Fiberglass Gelcoat Repair (So you hit something with your boat)

Comments · 242

• ME

  @MEGA_SOKO · 5 years ago

  I used to build boats back in the 80's, have done some gel repairs on my own boats over the years, too.  There's a little trick so you don't have to build up and sand down the gel several times to fill the missing gelcoat from the damaged area. When you spread the gel into the void, use a piece of mylar over the top of the gel to smooth the fill material.  This covers 2 points, it does a good job of pre-smoothing the fill, as well as help with the curing.  Once hardened, a lot less sanding and the finish should be a lot easier to manage instead of all the high and low spots in the fill.  Another suggestion is to not use a 4 & 1/2" square palm sander to do such a small area.  The best way for small area repairs is to use a piece of paint mixing stick and wrap it around the stick, then wet sand the area, tearing off the used sandpaper as it degrades.  This keeps your work area small, which prevents overworking the areas around the repair and thinning the gel on the non-damaged area.  Good base video for those with little experience working with gelcoat repairs.

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• JE

  @Jeff_240 · 3 years ago

  ... Thank you for the video and thank you to all the people that helped with their comments. <br>Makes me think I will give it a go on my repair. &nbsp;<br>Jeff

• KI

  @Kimdino1 · 4 years ago

  A couple of comments on points raised in this video:-<br>1/ The purpose made mixing cups may seem more expensive but they end up well worth while as, with care, they are reuseable. The trick is to let the resin set hard in the cup. Then with a bit of flexing the resin cracks away from the inside of the cup and can be pulled/wiped out leaving you with a clean cup than can be used again.<br>2/ It is not oxygen that leaves the surface unset &amp; sticky, but water. Polyester resin will not set in the presence of water. This also answers the query on humidity affecting setting time. The answer to that query is not so much the it extends the time as that it will not let the surface set at all and the higher the humidity, the deeper the effect. This is usually got around by mixing in a little &apos;wax in styrene&apos;. The styrene allows the mixture to easily mix in with your gelcoat mix and the wax will come out to the surface of the mix while hardening to form a protective layer against the atmosphere. Alternatively, I often place a piece of sellotape over the top if it is a small area on a FLAT surface,.which also saves sanding by &nbsp;make the repair flush. Or a larger area with a more complex shape can be covered with a shaped piece of plasticene. &nbsp;Both the sellotape and plasticene methods form a non-stick cover to keep the moisture out and let the surface set hard, with the added bonus of providing physical support to the gelcoat as it sets.

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• IA

  @ian-w6v4p · 1 year ago

  For filling scratches I use an old credit card cut in half... flexible and offers fine control. Nice job.

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• JU

  @justinriley3096 · 3 years ago

  Most Helpful Video yet on my Problem with My Boat Lots of Cracks to Fill in

• TE

  @terrybryant · 3 years ago (edited)

  For spreading the fiber glass I use an acid brush. &nbsp;It works great for that and then you can just throw it away. &nbsp;Also I use a small stainless steel canteen cup for mixing those compounds. &nbsp;It is easily cleaned and can even be sealed for further use.

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• 87

  @871jamie · 5 years ago

  Put plastic wrap over the gelcoat when it gets tacky and it will fully cure.

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• WY

  @wyattsdad8561 · 4 years ago

  Dude I like this man. What a great type of channel. A lot of us guys like to do our own work on stuff<br>After our day jobs. Very cool.<br>I’m watching because I was trying to learn how to fix some little spider cracks on the bow of my boat

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• TH

  @TheSilverSurfisher · 3 years ago

  Thanks for this video. &nbsp;Now then….Bro please do a video of the scratches in the flake part….that would be the most beneficial for so many of us that share the same situation.

• JO

  @joshjones9878 · 3 years ago

  You can use clear tape over the final coat of the repair which will cure the top layer (air barrier) and help to profile the repair level with the surrounding area

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• AA

  @AaronJohnson-kx7nn · 1 year ago

  Mixing stick is best sanding tool in small tight and odd areas to sand with auto body work

• ST

  @stevenvivianjames1731 · 5 years ago

  I mix my small amounts of Gelcoat on a piece of white formica board and use an artists spatular to put the gelcoat onto the boat.The formica is re useable time after time,it’s easy to clean with acetone and saves on using plastics. Remember to always use latex gloves as all products are toxic especially acetone.

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