How To Repair Boat Gelcoat [MATERIALS LIST👇] | BoatUS
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- Опубліковано 28 вер 2024
- BoatUS Magazine's Mark Corke takes you through the steps for how to repair boat gelcoat. This gel coat repair DIY if you need to fix a boat ding, crack, or scratch is not difficult and could save you a lot of money by doing it yourself and still get professional results. The process for repairing gelcoat on a boat (on flat surfaces) starts by preparing the area to be repaired by thoroughly cleaning with soap and water and then acetone. Use a Dremel with a burr bit to open up the repair area, then vacuum the dust. Mix the gelcoat according to manufacturer directions and add any coloring to match your boat's gelcoat. Tap it into the repair and overfill. Once dry, use wet sandpaper to sand it flush with the surrounding surface. 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. Read more about gelcoat repair: www.boatus.com...
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🚩MATERIALS LIST
⚓ Disposable respirator: www.homedepot....
⚓ Acetone: I used an Evercoat product, lbut any acetone is fine: www.evercoat.co...
⚓ Blue painters tape: www.3m.com/3M/...
⚓ Dremel rotary tool: www.dremel.com...
⚓ Dremel bit: www.dremel.com...
⚓ Gelcoat for almost any premixed boat color: www.iboats.com... (Comes with catalyst)
⚓ Syringes: www.walmart.co...
⚓ Plastic mixing sticks: www.westmarine...
⚓ Wet/Dry Sandpaper (also available at any home improvement store): www.westmarine...
⚓ Polishing compound: www.westmarine...
⚓ Buffing machine. The one I have is no longer available, but this is the equivalent: www.dewalt.com...
⚓ Compounding pad: www.westmarine...
⚓ Polishing pad: www.westmarine...
⚓ Polish / Glaze: www.3m.com/3M/...
⚓ Collinite Wax (bottle looks different now): www.westmarine...
#gelcoatrepair #gelcoat #boatus #satisfying
Thank you for this brilliant instruction video. I have a couple dents in the gel coat that needs fixing, and this made me confident i will be able to do it myself.
Thanks so much for the feedback, glowgrrr! We're thrilled you found it helpful and hope the repairs go smoothly. You may want to check out our two other gelcoat repair videos as they may offer some additional techniques and explanations you may find useful depending on the location of the repairs. ua-cam.com/video/i2w85yvrbHk/v-deo.html and ua-cam.com/video/5EapSjzjAyQ/v-deo.html
I am Brazilian from southern Brazil. The video guided me to repair the gel coat on the hull of my 19ft sailboat.
Congratulations.
Thanks for watching, and we're thrilled you found it helpful!
THANK YOU! This was a VERY helpful video, I live in St Augustine and have some scratches and small chips on my bow where the current pulled me into a barnacle covered bridge pylon. Best repair video I have seen yet. Again, THANKS!
Thanks, Bunk! Glad you found it helpful. Do check out our other two gelcoat repair videos as well since you may find additional info that will help you if any of the repairs are on vertical surfaces. ua-cam.com/video/5EapSjzjAyQ/v-deo.html (vertical surface repairs) and ua-cam.com/video/i2w85yvrbHk/v-deo.html (spider cracks). Good luck with your project and let us know how it goes!
Wish I found this video BEFORE I did my crappy repair. Start again 😂😂
Thanks for watching, Michael, and glad you found it helpful. Do check out our other gelcoat repair videos (link to playlist below) for additional tips and techniques that might help you out depending on where the repair is and the type of repair. They also cover frequently asked questions we've had throughout the series like the difference between waxed and unwaxed gelcoat, and what is the glaze Mark speaks of. Good luck with your project, and let us know how it goes! ua-cam.com/play/PLSrVa8gUFaPwF4oz5H4JmSEkdlTwkCrYq.html
Thank you for taking the time to post this i have a 1964 Crestliner Challenger 14 foot fiberglass boat. I've converted from an empty skiff to a small center console. Ive hot several small places like this to repair. Look forward to using your information to repair it. Thank you
Thanks, brt 123! Glad you found this helpful for your project boat. Check back this Friday, July 20, at around 2 p.m. for a new video showing you how to do gelcoat repairs on vertical surfaces, like the hull or topside. It's still pretty simple to do for the average boat owner--if you can use a paintbrush and a sander, you can do that one, too. Oh, and if you have documented the conversion/makeover, do share it with us over at the magazine!
Great instructional video.. right to the point with great tips. Thank you !!
You are very welcome, Talon. Glad you found it helpful!
loved the video I was raised in two body shops so familiar with some of your workings but have always want to know how to get those nasty little oyster ships out of my boat, and wasn't aware there is a gelcoat repair process will give it a shot.
