Gel Coat Repair

[martinarcher]

Hey all,

Looking for a little advice from those who have done their own gel coat repair. I got a gallon of color match gel from Spectrum and am going to do the repair myself since the local dealer is getting busy with winterizing. I've done pretty extensive body work in the past so I think I'll be fine. Here's my questions....

1. The chip took all the gel from the repair area so I'm guessing I'll need to add multiple coats of gel using a brush. Am I right?

2. If yes, do I need to fully cure each coat and sand between, or can I just add multiple coats of gel until I'm higher than the surrounding gel surface? I guess to be safe I could just add a coat, let it fully cure, sand, repeat until I'm even with the surrounding material.

3. It sounds like a layer of PVA on the last coat of gel will keep the oxygen out of the gel and allow it to fully cure. Is this the best method to cure gel or can I use something like plastic wrap over the last layer. I've read of using saran wrap to cure gel - anyone done this?

Any other thoughts? Advice?

Thanks in advance!

[rugger]

I fixed a few dock scars on the bow, and it was easy enough I eventually redid the whole transom last summer after putting a lot of spider cracks in it (long story). I'm not a pro -- so you'll probably get better advice -- but either way it looks perfect because gel coat is forgiving and straight forward.

For small patches, I think a small brush would be best. I fixed dock scars the the bow this way. For the transom, I used a spray gun. You should be fine adding the gel with one application, then sanding. If it didn't cut the mustard, do it again. I used plastic wrap for the smaller ones, and a spray for the transom. The wrap worked better IMO. Regardless, if you're doing this outside the sun will accelerate it. Wet sand diligently starting low to high, use a block, polish with a good wool polisher, wax. It'll look brand new. Oh yeah, tape off a bigger area than you need to blend it in.

The trickiest part of gel coat repairs is when you have a spot with more than one color. That takes a lot more work. You've obviously researched it already... so don't get caught up in everyone's opinion about must-have products... just knock it out and you'll be fine. There's a recipe Malibu put out years ago that's floating around. I used generally the same direction. Good luck.

[martinarcher]

I fixed a few dock scars on the bow, and it was easy enough I eventually redid the whole transom last summer after putting a lot of spider cracks in it (long story). I'm not a pro -- so you'll probably get better advice -- but either way it looks perfect because gel coat is forgiving and straight forward.

For small patches, I think a small brush would be best. I fixed dock scars the the bow this way. For the transom, I used a spray gun. You should be fine adding the gel with one application, then sanding. If it didn't cut the mustard, do it again. I used plastic wrap for the smaller ones, and a spray for the transom. The wrap worked better IMO. Regardless, if you're doing this outside the sun will accelerate it. Wet sand diligently starting low to high, use a block, polish with a good wool polisher, wax. It'll look brand new. Oh yeah, tape off a bigger area than you need to blend it in.

The trickiest part of gel coat repairs is when you have a spot with more than one color. That takes a lot more work. You've obviously researched it already... so don't get caught up in everyone's opinion about must-have products... just knock it out and you'll be fine. There's a recipe Malibu put out years ago that's floating around. I used generally the same direction. Good luck.

Cool. Thanks man.

I was figuring this stuff was about the consistency of paint while applying, but if I can possibly get it in one application, it must be quite a bit thicker.

So the plastic wrap you used was just the saran wrap stuff you use in the kitchen or was it something special?

I haven't seen Malibu's recipe yet. I found it during a web search, but it took me to a broken link on their site.

[wienrdog]

I've done repairs with both plastic & a surfacing wax.

They both worked well. For the plastic, I used a cut piece of a report cover as it was easier to mold closer to the final shape & made for less sanding.

The kits I got were more of a paste than a paint, so I used a tongue depressor to apply, then wet sand - starting with 400 & working through 600, 800, 1K, 2K, Rubbing compound, wax until smooth & shiny.

You can put on multiple coats to build it up, but you're better doing one coat.

[MalibuTime]

Hey all,

Looking for a little advice from those who have done their own gel coat repair. I got a gallon of color match gel from Spectrum and am going to do the repair myself since the local dealer is getting busy with winterizing. I've done pretty extensive body work in the past so I think I'll be fine. Here's my questions....

1. The chip took all the gel from the repair area so I'm guessing I'll need to add multiple coats of gel using a brush. Am I right?

2. If yes, do I need to fully cure each coat and sand between, or can I just add multiple coats of gel until I'm higher than the surrounding gel surface? I guess to be safe I could just add a coat, let it fully cure, sand, repeat until I'm even with the surrounding material.

