Good ventilation inside your boat is a must for comfort and safety. I bought a can of Evercoat Gel Kote in white, which came in a 16 fl oz can and with a tube or hardener. Shallow scratches can often be wet sanded and buffed out. Boating Magazine Own a fiberglass boat long enough, and you'll end up with a scratch, nick or gouge in the finish. No warranty, guarantee, or representation is made as to the sufficiency of the information for the safe use of the product, nor to relieve the end user of any Federal, State, or Local regulatory responsibility. This was an exceptionally simple fix, blend 4 drops of hardener in 1 Teaspoon of Gel Coat, apply, cover with included plastic sheet, stand by two hours, and afterward wet sand and clean for definite completion. This is a question Gougeon Technical Advisors are asked all the time. You can sand it by hand, but it will take longer. We'll walk you through eveything you need to know to keep you boat looking great for years to come. 2. A small bucket of solvent can be used to clean tools and spray nozzles. The brothers built the 35-foot trimaran, designed by Meade and Jan, in just six months. Start by wiping down the area to be repaired with acetone to remove surface dirt, contaminants, and any surface wax that might interfere with the bond of the new gelcoat. Sandpaper only the area carefully (don't overdo it). Be careful not to whip air into the Gelcoat. The damaged gelcoat has been sanded away and the area is smooth with feathered edges. 9. Force out any air holes and be sure to overfill, as gel coat has a tendency to shrink as it cures. Anti-sag refers to the ability of a gelcoat to maintain its shape and thickness without sagging or drooping during the curing process. The process continues until the boat becomes one of the dilapidated wallflowers that we have all seen at the dock. I start by sanding down the previous poor repair to bring it flush with the surrounding surface. A higher speed might be needed for the first 3 minutes to get material moving, then a lower speed, so that there is just enough rotation and visual pumping that the material turns over, but not enough to entrain air. Why, sure you can! You can change your cookie settings through your browser. Before you begin, wash the area with soap and water and rinse it thoroughly. Along with his brothers Jan and Joel, he founded Gougeon Brothers in 1969. Degree Of Difficulty:Moderate to difficult. The next time you're cleaning and waxing your boat, take the time to look for small cracks, scratches and chips in its gel coat. Don't forget your I/O. Leave the filler to cure overnight, then use a random-orbit sander with 120-grit paper to sand the filled holes flush and fair with the surrounding gelcoat surface. Protect yourself, especially from dust and fumes. How to Fix Gelcoat Gouges - Boat Trader Blog Seaglass, my Grand Banks 32, had a small crack in the top of the forward cabin trunk that needed repairing. Able to be mixed from a 3:1 to a 1:1 mix. If you start cutting into the laminates when opening up a crack, youre going too deep. With FGCI, you can rest assured that your batch will be within specs every time, with the same color, viscosity, strength and application characteristics as you would expect from a high quality product. Let's look at some of the bad points that lead to cracking. Voila! Avoid film build up thicker than 0.8mm or 800gsm. Instead, sand by hand using 120-grit abrasive paper wrapped around a block, pausing frequently to run your fingertips over the repairs to check progress. They started using the same process with the cockpit but found it too problematic, gave up and used two-pack paint applied by brush instead. In 2015, Meade was inducted with his brother Jan, who died in 2012, into the National Sailing Hall of Fame. Acid-based stain removers are effective for removing most mineral and organic stains. There are several types of wax, each of which has its adherents. What Is Gel Coat And How Is It Repaired? - Bathtub Refinishing NASA's Wind Energy Project Office had Gougeon Brothers manufacture epoxy-laminated wood specimens for testing the strength of an epoxy bond between that and a threaded steel rod. This may not be readily apparent, but as a quick check, try swabbing some of the gel stain remover across an area that otherwise looks ok. If the surface is oxidized, restore it with a rubbing compound so you'll be able to match its color accurately. Then use a fine cutting compound with a wool pad to finish off before applying a good quality wax to protect the surface and prolong the shine. Then buff off with an orbital buffer with removable thick, soft bonnets. As an added check, sight across the surface from several angles with the side of your head almost touching the surface. If theyre small or shallow, you can use some thickened gelcoat.The ones on my boat are one-quarter inch diameter, so I use epoxy filler, which has the consistency of peanut butter. Topsides Gelcoat Repair for Vertical Surfaces Boat Gelcoat Repair On Vertical Surface [MATERIALS LIST] | BoatUS Watch on FGCIs Gelcoats are defined by the base unsaturated polyester resins. Gel coat is air inhibited and cures . Unlike polyester and vinylester resins, then commonly used to bond fiberglass components, epoxies are versatile (bonding to fiberglass, plastic, metal, almost anything), impermeable to water, resistant to osmotic blistering, and much stiffer and stronger. The coating should be cured before sanding and buffing. 2. 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. Note that Im using waxed gelcoat, which cures even when exposed to air. Polishes and rubbing compounds can be applied by machine or by hand. Gel coated fiberglass has become an exceptionally popular material among the bath product manufacturers in the US over the past decades. Read about the four steps to gelcoat restoration and how you can remove practically any type of stain from your boat. A year later, they moved onto larger, more traditional boats. Apply moderate pressure to the abrasive paper until all scratches from the coarser paper have disappeared. If you get gelcoat on your skin, wash it off right away with soap and water. Sometimes, molded-in non-skid areas can be difficult to clean. There are two types of stains: mineral and organic. Because unlike other owners, all you need to do is wash your boat and apply a quality wax. Intensive work but results were good. Determine if there is a crack in the fiberglass. a. Be careful with the hardener as it's very toxic; don't let it get on your skin. I usually apply