Painting/Antifouling/ Gelcoat questions

[Bassmaster229]

Last month I purchased my first fiberglass boat. It has a few minor dings/gouges above and below the water line. From what I’m seeing and have been told is for bellow the water line repairs to use epoxy. I’m not going to order 2 different resin kits to do a few small repairs so will be using epoxy on them all. I’ve searched the internet and get nothing but conflicting info. Can you Gelcoat over an epoxy repair? From what I’ve read as long as you use a low or non blushing resin and sand the repair area it will bond . Anyone with experience care to chime in? How did the Gelcoat last over the repair area? Next question. My boat is always trailered. Never left in the water. I’m not a fan of antifouling paints and having to redo it every year or so. Since my boat is always trailered is an antifouling paint necessary? I would like to keep it Gelcoat but if making repairs with epoxy would make the Gelcoat fail thinking of painting without the antifouling paint if it can be done with out any issues. My boat primary use in salt water and I’ve always been told Gelcoat is the best in salt water. I’m hoping to make these minor repairs, fish it till November then completely redo the boat to my liking. Trying to get an idea on what direction I will be taking when I start this project.

 

[Scott Danforth]

use what your boat was made with......poly, VE, or Epoxy.

if your boat is poly, use poly

hard to gel over epoxy

AF paint not needed if you trailer (I removed all the AF when I did my hull restoration - see the thread in my sig, start about page 12ish)

unless you leave your boat in water for days, gel is fine, no need for epoxy or AF paint.

 

[tpenfield]

A fiberglass boat, you say . . .

Use gelcoat (poly) to fix dings. Epoxy is generally used to fix blisters. Gelcoating over epoxy can be a challenge because they (epoxy & poly) don't always get along nicely.

No AF paint for you, if you trailer the boat. AF is for us guys who moor/slip in salt water.

Sounds like you are over thinking this gel/poly/epoxy stuff. . . The Internet tends to do that, because it is full of varying opinions.

 

[Bassmaster229]

A fiberglass boat, you say . . .

Use gelcoat (poly) to fix dings. Epoxy is generally used to fix blisters. Gelcoating over epoxy can be a challenge because they (epoxy & poly) don't always get along nicely.

No AF paint for you, if you trailer the boat. AF is for us guys who moor/slip in salt water.

Sounds like you are over thinking this gel/poly/epoxy stuff. . . The Internet tends to do that, because it is full of varying opinions.

So can I use polyester fairing compound bellow the water line with gelcoat to smooth out my fiberglass repairs bellow water line? All the polyester fairing compounds ive found say not to use bellow water line.

 

[tpenfield]

Fairing compound is different - not sure why you would want/need it for scratch & ding repairs. :noidea:

 

[Bassmaster229]

Fairing compound is different - not sure why you would want/need it for scratch & ding repairs. :noidea:

So what would you use to finish your fiberglass repairs before gelcoat under the water line? Glass it higher than it needs to be then sand down? I want it to have the smooth factory look to the repair area. One of the areas that I’m repairing is a chine under the water line. But it’s not the easiest to glass it to the exact shape to give a smooth transition from old to new. At least not for me anyway. Lest say you had a deep gouge under the water line. What would you do for repair?

 

[tpenfield]

If the chip/ding is just down to the fiberglass - then just gelcoat. You are basically putting back what is missing.

If it is more of a gouge into the fiberglass, like from a torpedo strike - then a little bit of glass strand scraps
/w resin (poly) then gelcoat.

nothing complicated . . .

 

[Scott Danforth]

Post a pic of these gouges

 

[Baylinerchuck]

Agreed, good pictures are worth a thousand words.

 

[Scott Danforth]

for example, I am fixing 2 nicks in my keel this weekend.... :facepalm:

gel mixed with chopped fibers and cabosil for the first go-round. it will be a peanut butter like spread to fill the nicks

sand smooth with a sanding block

then air brush gel to blend

then buff to hide the repair