3. It sounds like a layer of PVA on the last coat of gel will keep the oxygen out of the gel and allow it to fully cure. Is this the best method to cure gel or can I use something like plastic wrap over the last layer. I've read of using saran wrap to cure gel - anyone done this?

Any other thoughts? Advice?

Thanks in advance!

Make sure to use a brush that won't lose bristles. Since you will probably be tossing the brush after one use you might want to go with the $1 throw aways, but that might be a mistake. The last thing you want is to be pulling bristles out of your wet gelcoat.

Edited September 28, 2009 by MalibuTime

[colobuskier]

Sorry to Hijack, but I was wondering were people get the gelcoat supply. I need the basic white to fix a boat buddy gouge. I will do a search on this but thanks to anyone that can point me in the right direction.

[wienrdog]

Spectrum Color

[colobuskier]

Spectrum Color

Thanks followed the link and ordered a patch kit.

[skiatook_bu]

This might be the article that was on the malibu site:

http://www.aquaskier.com/articles/gel_coat_repair.htm

[martinarcher]

This might be the article that was on the malibu site:

http://www.aquaskier.com/articles/gel_coat_repair.htm

I think that's about exactly what I will do minus the filler. Looking at the chip it only too the gelcoat off the surface of the boat so I want to make sure I replace it with what was already there, not filler then a super thin layer of gel. I would think you would want you gelcoat layer to be thicker rather than super thin. Heck I have a whole gallon of color match gel from Spectrum - I'll probably use an ounce for this repair.

[martinarcher]

I've done repairs with both plastic & a surfacing wax.

They both worked well. For the plastic, I used a cut piece of a report cover as it was easier to mold closer to the final shape & made for less sanding.

The kits I got were more of a paste than a paint, so I used a tongue depressor to apply, then wet sand - starting with 400 & working through 600, 800, 1K, 2K, Rubbing compound, wax until smooth & shiny.

You can put on multiple coats to build it up, but you're better doing one coat.

Thanks! My wife is into scrap booking so I'm sure I can steal a piece of clear plastic she would use as a paper holder.

Did the plastic peel away form the gel easily after it was set up?

[martinarcher]

Hey all,

Looking for a little advice from those who have done their own gel coat repair. I got a gallon of color match gel from Spectrum and am going to do the repair myself since the local dealer is getting busy with winterizing. I've done pretty extensive body work in the past so I think I'll be fine. Here's my questions....

1. The chip took all the gel from the repair area so I'm guessing I'll need to add multiple coats of gel using a brush. Am I right?

2. If yes, do I need to fully cure each coat and sand between, or can I just add multiple coats of gel until I'm higher than the surrounding gel surface? I guess to be safe I could just add a coat, let it fully cure, sand, repeat until I'm even with the surrounding material.

3. It sounds like a layer of PVA on the last coat of gel will keep the oxygen out of the gel and allow it to fully cure. Is this the best method to cure gel or can I use something like plastic wrap over the last layer. I've read of using saran wrap to cure gel - anyone done this?

Any other thoughts? Advice?

Thanks in advance!

Make sure to use a brush that won't lose bristles. Since you will probably be tossing the brush after one use you might want to go with the $1 throw aways, but that might be a mistake. The last thing you want is to be pulling bristles out of your wet gelcoat.

Good call! I'll certainly get a decent brush or use a popsicle stick.

[wienrdog]

Thanks! My wife is into scrap booking so I'm sure I can steal a piece of clear plastic she would use as a paper holder.

That should work.

I also have used a heavier duty clear packing tape turned glue side up for some smaller repairs. (You don't have to do that with the patch paste kits as they have surfacing wax already added.)

Did the plastic peel away form the gel easily after it was set up?

I never had any issues. Just seal it around the outside edges. Once the gel was dry, the plastic came right off.

Edited September 28, 2009 by wienrdog

[martinarcher]

Thanks! My wife is into scrap booking so I'm sure I can steal a piece of clear plastic she would use as a paper holder.

That should work.

I also have used a heavier duty clear packing tape turned glue side up for some smaller repairs. (You don't have to do that with the patch paste kits as they have surfacing wax already added.)

Did the plastic peel away form the gel easily after it was set up?

I never had any issues. Just seal it around the outside edges. Once the gel was dry, the plastic came right off.

Good deal.

I picked up the gallon of Spectrum gel from the dealer today and it didn't come with catalyst!

I called Spectrum and they are sending me a free retail kit of catalyst for the gallon and something called Surface Seal. I guess with it you don't need the top plastic while it cures. I think I might still use it to guarantee it cures right well and it seems like that would get my application of gel a lot smoother and closer to the final shape of the boat.

With body work the better job you do with the puddy the less sanding you have to do once it dries. I think that certainly applies here as well!