Gel coat repair

jumpjets

Petty Officer 1st Class
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Nov 11, 2010
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313
I have some chipped gel coat underneath my boat hull. What products do I need to fix it?
 

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Scott Danforth

Grumpy Vintage Moderator still playing with boats
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I would mix up some thickened gel (gel tinted to match, fumed silica, some wax and MEKP)

sand the areas with 80 grit
clean with acetone

mix gel and fumed silica into a past

spread in and fill gouges

wait until it cures

sand

then if needed spray to blend

last, but not least, buy a keel guard
 

jumpjets

Petty Officer 1st Class
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Nov 11, 2010
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313
Do you recommend buying a little gel repair kit, or getting the ingredients separately?
 

JASinIL2006

Vice Admiral
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Feb 10, 2012
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5,546
I bought one of those gel paste repair kits. It had several tubes of thickened gelcoat, catalyst, and tubes to help you color-match. For a small gouge like that, it would be perfect. I believe iBoats sells it. Evercoat Gecoat Repair Kit.
 

Scott Danforth

Grumpy Vintage Moderator still playing with boats
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Do you recommend buying a little gel repair kit, or getting the ingredients separately?

after doing a few hull restorations, I simply buy a quart of gel when needed. I have everything else at home. Gel has a shelf life of about 6-10 months.
 

jumpjets

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
Nov 11, 2010
Messages
313
The gel coat repair kit worked perfectly. It had more than enough to fill in all the gouges. The patch job isn’t perfect but it’s good enough. I’m not a talented body-man in hiding.
 

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