Filling in the scratches and small chips in gelcoat?

[sunchaser81]

Hi,
I have my small fiberglass Boat flipped in the garage, so I thought I would go at the scratches and such. I picked up some 3m Marine Premium Filler to use.
But before I open the can I thought I should ask if anyone has used it before and is it any good or should I use something else?
Thank you for your help
sunchaser81

 

[oops!]

Re: Filling in the scratches and small chips in gelcoat?

what is that...???? is that a 5200 ish stuff?

the normal repair is with a product called marine tex......the other is called gellcoat.....

for a tutorial of marine tex.....see jecersca's pic of work so far.....for the gellcoat repair.....see the hull extension thread

 

[sunchaser81]

Re: Filling in the scratches and small chips in gelcoat?

Thanks oops,
Here is a link to it http://solutions.3m.com/wps/portal/...S4K7_nid=GSB1X2XHKFgs9FJFL5HG9DglGSZX2VBM8Rbl

I have read the project of "jecersca's pic of work so far", and have read most of your work "hull extension" very nice work done on both and a lot of great info given, you guy's did an excellent job on posting your work progress for others to follow, Great job guy's.
I will check to see if I can get marine tex here and how much. The 3m cost $25.00 Canadian for a 408g can w/hardener.
Or should I just make my own with poly and glass-bubbles, I need to get some more poly anyway for other work on the boat, is that all I would need to make it (poly and glass-bubbles)?
Thanks
sunchaser81

 

[oops!]

Re: Filling in the scratches and small chips in gelcoat?

nope that stuff wont do it.....it is a fairing compound.....it is used to fill fiberglass.

what you are looking to do is fill the gellcoat.

marine tex or gellcoat.

you live in canada......so there is a store called industrial plastics and paint....you can geta smalll can of white gellcoat and mekp for about 15 bux.

that is more than enough to do the whole boat.
by the way....it will be allmost impossible to match the color of the gellcoat.....even white will be tough as it fades and yellows.

grind each crack or chiped area till the area is feathered and the surface is clean of all dirt...(a dremmel works gret for that job)...then clean with aceitone.......

then fill with marine tex or gellcoat........sand smooth with progressively higher grit sand paper....as high as 1500 dry or 600 wet.

cheers
oops

 

[sunchaser81]

Re: Filling in the scratches and small chips in gelcoat?

thanks oops,
I will return what I have and get marine tex, I think I can get it in town as we have a few fiberglass boat repair shops in town.
Thanks again for your help
sunchaser81