Can a DIY'r fix this.

[rotorhead511]

It's about 2 inches long. I guess it would be categorized as a gel coat repair?

If I can what's a good product?

Thanks

 

[chevymaher]

I boats has them. Gel coat repair kit. It has a tube of gel coat pigments. It is the consistency of tooth paste. Put it on with a bondo spreader. Sand and buff. Quick easy repair.

Look online for color mixing. It isnt important you wont see it under there anyway. As long as it is sound your good to go.

 

[Scott Danforth]

easy 15 minute repair. will take a day or two for the gel repair kit to show up.

 

[kcon]

if you wanna fix it quick and lazy but still have confidence in the strength of the repair use MarineTex - it's awesome stuff, I recommend what chevymaher suggested though, should be an easy gelcoat fix.

 

[tpenfield]

Even a 'non-DIY'er could fix that. Easy peasy. It is akin to a scratched knee. The gelcoat kit is like the 'bandaid' that heals it

 

[rotorhead511]

Thanks all.

I went to a local marina just to see what they could do and the guy wanted $900. Said he needed to grind out six inches on either side and re-fiberglass it. "Could be structural damage." Idiot.

That was right after he ask what kind of boat I had and when I told him he said sell it and get a CC.

The asshats that are out there amaze me. Will never go there again, not even for bobbers.

I'm ordering a kit.

 

[Sea18Horse]

Well to be fair that picture really is a little too out of focus where it really matters to say for sure. Is that the picture you showed the guy at the marina? Are you sure he didn't say "It could be as much as $900.00. I may need to grind out six inches on either side. There could be structural damage"? Speaking for myself from an automotive repair point of view I sure wouldn't say "Oh yeah hundred bucks, tops!" based on a photo like that one, It's much easier to tell the customer it will be $100 instead of $900 than the other way around. I'm sure the guys here are right but you might want to cut the guy a little slack. Just sayin'

Cheers........................Todd

 

[MTboatguy]

I have fixed far worse than that, for far less money, it is a simple 15 to 20 minute fix, sand buff and get back on the water

 

[tpenfield]

$900 I guess that would be like scraping your knee, going to the doctor, and coming home in a cast

 

[rotorhead511]

. I'm sure the guys here are right but you might want to cut the guy a little slack. Just sayin'

Cheers........................Todd

I wish I could have given him some slack but he really didn’t deserve it. No “as much as” or “may have to”, I pay better attention to details to miss those vague terms. And when he looked at me and said “$600 for labor because I don’t like working glass”, the slack opportunity drifted away. He could have said he needed a better look (I told him I’d go get the boat, I live 5 mins from the marina) or just no. And did he really need to tell me to sell my boat. He bashed me for my purchase and tried to rip me off. Would you have given him some slack?

A local marina had an opportunity to start a relationship with a new boater/customer and failed miserably.

Wish he would have handled it with the respect and interest the folks on this sight have shown me with all my new boater issues and concerns.

Just my 2cents.

 

[chevymaher]

LOL get him Tiger. He wasn't giving you any slack why does he deserve any right. OMG Bashing the boat if it was me it would have got real nasty right there. Oh you wanna be a azzhole well you met the master.

 

[kcon]

Man, for half that price I'll fly out and fix it for ya LOL

 

[Sea18Horse]

Fair enough. Sounds like he deserved it. Carry on!

Cheers...………..Todd

 

[Woodonglass]

Well, I'm OLD, eyes don't work as good as they used too, I'm DUMB, Just learn from looking at the funny papers, AND I AM AN OKIE, California Guys hate us!!!, but...I can't see the damage all that well in the pic soooo, unless you can see and feel fiberglass strands in the area, then all that's required is Gelcoat paste. (Gelcoat and Cabosil) until its like Creamy Peanut Butter. Do a little feathering with a Dremel, clean well with Acetone and then spread the paste in leaving it HIGH so you can sand and shape when its cured. Once you have the materials in place it's a Maximum 30 minute fix and a 45 minute cure time then 30 minutes of sanding and fairing. Just and OLD DUMB OKIES opinion.

 

[sphelps]

Good lord ! 900 bucks ?
I think everyone here thinks this is an easy patch .. You can handle this no problem ..
‘If you don’t like the look of it when your done just install a keel guard over it .
Might be a good idea to add one anyway ...

 

[rotorhead511]

Here’s my result. Before and after. Sorry the pics ain’t so good.

My biggest issue was color matching. The repair is difficult to see ever when the boat it trailered so I’m no worried about it.

A little compound to bring back the shine where I wet sanded and I’m calling it good.

All in, $40 for gelcoat repair kit and 600grit sand paper.

Thanks for the encouragemt.

 

[sphelps]

Good deal ! A few more bucks towards a keel guard and it would disappear and not come back .
either way it time to fish now !

 

[chevymaher]

Looks like you did a great job. Like you said you can't find it if you know it is there. Sounds perfect to me. Mine are to white under there LOL