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Once the gelcoat has fully cured, sand the repair smooth (wet sanding works particularly well with gelcoat). You can start with 220-grit sandpaper and, for a really slick surface, finish with at least 400- or 600-grit. Finally, apply a coat of high-quality marine polish and your repair is complete.
How do you fix deep gouges in gelcoat?
Begin by sanding around the area and the scratch with 320-grit paper. Again, be cautious not to remove too much material. After sanding, use a Dremel tool to clean out the gouge a bit, then feather the edges of the scratch with 180-grit. This helps the gelcoat blend in and helps hide the edges of the filled scratch.
Can gel coat be repaired?
You can usually fix gelcoat repairs yourself. It takes a bit of patience, but do it right and few will notice. 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.
How do you blend gelcoat?
Wet sand the repair to seamlessly blend the new gelcoat into the original. Use 240-grit followed by 400-grit abrasive before finishing off with 600-grit. To prevent ridges, wrap the paper around a block. As in the prep stage, check the repair with your fingertips to feel for any imperfections.
How do you repair a gouge in a fiberglass boat?
Fill any deep gouges and spend your time sanding out scratches while the filler sets up. Apply gel coat to the filled gouges and finish to the scratches and then final-sand the filled gouges. Buff all the repaired areas and then the rest of the boat. Apply any graphics to finish up.
How do you fix peeling gel coat?
Finishing Peel off the plastic wrap after the gelcoat has fully hardened. Sand finish the repair area beginning with 150-grit dry sandpaper on a sanding block. Continue to sand with successively finer grits of wet/dry sandpaper from 220-grit up to 600-grit to remove the scratches and finish the surface.
What is gelcoat filler?
GELCOAT FILLER is a white, waterproof gelcoat filler for surface repairs. It is paintable, easy to mix, apply, shape and sand. Suited to marine paint. GELCOAT FILLER is a white, waterproof gelcoat filler for surface repairs.
What is brushable gelcoat?
Brushable Gelcoat, often referred to as gelcoat paint, is a specially formulated product that is made to be applied like paint and eliminate the need for spray equipment. (other Gelcoats are best applied by Spray) The Ultra Plus Brushable Gelcoat is designed for self-leveling and is a much easier application.
What kind of hardener do you use with gel coat?
DIRECTIONS FOR POLYESTER HARDENER POLYESTER RESIN/GELCOAT IS CATALYZED WITH MEKP (METHYL ETHYL KETONE PEROXIDE). THE RATIO IS APPROXIMATELY ONE OUNCE OF HARDENER PER GALLON OF RESIN. USE THE FOLLOWING RATIOS FOR SMALLER AMOUNTS.
Can you repair fiberglass with epoxy?
Epoxy is ideal for wetting out fibreglass You need to work hard to get an even, consistent coating – normally using a foam roller, brush or metal paddle roller. With epoxy, it’s like using warm butter – the epoxy does the work for you.
Can I add filler to gelcoat?
3. If filling gelcoat chips or voids deeper than 1/8 inch, finely chop fiberglass cloth and add it to activated fiberglass laminating resin for base filler saturating until white air bubbles are gone and then continue with your gelcoat repair.
Can you buff peeling clear coat?
Use an 800-grit sandpaper to sand down the rough clear coat until you can’t feel it anymore. Go lighter on the surrounding clear coat, as you are trying to smooth and blend the damaged area, not remove more clear coat.
Why is my gel coat sticky?
The sticky residue that is left on the nail after curing is caused from the oxygen in the air near the upper layer of gel that doesn’t let the oligomers link together to cure properly which results in that sticky layer of uncured gel. It’s just a matter of oxygen. For example, when you apply ONE layer of gel, cure it.
What causes spider cracks on boats?
Spider cracks are non-structural damage to the gel-coat of a boat. This damage is often caused by slight flexing of the hull. These hairline fractures also occur in boats of the mid 1970’s vintage which often had thicker gel-coat layers than newer boats.
What is epoxy filler?
What are Epoxy Fillers? Epoxy fillers are used to thicken liquid epoxy for various purposes other than coating or wetting out fiberglass. With fillers, you can use one epoxy system for many different applications, such as adhesive bonding, fairing, gap filling, and filleting, instead of buying separate resins for each.
How much hardener do you put in gel coat?
We recommend 1.5% – 2.0 % by volume. The Ideal range is 1.8% @ 77°F (approximately 12 drops per ounce of gelcoat.) If the gelcoat does not get enough catalyst it will not “kick” or begin to harden.
Is gelcoat filler waterproof?
Gelcoat filler is a white, waterproof gelcoat filler for surface repairs. It is paintable, easy to mix, apply, shape and sand. Suited to marine paint, can be painted with any marine paint.
What is waxed gelcoat?
Waxed Gelcoat is a surface coat providing a cosmetic enhancement and exposure improvements to a fiberglass laminate. All IPP gelcoats are isophthalic resin based and are a brushing viscosity.
How do you roll on gelcoat?
If you want to roll on a gelcoat, be sure to use a 1/8 “or 1⁄4” solvent-resistant nap. Be sure not to use foam rollers because they tend to leave the bubbles. If you brush on the gel coat, make sure to use a solvent-resistant brush.