Thanks for watching, Mt. Davis, and glad you found it helpful. It's not a difficult repair to do yourself. You just need to follow the steps, and you'll have a finish you can be proud of! Let us know how it goes.
Great job on the video! Makes this look easy!
Thanks for watching, James. It's not difficult -- just a lot of steps to get a good finish.
@@boatus I will have to try this with one of the boats we own and do a video Hope don’t mess it up 😅
Just go step by step and make sure you follow the directions, especially in regard to outside temps. If you haven't already done so, I would recommend watching our other gelcoat repair vids for additional tips, techniques, and explanations that might be useful depending on the location and depth of the repairs needed: ua-cam.com/play/PLSrVa8gUFaPwF4oz5H4JmSEkdlTwkCrYq.html Good luck!
@@boatus thank you! I’ll let you know how it goes!
Wow. This was an EXCELLENT explanation and video. Thank You!
You're very welcome, and thank you for watching!
This video is very helpful. It gave me the confidence to repair my boat.
Thanks, Dave! Glad it was helpful. Good luck with your repair. Let us know how it goes!
Great job!
Thank you for sharing.
Thanks for watching!
Great video. Very well explained and easy to follow. Thank you, Ray (Australia)
Thanks for watching, Ray! Glad you found it useful
Excellent~ I'll be doing a lot of my own repair work. Thanks for the tips!
Thanks so much for watching, Diane! It's not hard if you you follow the steps. Be sure to watch our other two gelcoat repair videos for additional tips and a discussion of waxed vs nonwaxed gelcoat. There are a couple other techniques that might help you depending on where you're doing repairs. Keep us posted how it goes!
Thanks for the info just purchased my first JetSki with a few chips I have never played with gelcoat before great video
Glad it was helpful! Let us know how your project goes.
Great Video and the instruction nice and clear. THANK YOU!
Thanks for watching, George!
Gives one the confidence to try it.. Great for dings, how about 'spider cracks' and a bit on color matching on an older 'white' color? Great Video
Thanks, Paterbil. Great suggestions. For repairing spider cracks, you can use this same technique--just grind out the crack as shown in this video. Regarding color matching, we'll put it on our list of future videos for consideration.
Great instructions video! Thanks
You are very welcome, Joseph! If you haven't done so already, we recommend viewing our full playlist of gelcoat repair videos for additional tips and techniques that may be useful depending on where the repairs are located: ua-cam.com/play/PLSrVa8gUFaPwF4oz5H4JmSEkdlTwkCrYq.html
Great video thanks!
Thanks for watching, Roberto! Glad you found it helpful. Do make sure to check out our other gelcoat repair vids for additional tips and techniques: ua-cam.com/play/PLSrVa8gUFaPwF4oz5H4JmSEkdlTwkCrYq.html
Love it...thanks very much. Good job!
You're welcome, John! Thanks for watching
Excellent information!
Thanks for watching, Stewart!
I have a few hairline, very fine cracks in my gelcoat. No spreading of the cracks and they are short. I have seen some videos where gelcoat is thickened for those types of repairs. Would it be okay to repair these types of small cracks as you did in this video (meaning without thickening)? Thanks for the video.
Scott. Yes, you can. However, sometimes the repair is in an awkward position, such as the corner of a cockpit for instance. In that case, the method I described works less well as it is not possible to get the Mylar film to bend in more than one direction at a time. In tricky areas it is sometime better to thicken the gelcoat with the addition of a little colloidal silica. You can see how to do this in this video: ua-cam.com/video/i2w85yvrbHk/v-deo.html
Sounds good, thanks again!
Really well presented - thank you
You're very welcome! Glad you found it useful. And stay tuned ... we've got a couple more gelcoat-related videos in the works.
what a terrific job made too look so easy
Thanks, Steve! Glad you enjoyed it.
Great video
Thanks for watching, Frank! If you're doing a gelcoat repair project, be sure to view our entire gelcoat repair playlist for additional tips that may help you depending on the location and size of the repair: ua-cam.com/play/PLSrVa8gUFaPwF4oz5H4JmSEkdlTwkCrYq.html
Thanks for the video, came in very needfull !
You're welcome, Erik! Stay tuned ... we just filmed a video on repairing gelcoat on vertical surfaces, which is a slightly different process. If you haven't already, be sure to subscribe to our channel for notification when new videos are posted.
At the end of the video you say you are going to put a bit of "glaze" on it. What is your definition of glaze?
Excellent video. It has removed years of fear for fixing gelcoat.
Thanks for your question, James. What I mean by that is rubbing compound. The one I like to use is 3M Marine Finesse-It II Glaze. However, there are many others on the market. Good luck with your repair, and let us know how it goes!
