Gelcoat repair advice needed please

[fishfeatures]

hi,

I have a 14 ft fletcher speedboat, got it and the motor for cheap 'cause I knew they both needed work. So after getting the engine sorted I'm now turning my attention to the boat. The transom will need doing but I will do that over the cold winter nights.

The gelcoat has scratches along the "v" due to beaching I pressume. Along with that there are 2 spots that have been patched by csm and not blended in well under the hull about the size of the palm of your hand.
The drain plug was refixed and now there is visible signs of the work as the fibreglass hasn't even been painted.

Can you great boating folk here please tell me how to fix these issues with causing the least amount of damage to the gelcoat?
I know i need to paint and blend the work that will be done as close to the gelcoat but I don't know quite exactly what paint type I should be using. Yes I am quite a novice when it comes to gelcoat repair as I am a bit nervous about messing it up (worse than it is).

oh the joy of it all.......

 

[Woodonglass]

Re: Gelcoat repair advice needed please

Welcome to iBoats!

Pictures will really help us to help you. My signature lines have a link on how to post em. The entire hull is coated in Gelcoat and you can either re-gelcoat the damaged areas after you repair them, or repaint the entire hull. It's entirely up to you. Post some pics and let us see what you're working on.

 

[fishfeatures]

Re: Gelcoat repair advice needed please

woodonglass. i believe you are one if not the king on gelcoat repair so i am honoured to have you help
i'll get photos and post them using the link help. All i'm after is just to having the hull looking like one any serious work can be and will be left till autumn/winter period where i'll have months of free time to perfect the gelcoat apperance...

 

[Yacht Dr.]

Re: Gelcoat repair advice needed please

woodonglass. i believe you are one if not the king on gelcoat repair so i am honoured to have you help
i'll get photos and post them using the link help. All i'm after is just to having the hull looking like one any serious work can be and will be left till autumn/winter period where i'll have months of free time to perfect the gelcoat apperance...

Yes..and Ill bump for WOG's insights on Glass and gel work .. Im allways looking for new input,materials or How toos from other members..

YD.

 

[Woodonglass]

Re: Gelcoat repair advice needed please

Nope, I think you are mistaken, Yacht Doctor, Ondarvr and others are BY FAR the Gelcoat KINGS here on the forum. I READ EVERYTHING they post and just pass it along as best I can. I also READ and Study Voraciously and Have done some repair work But THEY have been in the industry and KNOW THEIR Stuff. If you want the Straight Dope they have it. I'm pretty good at repairs and glassin the old classic boats of the 50's and 60's and can shoot a little paint but They are the PRO's

 

[fishfeatures]

Re: Gelcoat repair advice needed please

Hi folks eventually I snapped a couple of places that need the work done, now this is my first time to attempt posting pics so i hope they come out ok.

right,
this spot is approx in the middle of the boat and as you can see it was patched but just to keep it water tight, not very pretty, it seems to be like CSM was used and never sanded after been thrown in there.



this one is too is small dings that were filled also, the reddish colour seems to be the resin that is supplied with a small GRP repair kit that can be bought ver here for ?10 or so. It seems that it was used to cover cracks and scrapes





then all along the bottom of the hull are these scratches that prob come from beaching I guess.




I may leave the work if it is too muc till after the season and go at it when I'm doing the transom over the winter, but if a day or so can fix it well then any suggestions greatly appreciated.

Oh i forgot to take one of the botched plug replacement I'll get that up in a bit.

 

[Yacht Dr.]

Re: Gelcoat repair advice needed please

I see nothing structural..but more then what your describing ( strake cracks ? ) ..

When your in to the winter trans job you will address these other issues then .. Unless there is more problems that your not telling us ..

YD.

 

[fishfeatures]

Re: Gelcoat repair advice needed please

No that's pretty much it , I just want to have the gel coat looking all nice and shiny, and want all the PO repairs tidied up. There are no water entry issues that i can say I know of.
Do you reckon that it'll take much to sort in the winter??? or what kind of work is needed roughly?

 

[Yacht Dr.]

Re: Gelcoat repair advice needed please

Its hard to tell..

From the first pic ( PO repairs) might just be Mtex on damage where there should have been glass. Who knows untill you remove via grinder to tell what happend.

From the second pic it looks like you have strake cracking going on. Air voids..or Other damage we cant tell untill they are ground out and inspected.

Im just saying that When you do your transom would be a good time to fix Cosmetic issues. Can you peek your head on the inside and see if you have glass damage starting where those strake cracks are ?

Just keep an eye on these repairs whenever you pull out and determine if they are gettin worse ..

You really should Inspect and determine if the integrity is solid before you get caught up in a bouncy ride home.

YD.

 

[fishfeatures]

Re: Gelcoat repair advice needed please

Thanks very much yacht dr. Your advice is greatly appreciated. I'll monitor the hull throughout the season.
Keep an eye out for my restore thread in the winter......