Repairing Gelcoat Below the Waterline?

[onestepcsy37]

i'm on the hard. i gave the bottom a real heavy sanding to remove a decade of bottom paint. in a few places i was pretty agressive and removed some of the gelcoat as well.

so my question is, can i just patch it with gelcoat or do i have to use epoxy? the boat (1979) has never had a blister, so i don't want to start now.

[donradcliffe]

Better and easier to use epoxy or one of the other barrier coats.

[Ziggy]

I'd apply Interlux Epiglass to all spots where you removed the gelcoat, followed by 5 coats of Interprotect 2000. You can find more information on Yachtpaint.com web site

[onestepcsy37]

after closer examination, i have NOT gone through the gelcoat. i simply removed ALL of the paint in some places (in others i removed MOST of the paint, but not ALL). i looked at another boat in the yard where gelcoat had been removed and it was pretty obvious. so i think i'm just going to put bottom paint on (Trinidad 75 Red) and go back in the water.

still, while i was looking up all that stuff you guys recommended, i did come across something interesting; interlux interprotect watertite epoxy. it looks like marine tex. got to be useful for something. i may get a quart just to have around....

[barnakiel]

I too would use epoxy primer to cover the areas where you removed the gelcoat.

b.

[endoftheroad]

[QUOTE=barnakiel;1139493]"I too would use epoxy primer to cover the areas where you removed the gelcoat".






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I too, have burned through the gelcoat here and there but I will be applying 5 coats of interlux barrier epoxy (it's also a primer).

So what your saying if I understand correctly is.
That nothing is necessary in these areas assuming they aren't gouges if you are epoxy barrier coating directly on top?

Also....I was considering buying some interlux watertight for for some minor filling.
What are some cheaper filler substitutions comparable to the quality of Inerlux's Watertite epoxy filler?

Probably a dumb question but this is my first time.

Thanks
endoftheroad

[Ziggy]

Interlux watertight is pretty expensive and I think it's better suited to filling gouges or blisters than applying over a large area. Take a look at Interlux epiglass instead.

[endoftheroad]

Thanks Ziggy.