Awesome, thanks for the reply and suggestion. Is that a good compound for the whole boat?
I have been looking for a compound!
I found this! Thanks! ua-cam.com/video/q02QKZXFQwQ/v-deo.html
@@Hurricane355 Yup! Here's a good video I did that shows you my process for restoring shine to fiberglass. Basically clean your boat well, use a compound like Finesse-It, then finish with wax. ua-cam.com/video/TJHk81_nKRI/v-deo.html We also have a longer online webinar (half an hour or so) we did with Lenny Rudow on this topic if you search our UA-cam site for "fiberglass."
Amazing job!
Thanks for watching High•red!
Great video. Can you help us understand how you get gloss back? Is it polish then wax or are you using another product to get gloss?
Excellent question, Pregny. The finishing steps are just as important as the repair steps. In our gelcoat repair videos, Mark uses the following products/steps:
1. Polishing compound like www.mirka.com/en/p/7994510111
2. A finishing glaze (very fine compound to remove any scratches from the previous step): www.westmarine.com/3m-finesse-it-ii-finishing-material-pint-569486.html
3. A good wax like www.westmarine.com/collinite-no.-925-fiberglass-boat-wax-4758322.html
Make sure your boat is super clean before you begin so you don't scratch the gelcoat.
Here's a video Mark did on the steps and tools he uses for the process: ua-cam.com/video/q02QKZXFQwQ/v-deo.html
Hope this helps!
That was a great instructional video. Thank you!
You are quite welcome, Kev! Check out our latest gelcoat repair video for vertical surfaces for more great tips.
Thank you for this video
You're very welcome! Thanks for watching. Don't miss our other gelcoat repair videos--each has a little different technique and tips to help with your specific application. ua-cam.com/play/PLSrVa8gUFaPwF4oz5H4JmSEkdlTwkCrYq.html
Thanks for this ! Nice job!!
Glad you enjoyed it!
Thank you, learned something!
What about thickening the gelcoat with some silica or something? Isn't that needed sometimes?
Great question, Forrest! For a repair on a flat surface like this, it doesn't need to be thickened. However, for some repairs, such as on vertical surfaces, we recommend using colloidal silica to thicken (repairing spider cracks). Other methods include using mylar film to cover the repair (repairs on vertical surfaces). Check out our other gelcoat repair videos to learn additional techniques for other types of gelcoat repairs, some handy tips to make the job easier, and some explanations on the different types of gelcoat (waxed vs. unwaxed). You can find them in our playlist here: ua-cam.com/play/PLSrVa8gUFaPwF4oz5H4JmSEkdlTwkCrYq.html
Well done, thank you 👍
Thanks. Just got a boat with a number of little flaws similar to the one shown and was wondering how to tackle them.
Congrats on the new boat, Francis! Glad you found the video helpful. Stay tuned this Friday, July 20, for a new video on how to do gelcoat repairs on vertical surfaces. It's still pretty easy to tackle but slightly different from the method we showed in this video.
Francis Ranwez Match up some nail polish it works very well!!
great video thank you
You're welcome, David! Thanks for watching.
Very nice repair. This is why I'm a Boat US member! Your all about boating, from the legal to the maintenance , and everything in between!
Awwww, thanks, Fireship1! We appreciate you being a member, too!
I learned a lot
Awesome, Tanner! Thanks for watching!
Well done. Brilliant, careful and professional job.
Thanks, Mark!
Is this considered "Waxed" Gelcoat or is it the other kind? Thank you for this helpful video. I am just trying to clarify which type you are using as all of this new to me.
Hi Clinton. Thanks for the question, and that's one we get a lot. Yes, we're using waxed gelcoat in this video. So it doesn't need to be sealed off to cure. You can use unwaxed, but you would need to use PVA or cover it with something like a sheet of mylar to seal out the air. We talk about this a bit in some of our other gelcoat repair videos, especially the one on spider cracks and I think the one on spraying gelcoat: ua-cam.com/play/PLSrVa8gUFaPwF4oz5H4JmSEkdlTwkCrYq.html
What about if the scratch is on the side of the hull how do you stop the gelcoat from running down the side since its so watery? Also could u use a cleaner wax instead of rubbing compound for that lat step?
Hi John. Great question! It's a similar process but requires a little bit different preparation. Stay tuned for the August/September 2018 issue of BoatUS Magazine for a step-by-step article on this topic. We'll also have the companion video that we're getting ready to shoot in the next couple weeks once spring finally arrives! The video might be out before the article.
To answer your second question, no. Wax is different from rubbing compound, which is a mild abrasive. Essentially you would apply compound followed by a polish and wax.