gelcoat with a disposable "acid" brush. The more porous it becomes, the more readily it will stain. There's a few differences between painting and gelcoating that cause issue, it's possible as I do it often, but unless it is important to match existing gelcoat I would opt to use paint if I were you. Here are several products that can be used for final polishing of the repair. When doing repairs, see if you can buy gelcoat from your boats manufacturer so youll know the color will match. Why? This acid-based stain remover is a gel formulation that holds well to vertical surfaces. With the paper wrapped around a block, frequently dip it into a bucket of clean water, which keeps the paper clean and lubricates the abrasive, making for faster work and a smoother finish. Gelcoat must be stirred/agitated, preferably with use of a mechanical agitator. Do Not Sell Or Share My Personal Information, Random orbital polisher or circular polisher (AC units must be GFCI-protected). FGCI Gelcoat has become an industry leader in gelcoat technology due to our commitment to high-quality formulations and exceptional performance. Subscription to the print version of BoatUS Magazine, 4% back on purchases from West Marine stores or online at WestMarine.com, Discounts on fuel, transient slips, repairs and more at over 1,200 businesses, Deals on cruises, charters, car rentals, hotel stays and more. When the parts are taken out of the mold, it's the smooth, now outside layer of gelcoat that you see. The customer service is phenomenal and they are always knowledgeable and ready to help with any questions I had., For best results, Gelcoat should be sprayed on to the application substrate or mold at about 18-20 mils (measured using a, A second coat can be applied prior to completing the cure of the initial coat, unless the Gelcoat contains. Home | Fiberglass Shower Gelcoating | What is Gel Coat and How is it Repaired? Laminating gelcoat, which is much more common, will not. b. temperature of about 77 F. Please refer to the Catalyst Concentration Chart for quantities. 11. Satisfied with the surface? We've already covered how to do gelcoat repair on flat surfaces (link in video). Most epoxy the company sells is for fiberglass repairs. This is because they believe that polishing and waxing non-skid will make it slippery. As it needs to be applied in a somewhat thicker layer than paint, however, it is predisposed to run, sag, and not stay where you want it. 8. For best results, Gelcoat should be sprayed on to the application substrate or mold at about 18-20 mils (measured using a Mil Gauge) in order to achieve a final optimum cured Gelcoat thickness of 18 to 22 mils. You'll need to lightly wet sand between coats to remove any surface wax and wait for each coat to cure. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. The previous owner had hastily filled holes with epoxy filler and left them. Provide your account email address to receive an email to reset your password.We have changed website platforms. Although it's tempting to use a power sander for this, doing so can create ridges in the surface. FloridaBoca Raton, Jacksonville, Orlando, Tampa, North CarolinaCharlotte, Durham, Greensboro, Raleigh, Wilmington, Winston-Salem, South CarolinaCharleston, Greenville, Myrtle Beach, Color Matching- What Colors are Popular for 2017. (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.) Instead, sand by hand using 120-grit abrasive paper wrapped around a block, pausing frequently to run your fingertips over the repairs to check progress. PDF GELCOAT APPLICATION GUIDE - Ineos Today I undertook repairing large gel coat chips that are under the window frame. Ships to over 230 U.S. locations. After curing, both Mylar and tape can be easily removed. Duraglas Fiberglass Filler is one option. Copyright 2023 Specialized Refinishing Co. A tool and a container to mix and stir the solution, Apart from that it should have a mesh to hold the solution (to apply for vertical surfaces). Its a fact of life that if you own a composite kayak and actually use it, youre going to damage the gelcoat eventually. Although it can be a DIY task, it is always better to hire a professional to repair the gel coat if you expect a . After it's applied, gelcoat shrinks 4 to 7 percent during the cure and can have less than 1 percent elongation. Depending on the method of construction, layers of chopped mat and fiberglass cloth are then built up on top to form the hull, deck, and other molded parts. Before getting into the actual repair, it's important to understand what gelcoat is. Our dedication to MACT compliance, optimized bonding characteristics, and improved anti-sag and anti-cracking qualities sets us apart from our competitors and makes us a trusted choice for gelcoat applications. Work swiftly. 12. Anti-sag and anti-cracking qualities are essential factors in gelcoat applications. Apply some sort of cover to help hold it in position. Aside from washing non-skid areas and possibly removing the stains, most people leave their molded-in non-skid alone. If its soft, it must be ground away and replaced. I usually apply gelcoat with a disposable acid brush. DIY Gelcoat Repair - The Log The only really effective way is to strip all the hardware off and spray it. (Not shown: If, after sanding, there are still some small holes, fill them using some two-part all-purpose surface filler formulated explicitly for fiberglass repairs, such as Interlux Interfill 833. Pat is the walking encyclopedia of FGCI., Been working on a skiff project and using all FGCI products. 1. 3. A marine surveyor and holder of RYA Yachtmaster Ocean certification, BoatUS Magazine contributing editor Mark Corke is one of our DIY gurus, creating easy-to-follow how-to articles and videos. Two BoatUS Members share inspiring makeovers of their center console and sport coupe powerboats. Once catalyzed, you only have about 10 minutes of working time before it starts to harden. The easiest method for most folks is to brush on the gelcoat, which is what we are showing here. You must log in or register to reply here. To prevent ridges, wrap the paper around a block. After leaving the gelcoat to fully cure overnight, remove the Mylar covering. So if you have trouble removing any of these, try using a stain remover specifically formulated to take them out. Nearly all boats have some degree of gelcoat staining. Cleaning FGCI Gelcoat: Use Acetone to clean spray equipment, brushes, and rollers. Finishing Your Gelcoat Repair. Use a good quality brush.
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