Small Gelcoat Repair

[Mikes56]

Has anyone ever done a gel coat repair themselves with a kit from Amazon or EBay?

I have two small chips in the white gelcoat on my Topcat 1. It’s in the white gel coat around the anchor storage and the battery area lid. The dark color underneath makes it really noticeable.

 

[RichL]

Has anyone ever done a gel coat repair themselves with a kit from Amazon or EBay?

I have two small chips in the white gelcoat on my Topcat 1. It’s in the white gel coat around the anchor storage and the battery area lid. The dark color underneath makes it really noticeable.

Never used one of these kits. Just be aware that white is not white. In other words there are many shades and variants depending on manufacturer and their supplier. Even buying the gel coat from the original manufacturer could lead to a variation. Just an FYI.

 

[Shlbyntro]

Has anyone ever done a gel coat repair themselves with a kit from Amazon or EBay?

I have two small chips in the white gelcoat on my Topcat 1. It’s in the white gel coat around the anchor storage and the battery area lid. The dark color underneath makes it really noticeable.

@RichL is right. color matching is an art that is always being tweaked and never perfected. Ive had good luck with these for the small repairs. The few times Ive done it, Ive had someone else mix my color for me tho.

9 oz. Complete Spray Gun

www.homedepot.com

 

[RichL]

I recommend this for the small repairs.

View attachment 1289055

9 oz. Complete Spray Gun

www.homedepot.com

I've been away from the repair part of the business for over 30 years and used those for many years before I left.

 

[HBCraig]

Take before and after pics please. I'd like to see this

 

[manxman]

Be careful of the amazon or ebay kits. Kind of like buying resin at home depot or lowes. Polyester gelcoat has an agent in it to promote it to cure.
It has a shelf life of maybe 4-6 months. It will get chunky after that. I sell basic finishing gelcoat in quarts or gallons. If you are near me (San Marcos 92069) I can pour off a little from our 5 gallon pails. Its more of an industrial version of gelcoat. The stuff on amazon or ebay always has a hard time curing correctly. It can stay soft, especially if it doesn't have surface seal or wax in it. It is not like paint. It is designed to spray into a mold surface and be backed with fiberglass. Anything that is not exposed will harden. Any exposed surface stays tacky so the resins can bond to it.

 

[Jonas Grumby]

White, yes, I have gotten real good white bottom fixes.

I use the kit from West marine.

 

[samsah33]

Done a little bit here and there but just for white and in inconspicuous spots to hide my transgressions... It does yellow a bit over time, kinda like white vinyl doesn't really stay white in the long run. If you're looking for long term color match and professional results, then take it to a pro. If you're looking to make a dark spot less noticeable from a couple feet away and you are OK with it not being totally invisible, then the DIY kits should work fine.

 

[Mikes56]

Thanks for the advice guys. It’s a nice boat so I don’t want to hack it. Menace Marine in 15 minutes from me so I might take it to him before next season starts.

There was a Hispanic guy in Havasu that did a perfect job when I had the bottom scratches redone several years ago. He had a small shop that was kinda messy. Anyone know his name and contact #?

 

[Spot]

Thanks for the advice guys. It’s a nice boat so I don’t want to hack it. Menace Marine in 15 minutes from me so I might take it to him before next season starts.

There was a Hispanic guy in Havasu that did a perfect job when I had the bottom scratches redone several years ago. He had a small shop that was kinda messy. Anyone know his name and contact #?

Saleen Fiberglass Repair. Pedro is his name. He has always done solid work me and my friends at fair prices.

Saleen FR

saleenfr.com

 

[Mikes56]

Saleen Fiberglass Repair. Pedro is his name. He has always done solid work me and my friends at fair prices.

Saleen FR

saleenfr.com

Yes! That’s him, thanks!

 

[Eliminator21vdrive]

Bumper boat/rocks

Spent a few days repairing PO lake Tahoe boulder booboo's . I bought a kit with tint and mixed a brew. I added too much black the first try so I over catalyzed it to fire it off lol.

www.riverdavesplace.com

 

[brianwhiteboy]

Thanks for the advice guys. It’s a nice boat so I don’t want to hack it. Menace Marine in 15 minutes from me so I might take it to him before next season starts.

There was a Hispanic guy in Havasu that did a perfect job when I had the bottom scratches redone several years ago. He had a small shop that was kinda messy. Anyone know his name and contact #?

I would definitely take it to Dustin at Menace. He did a few gel repairs on my boat last year including filling a few holes, re-gel the keel and color sand the entire thing. Came out amazing.

 

[traquer]

Good idea to take it to a pro. But if you have time on your hands and are curious, you can buy all the pro grade materials and mess with it yourself just for fun, and eventually learn it.

That's how I picked up basic upholstery and stitching skills. I wouldn't want to do a whole boat, but I can wrap some individual items and make it look decent. I want to do a steering wheel next.

 

[Heylam]

I think it would all depend if you were seeking perfection, or just an acceptable repair.