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daviddiscenza · 30-04-2018, 06:40

Hello. While washing the hull this weekend I discovered a "ding" in the hull on the starboard side. I didn't have a ruler handy to include in the photograph, but it measures between 1/4"to 1/2" inch long. What's the best way to go about repairing this "ding"? Thanks to all who reply.

**skipmac** · 30-04-2018, 07:01

My choice is to use gelcoat to match the original. I had to fill a bunch of screw holes left when I removed a useless and leaking piece of trim. Had a fiberglass guy patch it who was able to color match so well you can't see it at all from a couple of feet away.

I got a kit that includes gel coat and little bottles of color that I'm going to try on a ding on my ski boat to see if I can do as well as the pro.

rabbi · 30-04-2018, 07:09

Google the youtube channel of "boatworks today".

It includes a series of videos about gelcoat repairs, really excellent hands-on material!

**Pete7** · 30-04-2018, 07:37

Something like this perhaps. Whilst they are a UK company they might have a US distributor or a similar competitor.

http://www.bluegee.co.uk/

Hardhead · 30-04-2018, 08:26

Marine Tex would do it. It would likely be visible though.

daviddiscenza · 30-04-2018, 08:33

I'm getting a little confused here. Do I need an epoxy repair kit, or a fiberglass repair kit, or a gelcoat repair kit? Or is it some combination of those? I've never done this before and I don't want to screw it up.

georgeg305 · 30-04-2018, 08:44

For a perfect match you need to use gelcoat. However, gelcoat only cures with NO air.On horizontal surfaces, one can add a bit of wax and it will float to the surface and seal out the air and cure.

mike d. · 30-04-2018, 08:51

You need a Fiberglass GelCoat repair kit! It will have multiple colors in it ! You would also need a small can of white waxed gelcoat! The color tubes are for adding little, ie a drop at a time to some white until the color match is as close as you can get to original ! Then add hardener, then apply to the spot! You have to slightly over fill the damaged area, so you can sand it down to match the hull gelcoat! This is done with successively finer sand paper until you get down to 12-1500 grit ! Then just polish and seal with wax!

US1Fountain · 30-04-2018, 08:52

Filling in a few chips right now myself. It’s just into the gelcoat, not not the glass. Which looks like yours is as well. Bought some white gelcoat and yellow tint and tinted to match my boat. Once I had a god match, mixed a little cab-o-sil to make it a paste and simply squeegeed it in the chip. Sprayed PVA over it to cure tack free then wet sanded and buffed. Can’t even see the repair. It’s really simple. Proababy an hr of actual working time to fix.

rabbi · 30-04-2018, 08:53

Quote:

Originally Posted by daviddiscenza

I'm getting a little confused here. Do I need an epoxy repair kit, or a fiberglass repair kit, or a gelcoat repair kit? Or is it some combination of those? I've never done this before and I don't want to screw it up.

For a quick & dirty solution there is gelcoat repair kits. Actually its polyester topcoat thats like peanut butter. Just squeeze it in with a putty knife and be happy. Costs 15 Euro and 15 minutes.
It will be OK for a few years but certainly visible, and may crack around the edges.

To do it right (and invisible) you need a bit more than that and some skills. You need some fine polyester putty, white polyester gelcoat, some film (or polyvinylalcohol) to make it fully cure and different grades of sandpaper.

The guy at "boatworks today" has a series of videos about gelcoat:
gelcoat vids

He doesn't focus on any particular product, he just gives lots of information. Great stuff!

BTW: No epoxy repair for your gelcoat. Epoxy is really hard when cured, so if you try to sand it smooth you easily sand through the surrounding gelcoat.