Gel Coat Repair on H-240 bow

[Jay20587]

Hey Guys, We need some help. After trailering the 240, we got a good whack on the bow by the trailer (look for that fix in a future post). Anyhow, the fiberglass repair went well, but the gelcoat will not set up. Yes, it has been humid outside, but even after 24 hours, it still isn't right. Are we missing something here? Maybe we skipped a step in the process? The Gelcoat itself is the right color, and it's from the dealer.

 

[Bill O'Donovan]

Michael Jackson

This is the problem Michael Jackson had on his "bow." Because there is such a low margin of error and high difficulty getting the right color and smootheness, I'd suggest the yard do it.

 

[Jay20587]

Don't think so

Yea, it would be brutal to send the boat into the shop (no less than 60 mi. away) just for a tiny gelcoat repair. There has to be a ratio of gelcoat to hardener that allows you to put it on and harden. Does anybody know??

 

[BoatBum]

Gel

Most gelcoat products need to be covered to exclude air to harden. Usually involves a plastic sheet or a wax added to the gelcoat during manufacture. May or may not be the culprit, but there should be a note in the directions if cover is needed. I have also had problems with old gelcoat not hardening properly when it was way beyond the shelf life.

 

[Herb-Alaska]

I had this problem once also

Jay I had this problem once also when I was repairing the rudder on my 22. When I did the gel coat the shop gave me two little bottles with the gel coat one was hardner and another was the wax. I was to add about 15 drops of hardner to about 6 oz of gel coat and then add a couple of drops of the wax to the last coat. well I mixed them up as they were not labled. After 24 hours when the gel coat still was not set I called the shop to ask how long it should take to cure and they laughed at me and told me that it should be set up in about 2 hours at 60 degree temp. If it is colder I was to add more hardner. Well i scraped off the mess and started over and switched the bottles and everything worked great the second time. So I say to you did you get the hardner in the gel coat. When you have enough in the gel coat will actually start to feel hot in the plastic mixing cup after a few mins. You know it is right when the leftover gel coat sets up in the plastic cup and you can peel it out like a popsicle.Good luck and try again not something that you need a shop to do for you. Herb