Small dent/crack in side of boat

[Cricket Too]

Hey guys, I have a '97 SeaPro and on the port side of the boat there is a small crack/dent where the previous owner must have hit a dock or something. It is above the water line though.

It's about the size of my thumb and not very deep, maybe an 1/8 of inch at most deep, but the gel coat is cracked and I want to seal it up right so I don't get any water in it, and would also like it to look decent.

I have been told that Marine Tex will fill and seal it very well and then to sand that down and go over it with some Gel Coat repair stuff.

Does this sound like it would be the right way to go, I only want to have to do it once and don't want any water getting in.

Also, it was filled with silicone by the previous owner, but I have scraped and removed hopefully all of it, but assume I should clean it with some kind of solvent before applying Marine Tex, will paint thinner work?

Thanks.

 

[Gary H NC]

Re: Small dent/crack in side of boat

Marine Tex will work fine,I would lightly sand around where the silicone was and then wash it out with acetone.
Let it cure a few days then use a Gel coat repair kit.

 

[Cricket Too]

Re: Small dent/crack in side of boat

Thanks Gary, sound easy enough.

So the Gel coat repair will bond right to the Marine Tex?

 

[Gary H NC]

Re: Small dent/crack in side of boat

It should not be a problem.