\u00a9 2023 wikiHow, Inc. All rights reserved. Fill any deep gouges and spend your time sanding out scratches while the filler sets up. Boat Repair: How to repair cracks and scratches in 8 easy steps Gelcoat Repair : How to repair cracks and chips in damaged gelcoat 2. Easy Ways to Repair Gelcoat: 11 Steps (with Pictures) - wikiHow February 05, 2020 How to Fix Boat's Gelcoat Scratches STEP ONE - ACCESS THE DAMAGE First-things-first, access the damage. The mix shouldn't kick (start to harden) in less than 30 minutes. *PVA curing agent 2 - Mixing the filler To get a permanent repair, draw the corner of a scraper or screwdriver down the scratch to open it into a wide V. The hardener for gelcoat is the same as for any polyester resin methyl ethyl ketone peroxide, or MEKP. Once the filler is applied, the service will be uneven so sanding and polishing will be necessary. You can tell that the scratch is into the core if you see fiberglass fibers (Photo 2). Different gelcoat resins require different catalysts, so make sure you are using the proper formula, as well as the right two-part ratio (e.g., four drops of catalyst per teaspoon of resin). The reason being is that surface scratches can easily be buffed with a rubbing compound as opposed to deep scratches which take a couple more steps. If the gelcoat shows swirl marks, buff them out with a very fine finishing compound. Gelcoat is the protective coating that covers the fiberglass of boats and other watercraft. That being said, you will have to rough the surface up a bit with sand paper in order to give the paste something to stick to. In this episode, John and crew find an easier and less costly way to fix scratches on gel coat. Sand and smooth the area with sand paper. Start with a white or neutral gelcoat paste (not resin) and begin adding tiny amounts of coloring agent. How do you get deep scratches out of gelcoat? 1 - Preparing the repair First, it's important to create a surface that will provide a good bond for the filler. If repairing a drilled hole, the surface might have become elevated from the upward pressure of an old fastener. Confining work to the immediate repair area, continue wet-sanding with 600-grit paper until nearly even with surrounding gelcoat. If you choose paint, topside alkyd enamels, polyurethanes and others are available from Interlux and Pettit. Constant UV exposure causes normal wear, but coming into a dock too fast, misplacing drill holes, or dropping a boat anchor can also cause damage that requires fiberglass gelcoat repair. Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 30,017 times. Apply the base coat of gel coat with short strokes moving away from the repaired area. This image is not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. What is gelcoat for boats? Dry the area and use rubbing compound to give the gelcoat a high gloss. Show more Show more Shop the 3ftDeep store *Cleanup rags Two BoatUS Members share inspiring makeovers of their center console and sport coupe powerboats. Be careful when docking - Impact is one of the most common causes of scratches. Wipe away the haze from the rubbing compound with a clean cloth as you go. Does toothpaste actually remove scratches? If there is a lot of dust from sanding and grinding, you can also use a vacuum with a hose attachment to suck it up. Gelcoat resin usually requires 1 to 2 percent of hardener by volume (follow the manufacturer's instructions). See data on the best way to pick the Hawk Epoxy pack. % of people told us that this article helped them. Deeply or broken help. How do body shops fix scratches? If the scratch is a bit deeper, start off by dry sanding with 180-grit sandpaper. *Mixing cups Sailing since he was six-years-old, Travis has over 15 years working in sailing operations and instruction and has pioneered a coaching platform that combined traditional coaching with multi-camera video support. Boats that already have gelcoat, fiberglass, or polyester resin surface do not need any additional steps before repairing. repair the gel coat itself. Best Gel Coat Repair Kit (2023 Update) - Social Moms Determine if there is a crack in the fiberglass. Copyright 2023 Boating Magazine. When you get a gouge or a scratch in the gelcoat of your fiberglass, you will have to clean it up by grinding or sanding before you can repair it. Wear cloth garden gloves the kind with the hard dots to save the tips of your fingers. Usually, a simple wet-sand and buff can bring back the original glow of the gelcoat. Or FREE standard shipping on $99+ orders. You will have