You use wax paper to stuck to repair and let it cure
BoatUS
Really unhelpful
good job!
Thanks for watching, Scotty!
You mentioned that the gel coat you used was pre tinted. Is it necessary to match a color code for a particular manufacturer? Or is white gel coat fairly universal?
Great question, Scott! Whites are definitely not all the same. The gelcoat I used is made by Spectrum (spectrumcolor.com). On the website, you can search by boat make and year to find the color that's premixed to match standard factory colors for most common manufacturers. There may be a very slight difference in the color due to fading of your hull, so if you have a large area to work on, you may need to do a little tinting to blend it in. But small repairs won't be noticeable, particularly from a distance.
Perfect, thanks!
Considering how easy it is to repair I have to wonder why anyone bothers with paints like Awl-Grip ?
how come flow coat wasnt used?
Thanks for the question, mitcha. We did use flowcoat/topcoat, which is the same as what we call waxed gelcoat. If waxed gelcoat/flowcoat isn't available, you can use unwaxed and cover with Mylar plastic to seal out the oxygen until it is cured.
There are some repair kits that do not use catalysts. I have had very bad experiences with those.
Thanks for that great feedback. Those kits sound like a recipe for failure.
I have been taught that gelcoat surface does not harden unless you keep air out or mix some wax into the gelcoat i.e. make it into topcoat. Comments?
Great question! There are two types of gelcoat--waxed and unwaxed. Either is fine, but unwaxed requires a few extra steps. In order for unwaxed gelcoat to dry, you either need to cover it with something like a sheet of mylar plastic to seal out the air or spray with PVA. Unwaxed gelcoat is a little easier if you know you need multiple layers as you don't need to prep as much between coats. You can learn a little more about waxed vs unwaxed gelcoat in this video: ua-cam.com/video/i2w85yvrbHk/v-deo.html
What tools and other items did you use?
Don't worry about wiping it down first, it's a waste of time. And don't tape, that a waste of time too. Just grind it out and fill it as you did. And sand flush. But if you are going to tape, tape very close to the repair.
Thanks for adding your thoughts, Robert. Wiping it down is critical as you need to remove the wax and dirt from the surface to ensure the gelcoat bonds. Also, you don't want to get too close to the repair area with the tape as you want to be able to blend in the repair with the surrounding gelcoat. That said, there are many roads to Rome, so if your method works for you, keep it up!
@@boatus taping it closer is quicker. It allows you to sand with heavier grit, the tape stopping over sanding. Tape the tape off for the flush finishing with finer grit. I've been doing repairs for longer than I can remember. But as you say, there are many ways. Some longer, but you'll still get there. But when you're professional, time is money. As for wiping it down, you don't want it to adhere anywhere you don't grind. Just makes the process longer. I'd even advocate waxing the surface first before grinding.
@@robertcain3426 Appreciate the sage advice!
0:50 before those masks where a highly valuable necessity
Ain't that the truth ... Simpler times.
no sound on my end?
Hmmm... If I recall, this was one of the last videos we shot with our old audio equipment, which only had one audio track, not stereo, for some reason. Make sure you are using both headphones. Sorry for the inconvenience.
@@boatus no worries - thanks
🙏🙏👍👍👍
Thanks for watching!
no sound@!
This may have been filmed using our old audio equipment, which only had one audio channel. Use the left speaker/earbud.
Well done very detailed. Thanks
Thanks for the love, Jamie! Be sure to subscribe to our channel to receive notification when our new videos are posted. Also check out our new gelcoat repair video for vertical surfaces.
Best jel coat video on you tube
Thanks, Bob! Make sure to subscribe to our channel for notification on an upcoming video on how to repair gelcoat on vertical surfaces.
You’ve convinced me! I’m definitely going to stop biting my fingernails
Go for it, skeeterd! The hardest part is matching the color, and that's not all that hard either. Let us know how it goes!
I am so baffled as to why anyone would dislike this brilliant piece of workmanship
Thanks for watching, and we appreciate your feedback!
Wooden boat snobs 😁
I don't know why anyone would dislike this, thanks so much, great vid
Aw, thanks for watching and commenting, Peak! Glad you found it helpful.
Anyone who dislikes the video does fiberglass repair and he just made things so much harder for them.
Does the gel coat adhere to vertical or inverted surfaces just as well? I would think most hull repairs would be on the outside or bottom of the boat.
Awesome question, Larry! Check out this video to see how we tackled vertical gelcoat repair. There's a handy tip for using mylar plastic to keep the gelcoat from running. It also tackles using filler for deeper holes: ua-cam.com/video/5EapSjzjAyQ/v-deo.html There's also this video that uses gelcoat thickened with colloidal silica: ua-cam.com/video/i2w85yvrbHk/v-deo.html We're working on finishing up a video on spraying gelcoat, which should be out within the next few months.
