Gel Coat Repair

[kjhiller]

I have a 1998 Rinker 232 and the hull is white and maroon. Recently, as I was tide up, some idiot in another bought felt he could leave his bought tide up on one side. A couple of hours later, I returned to find that the sharp metal corner of a pontoon boat had scraped up and down my boat. Would not be so bad if my lower gel coat was white, but it is the maroon and now I have long scratches of a slightly lighter maroon color and ripped graphics running through the middle of my boat. I tried to take the off colored scratches out with rubbing compound but as I suspected, it did little or no good. Any suggestions on what can be done. I really would like it to match. I am almost embarrassed to drive it with all of the scratches. I think I can fix the graphics but what about the gel coat.

 

[crazy charlie]

Re: Gel Coat Repair

Did the inconsiderate Ahole have insurance????Charlie

 

[kjhiller]

Re: Gel Coat Repair

Did not see him. We waited around to speak with him, but he did not return. My guess is, judging by the boat condition, he had no insurance. I would be lucky if he had a job. Of course, I did not notice the full amount of damage until the boat was on the trailer.

 

[ArtSmart]

Re: Gel Coat Repair

First thing would be to find white Gelcote that matches the white color of your boat. White is hard to match. You can use small amounts of yellow and blue gelcoat color additives to get perfect match. Remember to take a sample batch from the mixed gelcote and catalize it and wait till it kicks and then compare the color. When all that is done, lightly sand the scratched area. Catalize the mix 2% by weight and apply it in several coats. What you are after is to get a slightly raised area where the gelcote is applied. The time period that you have before gelcote "kicks" is dependant on the ambient temperature. The best setup would be to keep your catalized gelcoate in a shade while using hairdryer to slightly warm up the first coat that you just have applied. It will "kick" much faster and the mix in your can would still be liquid enoughf to apply several more coats. If the scraches are not really deep you might be able to get away with one coat. Let it sit for 24 hours and then send it flat with the rest of the surface (use a small block and 220 grit paper). After that is done polish it with rough and then fine polishing compounds and you are done.

 

[KaGee]

Re: Gel Coat Repair

Hmmmm... about that time I think his dock lines may have loosened from the mooring.... if ya know what I mean... (snick)