about 10-15 minutes to work before the gelcoat starts to harden. COMPLETE NATIONWIDE BOAT INSURANCE COVERAGE. If you simply cover the cracks they may continue to spread. Once you have completed the sanding with the 400 grit, you will need to now use a 600 grit sandpaper to go over the repair. DESCRIPTION Cultured marble is artificial marble, a composite made of dust from marble or calcium carbonate mixed with polyester resins or acrylics and then poured onto a flat molding surface or into fixture molds. If your gelcoat repair kit doesnt come with a mixing stick, then use a clean craft stick (like a wooden popsicle stick) to mix the gelcoat. Tape the plastic/wax paper on all sides over the glue and let dry for 24 hours. Fiberglass Boat Scratch Repair Guide - Boat Life If you do not receive an email contact Customer Service. After you have color-matched the amount of gelcoat needed for the repair, add catalyst (aka hardener). Good ventilation inside your boat is a must for comfort and safety. Put exactly one ounce of paste into a mixing cup and add the tints a drop at a time. Mix several test batches of gelcoat and pigment, add hardener and allow them to cure (gelcoat changes color during the curing process). Can I use a roller to apply gelcoat? Buy a flexible plastic spreader if you don't already have one. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited. A miniature grinding tool like a Dremel is ideal, but the sharp point of a can opener will work, too. How To Repair Gel Coat Scratches - Perfect Finish - YouTube This X-pattern technique will keep the sanded area flat, avoiding any sort of dip in the hull or deck. Repairing minor damage to the gelcoat surface of your boat - West Marine Once the wax has dried, after about 15 minutes in the sun, you can wash your whole boat and give the whole thing a second coat of wax so that the repaired area and the rest of the boat are equally shiny. Identify if the surrounding area is unaffected. . First-things-first, access the damage. Finish wet-sanding with 1,000-grit paper; then buff out with rubbing compound followed by a coat of wax. But if you find a series of cracks, take a minute to inspect the area more closely. It can also imply damage to the hull of the boat. Because the surface of the cured paste will be uneven, sanding and polishing are required to smooth the repair and blend it with the rest of the hull. The longest scratch is about 10 inches. Gelcoat will not fully cure in air. Sailing Instructor & Executive Director, Treasure Island Sailing Center. Don Casey has been one of the most consulted experts on boat care and upgrades for 30 years, and is one of the BoatUS Magazine's panel of experts. . Attach a V-shaped burr bit to a rotary tool such as a Dremel tool. Hardening in about two hours is probably ideal. How much is fiberglass repair on an RV? Some find the gouge needs to be scraped deeper with a screwdriver or Dremel toolto open it into a wide V to make sure the gelcoat has a place to settle and more permanent. Does not apply to Truck Freight orders or hazardous orders. April 19, 2022 by Tucker Ballister Over time, the fiberglass gelcoat on your boat can break down. Use a countersink bit or rotary file and a drill motor to carefully grind away the swollen perimeter. The gelcoat that exists on the boat is already bonded with the laminates that are underneath. Please subscribe as I will be releasing video #2 which will show you exactly how to ceramic coat your boat and save thousands. Inspect the scratched part. *Wet/dry sandpaper (320-, 600- and 1,000 grit) You can change your cookie settings through your browser. *Putty knife For deeper gouges, you will need to purchase gelcoat in various colors. https://boat.us/sy-app Connect with us:https://Facebook.com/BoatUShttps://Twitter.com/BoatUShttps://Instagram.com/BoatUShttps://Pinterest.com/BoatUShttps://linkedin.com/company/boatusMATERIALS LIST Disposable respirator: https://www.homedepot.com/p/3M-Sanding-and-Fiberglass-Valved-Respirator-8511HA1-C-PS/202080145 Acetone: I used an Evercoat product, lbut any acetone is fine: http://www.evercoat.com/product-detail/base-part/100581/us/ Blue painters tape: https://www.3m.com/3M/en_US/company-us/all-3m-products/~/All-3M-Products/?N=5002385+8709316+8711017+8740610+8743717+3294603283+3294857497\u0026rt=r3 Dremel rotary tool: https://www.dremel.com/en_US/products/-/show-product/tools/200-series-rotary-tool Dremel bit: https://www.dremel.com/en_US/products/-/show-product/accessories/7150-diamond-wheel-points Gelcoat for almost any premixed boat