Is this considered gelcoat? How do I fix?

[Fore and Aft]

Darrow my wife's opinion would be a firm no to repairing that hole unless I completely tented the area and could a 100% guarantee no fibreglass dust is going to enter the rest of the cabin. With me there is a slim chance of that happening so I would just be covering it.
Cheers

[Darrow]

Originally Posted by Fore and Aft

Darrow my wife's opinion would be a firm no to repairing that hole unless I completely tented the area and could a 100% guarantee no fibreglass dust is going to enter the rest of the cabin. With me there is a slim chance of that happening so I would just be covering it.
Cheers

I agree with this

[Saskatchewan]

I agree with covering it. Keep it simple. A nice piece of wood, make it a feature perhaps with a fixture of some sort on it. A light, a clock a compass, brass gadget, etc. rich wood always adds to the aesthetic.

[TPG]

There are lots of great resources out there when it comes to DIY fiberglass/gelcoat projects. Be sure to check out Total Boat and Jamestown Distributors, they sell the products you're looking for and have some helpful videos. Cheers!

[OS2Dude]

Patching the hole with epoxy and fiberglass would not be that hard and would be a fairly easy DIY job. Problem is doing a good gelcoat repair. It can be tricky to work with and is a pain to get a good color match. (Gelcoat can fade over time, so if you match the current color now over time the patch will fade and could become visible later.) I would recommend finding an experienced gelcoat person to do that part. If you don't care so much about looks, you could repair it with glass and resin, then paint it.

[MermaidaboveH2O]

Look it up on YouTube. Boat Works Today should have a video on what you’re looking to do. That’s how I’ve learned how to do repairs.

[thinwater]

Or cut a larger hole, build a liner, and make it into a storage cabinet.


Or cut a larger hole, put a nice door on it, and use it to access whatever is behind it. My last boat had several like that, and they were very handy. Maybe it's a good place for a sub-panel, next time an electrical project comes up.


Obviously, depends on the location.