Great video, learned a couple things!
Thank You!
Appreciate that video, thanks for sharing, that’ll be me repairing the damaged caused from nicking the side of the boat on the pontoon 🙈
Ooopsies! Once you make the repair, no one will know. Your secret's safe with us.
Good job Mark, I've got some screw holes to attack but I'm feeling confident after watching your video that with some epoxy and gel coat repair I should be able to tidy it up nicely!
You're welcome, and good luck, Simon. Send us some before/after photos if you get a chance! We'd love to see how your project turns out.
Please, explain how you match the color. My boat is old..some other boat I work on is very new. .. I want to make some screw holes diappear completely but they are always kinda visibe. I never get to match the exact color..
Matching the color can be a little tricky. Here I used gelcoat that's premixed to match my boat. Several manufacturers can do that or even match custom colors, like when you go to the paint store. That said, the color may still be slightly off due to fading. It's probably easiest to start with a color that is matched to your boat and buy some gelcoat tints and experiment until you have just the right color. A good tip is to use a gloved finger to apply a little to an area near the repair to check for matching. But even if it's not 100%, chances are no one will notice the repair unless they're right on top of it, and it will often blend in more with time and oxidation.
We've got a gelcoat tinting video on our to-do list for the future.
I live in a colder country … the temperature is about 7C here and it may get colder … so should I hold off to do minor repairs … ie Spider Cracks and Gel Coat Repairs or does it just take longer to cure ???
regards
Allan from Stirlingshire/Scotland
Great question, Allan! We recommend waiting until it warms up again. Generally, gelcoat cures best between 21C-24C (70F-75F) but can usually be applied in temps 15C-27C (60F-80F). Check the manufacturer's recommendations for whatever brand you're using though. It should say right on the can (or website). Thanks for watching, and good luck with your project!
Brilliant result! Thank you! Would this work for a full thickness hole in gel coat on a motorhome roof? The underlying fibreglass/?wood is intact. 😊
Thanks, Julia! We've had a lot of RV folks watch our videos. In general, the same techniques will likely work for your needs. However, for a full thickness repair like you describe, this video might offer some other techniques more suitable for repairs on vertical surfaces and deep holes. ua-cam.com/video/5EapSjzjAyQ/v-deo.htmlsi=Xr7S7XVWVLIVZHie Hope you find it helpful, and good luck with your project!
Does that gelcoat already contain wax in styrene? if not how did it set hard without it, everything I've read states you either need to add ~2-4% wax in styrene to gelcoat or seal the repair off from the air with a PVA curing agent or a piece of plastic wrap or wax paper. Gelcoat does not cure properly when exposed to air. Where as flowcoat does.
Great question, John. Yes, the gelcoat is waxed, so it does not need to be covered in order to cure. We address that in some of our other gelcoat repair videos. For example, see ua-cam.com/video/HU4cch9QwXI/v-deo.html around 3:00
What is the difference between wax additive or without wax? Repairing hobie 16 hull. Just trying to figure out what to order. Please help!
Great question, Tame. Waxed will cure in open air; unwaxed needs to be covered by something like a mylar sheet to seal out the air for it to cure. Either type is fine, but you may choose one over the other depending on the use. For example, if you know you need to do multiple coats, you may choose unwaxed, which requires less prepping between coats, though it may not be very convenient for covering larger surfaces. But you can also use waxed--you'll just need to remove the wax surface with sanding and acetone before adding another coat. We used waxed gelcoat for all of our gelcoat videos. If you want more info, we specifically talk about the difference in this video: ua-cam.com/video/i2w85yvrbHk/v-deo.html
Very nice job. I need to repair a small hole and was wondering if you had any advice on matching the color when supplied with the base white and red to tint.
Hi Christian. Thanks for watching and glad you found it helpful. Tinting can be a little tricky. We used pretinted gelcoat from Spectrum, color-matched to my Grand Banks. However, you can tint it yourself. Depending on the base color of your boat, you may need more than just red. You can buy a gelcoat pigment kit with small tubes of colors to mix until you get the right one. It may require some trial and error. Also, remember to test the color before catalyzing. Basically it's like mixing paint colors. Gelcoat tinting is on our list of videos to do in the future. In the meantime, you may want to check out our other gelcoat repair vids for additional tips and techniques: ua-cam.com/play/PLSrVa8gUFaPwF4oz5H4JmSEkdlTwkCrYq.html
So how exactly do u do this specific repair if it is on the side of the boat...(vertical),....instead of the top.....(horizontal)?
