Re: Removing Hull scratches
"What is the preffered method for fixing a gouge? Marine-Tex?"
Yes, I'm wondering the same......should I use Marine Tex, or a gelcoat repair to fill in a deeper (fillable) scratch?
Also, once it's filled and sanded down, will the polishing compound and polisher be able to make that filled scratch shine just like the rest of the boat? In other words, can you make the scratch/gouge completely disappear?
If not, then I'll probably just leave it. Or, do you HAVE to fill a gouge so that particles cannot get caught in it?
I would use a gelcoat repair kit. But, keep in mind, that even if you're filling a white hull, it might not be as white as you think it is. RP's suggestion is a good one, esp. if you're dealing with color. That said, convince yourself in advance that getting the color close is just fine - it will not be a perfect match. The upside is that after a few weeks you won't be able to find it anyway.
You will be able to make it completely disappear. Once it is filled (make sure you just slightly overfill it) and cured, this is what you do:
1) Take an old windex bottle or equivalent and clean it out. Fill it up with water and give it a few drops of dish detergent. Shake it up till it's foamy and let it settle. You'll also need a small bucket of water.
2) Get the following sandpaper grits: 400, 600, 800, 1000, 1500, 2000. You want wet/dry paper, 3M makes it, and you can get it at Wal-Mart in the auto section next to touch-up paints, bondo, etc..
3) You need blocks to sand with. You can buy one that fits your paper, but typically repairs like this are smaller, and the blocks you can buy are big. You can buy a piece of trim at a hardware store (like 1x2 for example) and cut 3-4" pieces to use as blocks and use a staple gun to attach the paper. Either staple the sides or the top, so allow for that when cutting the paper.
4) Spray the repair area with the soapy water and starting with the 400 grit, right on top of the repair, sand it down. Keep the block flat, and keep it wet. Do not push hard, let the paper do the work. At first, only the top of the material you applied should be coming off. If you get gelcot smears on the paper you're using too much pressure or not keeping it wet enough. If it builds up on the paper, rinse it in a bucket and rub the paper clean with your fingers. Once it feels smooth with the surrounding area when you rub your fingers/hand over it, rinse it off well and move up to 600 and then move through the others in a similar fashion. You can also use a light or a good angle to the ambient light, to check it via reflection.
5) If you use the grits through 2000, you won't need rubbing compound. A polish will work just fine. But, you have to use a polisher. There is no way to get it by hand. Polish the area until it disappears.
It's not as hard as it may seem. Gelcoat sands easily...
