Bad Docking Day- gelcoat repair help.

[lmannyr]

Took the boat out for the 2nd time today. Lauched Great, docked at Peanut Island, and headed back. docking and the ramp gave my new to me boat a rash after rubbing against a concrete post on the dock

I know you all love pics so here you go...

The top scratch seems a little deeper than superficial on tactile inspection.

Whats the best way to repair this. Thanks!!!

 

[salty87]

Re: Bad Docking Day- gelcoat repair help.

i'd try rubbing compound first. that doesn't look deep enough to be filled in.

 

[TheWoodCrafter]

Re: Bad Docking Day- gelcoat repair help.

Gel coat is very tough and thick, compared the paint.
It looks like a little sanding and buffing is in order.
If it did not break through to FB you may be able to sand and buff it out.
I would start with 320 or 400 grit to see if the skuff will level out. Sand the area around the skuff to feather it. Then go to 600 and then 1000 paper. Now buff with a course compoud then a polishing compound.

 

[lmannyr]

Re: Bad Docking Day- gelcoat repair help.

It looks as though you could sand it out but you are going to remove a LOT of the gel coat to get it smooth. I think I would consider repairing the gel coat when its a new boat.

Repairing gel coat is NOT hard, it just takes a bit of patience.

I was thinking the same thing. I think I will go with repairing the gel coat as opposed to sanding it down.

Funny how you posted those youtube videos. I was just watching them earlier this am - along with docking videos .

 

[lmannyr]

Re: Bad Docking Day- gelcoat repair help.

Here is a daylight picture of the same scuff.

 

[salty87]

Re: Bad Docking Day- gelcoat repair help.

kiss...compound it and see what's left. marine tex is easy enough but you'll have to worry about colors matching if you add anything to the hull.

gives it a little character

 

[TheWoodCrafter]

Re: Bad Docking Day- gelcoat repair help.

kiss...compound it and see what's left. marine tex is easy enough but you'll have to worry about colors matching if you add anything to the hull.

gives it a little character

The color match is the hard part.

That's why I suggested sanding and buffing.
That my make it go away, repairing may may it stick out.

 

[ondarvr]

Re: Bad Docking Day- gelcoat repair help.

This isn't a job for Marine Tex if you want it to match at all, M/T will be a different color, much harder to sand, won't weather well and will be an obvious blob on the side of the hull even after sanding and buffing.

M/T can be used for many things and can do a very good job, but isn't the product for this repair.

From the pic it looks like at least 90% of it can be sanded and buffed out, the last 10% may be a little tricky only because you never know just how thick the gel coat is. I'd sand and buff the 90%, then work the last part slowly so you don't sand through. Your best bet for a good color matched gel coat would be to call Spectrum Colors and see if they have already color matched your boat. If they have, you can buy a small amount in a patch kit from them and then it'll be about as close as possible.

Only fill the deepest scratches, let cure and then start sanding, the shallow scratches will be removed and only the deepest ones will be left. This way if the color is slightly different (and I would expect it to be), then it will only be in a very small area.

 

[10 FOOT INVADER]

Re: Bad Docking Day- gelcoat repair help.

Thats why you buy used. Does not hurt as much when it gets scratched up.

 

[oops!]

Re: Bad Docking Day- gelcoat repair help.

if you follow ondarvrs directions......

one trick you can use after the gellcoat is filled....is place waxed paper over the repaired area while its curing....it will give you a nice shiney finish.....

but sanding buffing and polishing is still needed