Thanks for the question, Darren. We recommend you check out our other gelcoat repair videos that address fixing deep holes on vertical surfaces as well as spider cracks and crazing. Depending on your situation, you may want to watch all of them to find the best option for your situation -- and each one has some tips, techniques, and info that are applicable to other gelcoat repairs: ua-cam.com/play/PLSrVa8gUFaPwF4oz5H4JmSEkdlTwkCrYq.html Hope you find this helpful!
Hi can i not just use a gelcoat filler for the same affect...iv got various bangs and small hole on my first boat that i want to try sort out...thanks
It all depends on the depth and whether or not you care about whether it blends or not. You can think of gelcoat more like a paint. It's fine for fixing smaller dings, especially on flat surfaces or mixed with a thickener for vertical repairs. But it can also be rolled or sprayed over an area that you use filler on for filling deeper holes, like where you've removed an antenna, say. You might want to check out our other gelcoat vids for additional techniques for other kinds of repairs. ua-cam.com/play/PLSrVa8gUFaPwF4oz5H4JmSEkdlTwkCrYq.html
I used the video to repair my gel coat and it came out perfect
Woohooo, Scotty! That's fantastic. Thanks so much for letting us know, and we're happy the video was helpful.
Great video. I bought a yahct about two weeks ago and there were a few imperfections in it. I looked in the description and the comments section but didn't see, What Gelcoat brand was this or that you recommend? Thanks for the video. I will be putting this to use.
Thanks, Shawn. Congrats on the new boat, and we're glad we can help. I used Spectrum (spectrumcolor.com). You can search by boat brand and year to find the color that's premixed to match your boat. Otherwise, you will have to get additional pigments and mix up the correct color. And if you have any repairs needed on vertical surfaces, take a look at our video on topsides gelcoat repair for additional tips and techniques! ua-cam.com/video/5EapSjzjAyQ/v-deo.html
@@boatus We are going down to look at the boat and we literally just talked about how would this work on a few spots on the side of the boat vertical. So I will check that out for sure. Maxum doesn't seem to have a color code at Spectrum. Though the same company made Sea Ray and many other boats. They may be the exact color combination. Just not sure. I sent the company an email seeing what they suggest as far as color matching possibly to another name possibly. . Thanks again for the video and messaging back. It is appreciated.
How did you 'cure' the gelcoat? Did you have to cover it with wax or some other method for keeping out the air while it cured?
Great question, Paul. There are two types of gelcoat--waxed or unwaxed. We used waxed for our repairs, so no need to cover it. You can use either type, and there are pluses and minuses to both--with waxed, you'll need to sand and use a solvent between coats. With unwaxed, you'll have to ensure you seal out the air so it cures. For different techniques depending on location and type of repair as well as additional tips that discuss waxed vs unwaxed and the use of thickeners, have a look at our other gelcoat repair videos: ua-cam.com/play/PLSrVa8gUFaPwF4oz5H4JmSEkdlTwkCrYq.html
Great to see an English guy instead of an American. Its just so much more to the point and so little Bull Crap.
I guess we'll take that as a compliment, John. Thanks for watching!
This was great to see someone do it so patiently showing all the steps. Thank you!
Thanks for watching!
Have seen other videos where the new gelcoat is covered with a film and sealed while it sets. But I dont see it here . Is that necessary?
Great question, Martin. There are two instances when you might want to use mylar film. The first is if you are using unwaxed gelcoat. We are using waxed here, so we don't need to seal off the repair for it to cure. (By using film or PVA) The second reason would be if you were doing a vertical gelcoat repair. You would either need to use a thickening agent or a sheet of mylar to keep the gelcoat from running. Here's another video of ours that shows the technique we use for vertical repairs: ua-cam.com/video/5EapSjzjAyQ/v-deo.html You might also find our video on repairing spider cracks helpful as it shows yet another technique: ua-cam.com/video/i2w85yvrbHk/v-deo.html Hope this helps answer your question!
How about vertical surfaces? Is filler/putty the best alternative?
Glad you asked, Glenn! We have an entire playlist of gelcoat repair videos. Each one uses a little different technique depending on location and type of repair. In addition, there are some tips sprinkled in that you might find useful no matter which type of repair you're doing. ua-cam.com/play/PLSrVa8gUFaPwF4oz5H4JmSEkdlTwkCrYq.html We've even included materials lists in the descriptions to help you do it yourself. Thanks for watching!
I've always been afraid to monkey with the gel coat. You make it look easy. Thank you. One question. How do you make a perfect tint match? Does the colors that you mix up dry the same or do they change a bit?
