Gelcoat Repairs

[AlderneyBassman]

My worst nightmare happened last night.

 

Got a call just before 8am saying my boat had broken free of her mooring in Alderney inner harbour.

 

Shot down there in record time to find her stern rope had parted leaving her moored only at the bow. This caused to boat to lie alongside the harbour wall which for some reason has large square granite blocks jutting out.

 

Unfortunately it was blowing a NE 7-8, and in this direction it really is no longer a harbour!

 

So it looks like she spent a good couple of hours mashing herself against the wall.

 

Consequently I need some advice on gellcoat repairs

 

White is obviously no problem but she's a red Orkney. Can I colour white gelcoat with some red pigment to get a good match? If so what do I need?

 

 

[TomBettle]

Don't try and colour the gel coat.

 

Orkney will be able to supply the original gelcoat without any problems at all.

 

 

Make sure you get any loose and damaged gel out of the scratches by scraping them clean with an appropriate tool (screwdriver does a good job).

Don't worry about making the scratches look worse, the end result will be a much better finish.

 

Build up the gel coat in thinnish layers until it is just proud of the original gel and then rub down with progressively finer and finer sandpaper until a smooth finish is achieved. Very fine paper will produce a smooth, but dull finish and this can be polished up as good as new with decent boat polish.

 

I am sure that Pete (Shytalk) or Charlie (Greatwhite) will be able to give more detailed instructions, but definitely try and get new gel from Orkney directly.

 

Tom

[Adam F]

I feel for you matey - I imagine it can get pretty bad on a 7-8 NE....

 

You can colour gel any colour you like - I imagine youll need to find a pretty good mail order company?

 

My advice - call Orkeny and get the colour name, code and number for your hull - even if its an old one they will have it on record.

 

Contact a specialist glass fibre outlet - we have one here in Poole if you are really struggling. They will be able to sell you the pigment - add this to clear epoxy and voila - coloured gel to match yours.

 

How deep are the scars? If they are only gel deep (1-2mm) the repair is pretty simple given a bit of patience - if they are cracks and deep gouges a bit of glass matting may be needed. Whatever, youll have to lift her out of the water.

 

A dremel multi tool is great help for profiling the gouges prior to filling, and a selection of wet and dry, and polishing compounds also for obtaining a quality finish.

 

Their is a whole thread on here somewhere from when my boat ended up on the rocks a few years ago - also, PM and Ill give you my tel. no if you want to discuss in more depth.

 

Adam

[AlderneyBassman]

Cheers for that guys.

I'll contact Orkney first. The gouges arent too deep, only just into the glass.

At least I can see how thick the original gelcoat is for when I need to sand her back again to bright red instead of pink!

 

[Brian]

Would your insurance cover getting it done professionally?

Regards,

Brian

[endeavour boats]

if you try and pigment white gel, you will end up with it PINK. the dremel is a perfect tool to clean up the area aroud the chips/scrapes. when you fill the scrapes, try not to spread the gel to too much of a larger area around the damaged area. it will only make your job harder. and when you rub it down, start with 800 wet n dry and work up to 1500 or 2000 if you can get it. this alone will give you a shine on the gel and it will polish very easy by hand with Farecla profile 400 or G3.

 

good luck

 

steve