do the work but it is not easy to get their attention. I found a few gelcoat repair kits on the internet and at the marine store that seem all-inclusive and relatively easy to use, but I just can't get myself to try it. Please let me know how you make out - maybe I will find the courage to do it myself.
 
Well I have not built up the courage just yet...

I am thinking I might try on a real minor blemish in one of the storage compartments...I tried a "kit" just for fun in the storage compartment and it looks like crap...

I still get a bit confused on all that I have to mix, then wait for curing time, second coat, etc...

I am trying to get a local "expert" to help...so we will see what happens.
 
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