Thanks for the question. Getting a perfect color match is key for a seamless repair and is one of the things that troubles newbies the most. I used precolored gelcoat that was a perfect match straight from the can. Mine is produced by Spectrum Color, an internet search will turn up a bunch of results. They make colors to match almost any boat produced in the last 30 years or so, so you should be covered. The other way is to buy some clear uncolored gelcoat and tint it yourself. Although this is more tricky than buying the precolored stuff it’s not too difficult but you’ll need to buy some tinting pigments from the same place that you buy your clear gelcoat.
That repair looks to be very simple to do so next time rather than sending it out I will attempt it myself! thanks again for the valuable instruction!
Thanks for watching, Raul. Yes, it's not as difficult as many people think. Proper prep is the key. Good luck with your repair, and let us know how it goes!
I had 6 inch crack . using marine-tex . I did all the prep work also used filler. I sanded down but still had grove not deep . mix gel does not tell me the amount of hardener . Put small amount in grove smooth out some . is ok to go over it again with the gel if needs to be smoother ?
Thanks for the question, Allen. You can put on as many coats of gelcoat as needed, but if using gelcoat with a wax additive, you will need to wet sand before brushing on another coat - this is discussed in the video. That said, if the gelcoat is too thick, there is always the chance of it cracking but I do not think that this is going to be a problem in your case.
Thank you for a fast response. You did great job.
Great video thank you
Thanks for watching BBG! Glad you found it helpful
Do you have a video repairing the bottom of the boat
We don't have one for the bottom specifically Shawn, but the topsides/vertical surface repair is probably what you're looking for. Plus our other gelcoat vids have additional tips, techniques, and explanations: ua-cam.com/play/PLSrVa8gUFaPwF4oz5H4JmSEkdlTwkCrYq.html
Definitely makes me feel a little better about cleaning up a few small marks on my boat. Thanks!
Thanks for watching, Mike! Good luck with it. Make sure to watch our video on repairing gelcoat on vertical surfaces for additional tips and techniques. We've also got a few videos on spraying gelcoat and repairing spider cracks coming out in the next few months. Make sure to subscribe to receive notifications when new videos are posted!
Fantastic video, thank you!!
Thanks for watching, Tristan!
If you have to tint, add tiny speck at first and mix well and add later as needed. You won’t believe how little you need. Too much and you throw the batch away.
Excellent advice, Karl. A little tint goes a long way.
Great video. I have a few repairs todo and your instructions are clear and informative. Many thanks.
So easy, thanks for shearing 😃
I have a 2006 Sea Hunt Escape do you know the color ?
Thanks for the question, Robert. I did a quick search on the Spectrum Color site (as you likely did as well) and didn't turn up anything. What I would do (and what I've seen suggested online) is to visit seahuntboats.com/dealer-locator/ and find your local Sea Hunt dealer. Folks have mentioned that the dealers have been able to get them the right color--or at least could give you the "formula" to have a gelcoat supplier mix it up for you. The good thing is that Sea Hunt is still in business, so I'd think they'd be able to help you out. From what I understand, though, you're going to get better service through the local dealer than through the company directly. Another option is to mix it up yourself using tints you can purchase online or at a marine store, which is doable but takes some time and patience to get it exactly right.
Thank you
Great thanks for a nice video!
You're very welcome, and thanks for watching! Make sure to check out our full playlist of gelcoat repair videos as there are other tips and techniques you may find helpful: ua-cam.com/play/PLSrVa8gUFaPwF4oz5H4JmSEkdlTwkCrYq.html
Thanks good clear consice video
Thanks for watching, Steve. Glad you found it helpful. If you haven't done so already, check out our other gelcoat repair videos for several other techniques you may find useful depending on the size and location of the repair.
Shouldn't you mix in cabosil or silica to make it a paste?
Awesome question, Jerry. It all depends on the application. On a simple, flat, level surface like this, no thickener is needed. However, with something like spider cracks on a vertical surface, you would mix in colloidal silica to help fill the area and keep everything from running out of the repair. We cover that technique in this video: ua-cam.com/video/i2w85yvrbHk/v-deo.html. In addition, there's another method that requires filler and then unthickened gelcoat, covered with a piece of mylar sheeting: ua-cam.com/video/5EapSjzjAyQ/v-deo.html.
Make sure to subscribe to our channel and hit that notification button as we've got more gelcoat repair videos (how to spray gelocat and how to tint/colormatch) coming up later this year or next depending on when we can shoot more videos. Thanks for watching!!
