How to repair gelcoat chips

If you notice any chips , scrapes or gouges in the gelcoat exterior of your boat, it is important to fix the damage asap, especially if the damage exposes the. The good news is that it doesn’t have to be difficult. Here’s a quick guide to teach you how to repair gelcoat chips.

I do not believe that is a Formica surface (High Pressure Laminate - a common top layer for kitchen and bath countertops). That looks more like a thick tinted.

Remove any loose gel coat surrounding the chip. I use a dremmel tool with one of those small metal round (like a ball) grinding bits to very gently and carefully bevel the edges of the chipped area. Next, wipe down with acetone and let it dry. Next, surround the repair area with masking tape. The tape actually works as a depth gauge.

Mix the gel coat per instructions. Apply the gel coat to the.

The Hull Truth - Boating and Fishing Forum. Also, deep gouges may need structural fiberglass work or filler before you repair the gelcoat. On horizontal surfaces, liquid gelcoat works, but for vertical surfaces, a paste is easier to apply.

The next time you are cleaning and waxing your boat, take the time to look for small cracks, scratches and chips in its gelcoat. If your boat is more than a few years ol you’ll probably be surprised at the number you find. Fill the repair : Use a nail, dipped in the gelcoat, to scratch around in the repair assuring good adhesion and filling all the voids. Sort of like a dentist filling a tooth.

You cannot repair a scratch with gelcoat resin anymore than you could repair it with paint. To fill the scratch you need a thickened form of gelcoat, called paste. Scratch- repair kits containing a small amount of gelcoat paste and hardener along with a selection of pigments are widely available for less than $20.

Old boat (years) with a number of chips and scratches. Roughen the surface in and around the chip or dent with 80-grit sandpaper to give the gelcoat a rough surface to adhere to. Blow out the dust from the repair area and blot it clean with acetone. Allow the damaged area to dry thoroughly. Fill pronounced scratches or dents with gelcoat paste and use the plastic putty knife to level the surface of the repair area just below the hull to allow room.

The glass did not get rolled into the corner and over time, the cracks spread.

During scraping off the antifouling (many years worth) I have found chips and small gouges and have caused a number of scratches with the scraper. The first job in any gelcoat repair is to check the damage closely, both inside and out. Sometimes a hard knock can cause delamination within the hull, in which case a more serious repair will need to be carried out first. In this example damage to the hull at the stem is fairly typical of a modest dockside shunt, and proved to be cosmetic rather than structural.

To fix gouges and deep scratches, you’ll need “chop” (powdered fiberglass) filler, gel coat and gel coat reducer. Jot down your boat’s model and serial numbers and contact the manufacturer to order gel coat (about $1per qt.) to match your boat’s color. It may not be an exact match, but it’ll be a lot closer than mixing colors from scratch. So the only solution is the fix the chip. A fiberglass and gelcoat repair is mostly needed for mending the surfaces of boats.

It can also be used for patching up chips , scratches, cracks and even holes in different kinds of vehicles. Most re-sprayed gel coat will cure in 2-hours, although overnight cures are ideal. Begin wet sanding with the finest grit that will remove orange peel in the re. Cover with packing tape to help smooth out the surface. MagicEzy Second Chip Fix is the easiest most durable way to repair chips , scrapes and gouges in Fiberglass and Gelcoat.

Best is to take the boat by a professional gelcoat shop and have them mix you up a batch of color matched gelcoat. Deep repairs that are beyond the superficial scratch will need some filler before gelcoat application. For small scratches Cabosil mixed.

The dryer the repair area the more likely it is that the bond of the repair will be better and the gel coat patch will not become contaminated. So take advantage of the cold dry winter weather, let it dry out the damaged area. I just bought this Mariah with this chip on one of the chines.

We are planning on spending the day on the water Easter Sunday. A gelcoat is a material used to provide a high-quality finish on the visible surface of a fibre-reinforced composite material. The most common gelcoats are based on. Available to order now with Worldwide delivery. GEL COAT MIXING INSTRUCTIONS.

Make sure damaged areas are clean and free of dirt, grease and wax, etc. Enough Gel Coat should be added to a plastic mixing cup to. My understanding is that gelcoat is polyster and that polyester does not generally stick all that well, however this seems to be the done thing for fixing shallow scratches and chips ? Deeper chips will need to be filled a bit before gelcoating and it does not seem to be recommended to use polyester resin for this, due to the fact it does not bond well, and shrinks about 5-. I decided to fix a number of little chips in my boat. I mixed the color and the hardener and applied.

Everything was looking really good. Add gelcoat color pigments if you want your gelcoat to be colored. This morning, all the spots.

Buy gelcoat color pigments that match the color you’re looking for and follow the manufacturer’s instructions to mix the pigments into the gelcoat.