color: https://www.iboats.com/shop/paint-and-maintenance/fiberglass-and-epoxy-boat-repair/boat-gel-coat-repair.html (Comes with catalyst) Syringes: https://www.walmart.com/ip/Monoject-Curved-Tip-Syringe-12mL-Pack-of-4/500588759 Plastic mixing sticks: https://www.westmarine.com/buy/west-system--mixing-sticks-8-pack--318287?cm_mmc=PS-_-Google-_-GSC%3ENonB%3EProduct%2520Type-_-318287\u0026product_id=318287\u0026creative=108421551244\u0026device=c\u0026matchtype=\u0026network=g\u0026gclid=Cj0KCQjw7qn1BRDqARIsAKMbHDbN_kRv1Zu0bECYXg7YBrIYKjVPD_pCYMSb8cmgGhkKAym9F Wet/Dry Sandpaper (also available at any home improvement store): https://www.westmarine.com/buy/3m--wetordry-sandpaper-sheets-assorted--18359208?cm_mmc=PS-_-Google-_-GSC%3ENonB%3EVendors-_-18359208\u0026product_id=18359208\u0026creative=108421561444\u0026device=c\u0026matchtype=\u0026network=g\u0026gclid=Cj0KCQjw7qn1BRDqARIsAKMbHDZQHJiyunYVeJYAWmYlbKUXu0bD4P6THGX4WLozGnDIYGwtt5rDcBsaAojzEALw_wcB Polishing compound: https://www.westmarine.com/buy/3m--perfect-it-ex-rubbing-compound-quart--15654445?recordNum=2 Buffing machine. Sanding And Finishing Gelcoat | Boatworks Today How To Repair The Gelcoat On Your Personal Water Craft How to Repair Cultured Marble (Pro Tips) | Countertop Specialty Decide whether there is a break in the fiberglass. Use a small wood or plastic putty knife to spread the gelcoat smoothly over the gelcoat repair. To get a permanent repair, draw the corner of a scraper or screwdriver down the scratch to open it into a wide V. Catalyzing Catalyzing Polyester Resin The hardener for gelcoat is the same as for any polyester resin methyl ethyl ketone peroxide, or MEKP. Bottom Paint Store Blog How to Articles. A Bonnier LLC Company. https://boat.us/e/sy-joinVisit the BoatUS Magazine website: https://www.boatus.com/Expert-Advice.BoatUS is the nations largest association of recreational boaters with more than half a million Members. For scratch repair you want paste. As the paste will not cure completely in the air, you will need to put a plastic film over it. Dock your boat at the nearest location. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. You can usually fix gelcoat repairs yourself. Justin at The Skiff Shop shows us his process of grinding out the old gel. There are kits from companies such as Evercoat with pigments to add to the resin for a match. Duraglas Fiberglass Filler is one option. Step 1: Identify the damage A scratch doesn't always mean that the paint has peeled off the boat. For these, call in a pro. Duraglas Fiberglass Filler is one choice. Some of the scratches are very light, but a couple of them went through the clear coat, paint coats, primer and just touched the fiberglass. Please subscribe to our channel for upcoming how to videos!PRODUCTSMEKP : https://fiberglassflorida.com/catalyst-mekp.htmlAEROSIL : https://fiberglassflorida.com/aerosil-cabosil.htmlADTECH : https://fiberglassflorida.com/adtech-77-filler.htmlCARBON GUIDE : https://fiberglassflorida.com/fiberglass-supplies/fiberglass-supplies-buffing-polishing/3m-dry-guide-coat-cartridge-and-kit.htmlGEL COAT : https://fiberglassflorida.com/gel-coat-isophthalic.html (If you don't open the crack, you won't be able to force the gelcoat into the repair area or expose enough surface area for the repair to adhere.) When the new gelcoat is flush, put 220-grit wet-or-dry paper on your block and wet sand the repair, this time with your block flat. That being said, you should mess the surface up a piece with sand paper to give the glue something to adhere to. Will wet sanding remove scratches? The explanation being is that surface scratches can without much of a stretch be polished with a scouring compound rather than profound scratches which make a couple more strides. Basically this widens the gap and reveals the fiberglass layer beneath. By Jim Hendricks Updated: February 10, 2020 Fix the scratches in your boat's gelcoat that sometimes occur at the docks. Fix Deep Scratches For cut openings through the gelcoat or a few openings have been bored through and need filling you can likewise consider utilizing the Hawk Epoxy System. Use short strokes, taking care that the paper is sanding only the patch and not the surrounding surface. Here's how to get the cooling breeze flowing. Since the paste will shrink slightly as it dries, make sure you put a little extra paste on the wound. A Dremel tool is a rotary tool that you can attach all kinds of bits to for things like sanding, grinding, and polishing. Once it is dry sand the area smooth and apply a new coat of