@@boatus Great. Thanks for the info.
great video thank you
You are very welcome! Thanks for watching. I will suggest checking out our playlist of gelcoat repair videos for some additional tips, tricks, and techniques depending on where the repair is located and how large. ua-cam.com/play/PLSrVa8gUFaPwF4oz5H4JmSEkdlTwkCrYq.html
What kind Gel Coat he used?
Thanks for asking, Andre. It's waxed gelcoat from Spectrum. Link is in the video description. There are many other brands out there, however.
I just bought a PWC with a couple larger gouges in the bottom of the hull. I was planning on flipping the hull to work and grinding and sanding out the gouges . Once thats done would this method work if I build up the gelcoat in a couple layers? A few of the gouges are 6-10 in long and 1-3 in wide. Also they may have been exposed to some water already and absorbed some moisture, would I need to add a fiberglass patch to an area that big that has been exposed to moisture before gelcoating over it?
Thanks for your query, Canti2pd. I think that you are asking all the right questions before starting. As I have not seen the bottom of your PWC, it is hard to give specific advice, mostly because I do not know how deep the gouges in the hull are. If the gouges are just in the gelcoat, you should be alright with a fairly simple repair as I show in this video. From your description, though, it sounds as though some water may have penetrated into the laminate, in which case this will need to be dried out thoroughly before any attempt at a repair is made. Flipping the hull will definitely make doing a good repair easier, so I think your approach is sensible providing that you can turn the boat over without damage to the topsides, handlebars and so forth.
If the damage is scoured into the laminate, this will need repair before embarking on the gelcoat. In which case, some localized grinding back is required, some patches of chopped strand mat applied, and after this has been allowed to cure for a couple of days, the gelcoat applied. There is one caveat: Should you choose to use CSM (Chopped Strand Mat) for the repair - it is incompatible with epoxy resin as it will not break down the binders that hold the strands together, so use a polyester resin that contains styrene for that.
One final point: I urge you to check out our other videos on gelcoat repair if you have not done so already, they can be found here: ua-cam.com/video/i2w85yvrbHk/v-deo.html And here: ua-cam.com/video/5EapSjzjAyQ/v-deo.html They each have slightly different techniques you might find helpful for your specific situation.
Good luck and please do let us know how it goes.
Okay, I am trusting your video. Watched it about 10 times. I have a 15 year old ProStar that I will never sell. I has a ton of blemishes on it from all the use it has had. I just got done applying the gel coat. Mine was much thicker than yours. I bought a kit and it was a thick gel. Tomorrow I will go back and sand the repairs. I have about 20 that I dremmeled out and filled. I am hoping it will turn out similar to yours. Cross your fingers!
Thanks for watching, Doug, and please let us know how it turns out! Glad we could help.
What about a curved surface
Great question, Paul. You would likely need to use one of the other gelcoat repair techniques, such as thickening the gelcoat with colloidal silica to help keep it in place, or covering the area with a sheet of Mylar so it doesn't drip. Here's a link to our gelcoat repair playlist with some other techniques you might find handy -- especially gelcoat repair on vertical surfaces and fixing spider cracks and crazing: ua-cam.com/play/PLSrVa8gUFaPwF4oz5H4JmSEkdlTwkCrYq.html Hope this helps!
Thank you!
You are very welcome! Thanks for watching, John.
What about on vertical surfaces? How do you stop it from running?
Great question, Steve! We have a separate video on how to repair gelcoat on vertical surfaces. It's a bit of a different technique but equally as easy to do. ua-cam.com/video/5EapSjzjAyQ/v-deo.html
It would be great if you can explain a little bit more about the gealcoat brand and what does the name of the transparent product you added and what is for? Many thanks
Great question, Felipe. The gelcoat brand I used is from Spectrum Color (www.spectrumcolor.com), though there are many other options available. Spectrum offers color-matched gelcoat for a wide number of boat brands. Alternatively, you can have your boat's gelcoat color color matched or you can purchase pigments and match the color yourself. The additive is catalyst, also available from the gelcoat supply company. You need to add catalyst to the gelcoat in order for it to harden. Mix using manufacturer instructions. When purchasing gelcoat, you have the choice between waxed and unwaxed. Purchase waxed unless you plan to add additional layers of gelcoat, or you will need to cover your repair with a mylar sheet so it can dry. Hope this helps.
I have been taught that gelcoat surface does not harden unless you keep air out or mix some wax into the gelcoat i.e. make it into topcoat. Comments?
Great point. There are two types of gelcoat--waxed and unwaxed. I used the waxed here. Unwaxed is fine, particularly if you need to apply multiple layers, but you either need to cover it with something like a plastic mylar sheet or use a spray in order for it to set up. Waxed gelcoat will set up without covering, but you'll need to do a little extra prep to remove the waxed surface if additional coats are needed.