Yacht Dr Please Help

[NGABaldEagle]

I have a small ding in my boat hull.
Its less than a silver dollar in size and appears to be just a knock off of gelcoat as I see the fiberglass (yellow weave) and it appears to have no dents or gouges in it.

Please PM me your email address and I will send you a small pic (50kb) of the damage.
You can email me directly at myphoneguy@alltel.net
I would greatly appreciate your help in solving this issue.

 

[JB]

Re: Yacht Dr Please Help

NGA Bald Eagle.

Some reason you don't trust the other 80,000 members to give you useful advice?

Some reason you don't want to share your problem and its solution with the other 80,000 members?

Please post your pix here and allow us all to share.

Sounds like a gelcoat patch job to me, so long as you can match the color.

 

[Plainsman]

Re: Yacht Dr Please Help



Here is how to post a pic NGA
How to post a pic

This way we all can learn something.

 

[JB]

Re: Yacht Dr Please Help

Well, I have just been rebuked by another member for being what he saw as rude.

Not my intention at all, Eagle. I apologise if it offended you.

My intention was to make a point that singling out one member to ask a very common and general question snubs many members who would have very good advice. Asking for off forum discussion also denies many members a learning opportunity.

Please state your problem in the topic and share advice from whoever responds with other boaters who may have the same problem.

Good luck.

 

[Yacht Dr.]

Re: Yacht Dr Please Help

hello Eagle and thx for your vote of confidence in me..

However JB would be correct in that I am here to help everyone .. as everyone else is to help everyone else.

back to your job now..

gel coat repairs are very simple ( as long as your gel match is good ) The following is a simple GEL guide for all small gel repairs.

1. take a die grinder or dremel and grind out. ( chasing out any air voided areas..).

2 sand around your repair with 120g ( you know..just around that repair making sure your fill will be prop. prepped.).

3. clean with acetone.

4. Mix up some cabosil and resin..chop some fine fiberglass mat into mix. ( you can buy some store in the can duraglass type stuff..but ive found that stuff shrinks and expands..will "bullet" out in a season. ) then fill.

5. while waiting for your tiger hair to cure..mask off your area that you want to spray ( tape and some newspaper would be fine for do it yourself applications )

6. after your putty cures..sand by hand..making sure to slightly dish out the repair spot itself. ( I mean just the repair..mebbe 1/2" around it too.. ) that way when you spray your spot it wont be too proud or high..

7. clean with acetone..mix gel and use a preval sprayer to spray it on.

7a. You MUST spray in several coats..not at one time. spray the patch and only the patch first..other coats work out about 1/2" larger. 3-4 coats should do it.. ( there are numerous additives you can get for gel..but for such a small repair just thin it with your acetone till it sprays through your pre-val sprayer ( harbor frieght..3 bucks..oh..get 2 of them hehe )

7aa. IF you didnt get all your pinholes you will know emmediatly ( you will see some pin air pockets on your first spray.. just use an acetone rag to wipe your gel off and spray again..that should take care of those pesky little holes .. if not..then after your done spraying use a toothpic and dab those little buggers with some of your curing gel after spraying..

7b. please remember that your catalyst for these use only MEKP !!

8. after Gel cures ( if too much thinner was used to reduce your gel then might still be slighly sticky on surface..simply wipe off that with acetone ) . scribble your area with a sharpie maker..grab your flat block ..hard rubber or just a piece of FLAT wood and wetsand with 320-400 till flat..then lightly wetsand with 600 then 1000g.

9. Buff till desired blend is acheived

Now..that was a simple basic homeowner process..there are ways to make that job ALOT faster using air/electric DA and other products..but your not gonna go out and purchase 1500 bucks in tools and materials.

Hope this helps anyone with gel repairs ( please dont ask how to match colors as that has taken me Years of doing it to get it .. its tough sometimes )

peace YD.

 

[Plainsman]

Re: Yacht Dr Please Help

Thanks for the great info YD

 

[flashback]

Re: Yacht Dr Please Help

Yd and plainsman are probably one and the same:devil:

 

[flashback]

Re: Yacht Dr Please Help

sorry plainsman, I got you confused with the bald eagle..