paint or gelcoat.Another way to repair deep scratches in fiberglass is to use a two-part epoxy. Next, lightly sand the area, this will provide a good key for the filler. Gelcoat Scratch Repair | BoatUS For more episodes visit: http://www.shipshapetv.com Show more It's cable reimagined No DVR space. This image is not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. In the event that covering over with gelcoat make certain to leave space (around 1/8 inch) for the gelcoat. By continuing to use this website, you're agreeing to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. Buff it with a circular motion, using heavy pressure initially, then progressively reduce the pressure until the surface becomes glassy. If the area still feels rough after you use 400-grit sandpaper, you can keep working your way up all the way to about 1000-grit sandpaper until you are happy with the smoothness. How To's - MagicEzy At long last, apply a layer of top notch marine clean and your maintenance is finished. Once the surface is clean and dry, mark off the repair area with masking tape. Tape It Off Use cutting compound then finish with a little wax to finish it up.Scroll down for a complete materials list for tools and materials used in this video. How to Repair Gelcoat, Fiberglass Boat Repair | Boating Mag It is ideal for boat building, patching, and repair. All rights reserved. How to repair gel coat - video guide - Yachting Monthly These are for bonding and filling repairs above or below the waterline and can be sanded. Occasionally you will want to dry the repair area just to get an idea of the work you have done so far. If the scratch does not penetrate deep into the fiberglass, you're in good shape. These are for holding and filling fixes above or beneath the waterline and can be sanded. You will find gelcoat available as both a resin and in a thicker putty form called paste. The explanation this is being done is to wipe out any scratches the 400 coarseness might have placed in the maintenance and smooth it much more. The Top Sail Boats platform to enhance your sailing experience. This image is not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. Some customers prefer to mix some thickener (cabosil)and gelcoat to a thick consistency. Apply any graphics to finish up. Epoxy Syringes Reusable Mixing Sticks The Diagnosis Most scratches and chips in gelcoat result from impacts with hard objects (winch handles, downrigger weights, 15-pound lobsters) and are not cause for concern. david December 18, 2013 at 10:30 pm Howdy. *FREE STANDARD SHIPPING applicable on orders over $99.00 within the 48 contiguous United States. If the surface is oxidized, restore it with a rubbing compound so you'll be able to match its color accurately. Prime regions for breaking are places where cover is found, run of the mill models are the bended deck to lodge board, around/close to windows, as well as the bulkhead. The formula may call for a half-dozen different tints, but the important ones are those specified in the largest quantities. How to Remove Corrosion From Outboard Motor, How Much Does Marine Boat Insurance in Australia, Whats the Average Cost of Boat Insurance in Florida, What Does Boat Insurance Cover Progressive in California, How Much Does Boat Insurance Cost Per Month in Florida. Essentially this extends the hole and uncovers the fiberglass layer underneath. Scrape up any excess paste beyond the patch area. Step 1: Identify the Boat Finish. Sprinkle Zone epoxy is not difficult to use for enormous regions submerged for all substrates. I turned a little too sharp into our RV storage place and touched a small structure which scratched the side of our Ventana. Next, gouge out small, narrow cracks (and scratches that are too deep to remove with rubbing compound) until they are wide enough to fill with gelcoat paste. 2. Many products featured on this site were editorially chosen. If the underlying problem for the hairline cracks is not handled, re-gelcoating over them will only be a temporary fix, such as a soggy core or broken support. Also, mask off any adjacent areas or items to protect them from inadvertently applied gelcoat or errant sanding. Wear safety glasses when operating a rotary tool. By signing up you are agreeing to receive emails according to our privacy policy. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. After sanding, thoroughly clean the area with acetone to remove the sanding residue and any waxes or other contaminants that might interfere with the bond between the damaged surface and gelcoat.