Busted off chunk of gelcoat

[cooleyo]

So, after a good day of fishing I pulled up to the dock in a hurry, and donated a chunk of my hull to the dock.:facepalm: Its not too big, but in a spot that isn't flat. There doesn't seem to be any fiberglass damage, but the shape of the repair is what worries me. Would the paste be thick enough to stay in place, or would I need to fashion some sort of mold? Im wondering if this is something a first timer can repair, or should I go ahead and pay somebody to do it?

 

[ondarvr]

Re: Busted off chunk of gelcoat

You can repair it yourself, the problem will be getting an exact color match, you will most likely be able to see it.

Gel coat putty can be made to any consistancy, so sagging isn't really a problem, plus you may need to fill it several times to get the shape right, so having it stay in place is sort of a none issue.

The gel coat looks very thick which can make brittle, so look for more cracking around the damaged area. All the cracks need to be removed or they will return.

You should be able to order gel coat already color matched to boat right here on iboats, due to age it may not be an exact match though.

 

[Woodonglass]

Re: Busted off chunk of gelcoat

If she were mine, I'd be mixin some structural hairy PB to fill the gouge. When it set up, I'd sand it down and shape it and feather it out a bit and tear some CSM chunks and lay them down. When that set up I'd sand and then mix some Fairing material with resin, and microballons, sand, shape and fair. then I'd use a Preval sprayer to spray 3-4 coats of the appropriate color of gelcoat. 2-3 hr fix.
http://shop.preval.com/?gclid=CILxz6etrrICFeeMTAodMXEA_g

 

[Yacht Dr.]

Re: Busted off chunk of gelcoat

If she were mine, I'd be mixin some structural hairy PB to fill the gouge. When it set up, I'd sand it down and shape it and feather it out a bit and tear some CSM chunks and lay them down. When that set up I'd sand and then mix some Fairing material with resin, and microballons, sand, shape and fair. then I'd use a Preval sprayer to spray 3-4 coats of the appropriate color of gelcoat. 2-3 hr fix.
http://shop.preval.com/?gclid=CILxz6etrrICFeeMTAodMXEA_g

^^ This is a bit on the extreme side for a repair thats only 2" long.

All you need to do is fill it with some gel paste out of matched gel. I would recommend that you prep and spray the repair with gel coat after its sanded fair ( using the preval sprayer ).

Simple repair actually.

YD.

 

[Woodonglass]

Re: Busted off chunk of gelcoat

I respectfully disagree. Due to the need to attempt to shape and form the repair to match the existing ridge line, it would better to make it more "Structural" and then cover with Gelcoat. Using that much Gelcoat paste would not be as easy to form and shape it to match. Of course that's just my opinion and YD works with Gelcoat much more than I do.

 

[emoney]

Re: Busted off chunk of gelcoat

I'd just get some Evercoat Match-N-Patch and be done with it. Everything you should need is in one little kit, along with colors to be able to match your gelcoat (as well as can be expected of course) and easy instructions. I get it at West Marine, but iBoats may have it. It's $50.00 for the kit at WM.

 

[dtj]

Re: Busted off chunk of gelcoat

So, after a good day of fishing I pulled up to the dock in a hurry, and donated a chunk of my hull to the dock.:facepalm: Its not too big, but in a spot that isn't flat. There doesn't seem to be any fiberglass damage, but the shape of the repair is what worries me. Would the paste be thick enough to stay in place, or would I need to fashion some sort of mold? Im wondering if this is something a first timer can repair, or should I go ahead and pay somebody to do it?

View attachment 167656View attachment 167657View attachment 167658View attachment 167659

Is that a seam crack fore and aft of the gel coat gouge, and is there a silicone caulk repair to the aft crack area, if so, you might want to hire out the repair of this damage as it might be beyond just cosmetics...................Don

 

[cooleyo]

Re: Busted off chunk of gelcoat

Now that I'm totally confused, and a bit more worried than before, I'll have to do some more studying. I was thinking of using chopped glass and resin, then chopped glass and gelcoat, finally a gel coat finish. I already ordered the patch repair kit for my year-model color.

The seam you see is the lip seal for where the top deck connects to the Hull. I need to go around the boat and re-seal the whole thing.

Thanks for all the input, and let me know how you feel about my plan. I dont think its the best repair, but may serve the purpose well enough.

 

[Woodonglass]

Re: Busted off chunk of gelcoat

I wouldn't mix choped glass with the gelcoat. Resin and chopped glass to fill and shape and the gelcoat paste to finish. That's my recommendation.

 

[Yacht Dr.]

Re: Busted off chunk of gelcoat

Now that I'm totally confused, and a bit more worried than before

Please do not be worried .. this is glass/gel work. You cant mess up something you cant fix

I was thinking of using chopped glass and resin, then chopped glass and gelcoat, finally a gel coat finish. I already ordered the patch repair kit for my year-model color.

You can do the repair with fine cut glass and resin .. mix in a bit of your white gel to tint it so its not so dark to cover.

I would suggest spraying gelcoat over your repair after its sanded out. You really should seal it in that location.

Its a small repair that does not get a lot of stress ( unless you kiss the dock again ). .. easy repair.

YD.

 

[cooleyo]

Re: Busted off chunk of gelcoat

Ok, so just the glass/resin filler, then white gelcoat paste. Last thing I need is the clear gelcoat and a sprayer.

 

[ondarvr]

Re: Busted off chunk of gelcoat

No need for clear gel coat.