Gelcoat repairs or paint
- Thread starter Lfarquhar
- Start date
The only pic that I see something repairable is 1311. Even that is most likely not into laminate and therefore not structural.
The best repair guide I've seen is Boatworks (by Andy?). There is a video for a situation pretty close to that in 1131.
He uses chopped strand and polyester resin with gelcoat to isolate the resin from oxygen. Since the crack in the gelcoat is likely due to the underlying laminate flexing, simply painting over with new gelcoat won't last.
For the other areas depicted my technique for repair would be to get a tall glass, fill it with ice and cover the ice with whisky. Then sip slowly until looking at the deck doesn't bother you anymore.
The best repair guide I've seen is Boatworks (by Andy?). There is a video for a situation pretty close to that in 1131.
He uses chopped strand and polyester resin with gelcoat to isolate the resin from oxygen. Since the crack in the gelcoat is likely due to the underlying laminate flexing, simply painting over with new gelcoat won't last.
For the other areas depicted my technique for repair would be to get a tall glass, fill it with ice and cover the ice with whisky. Then sip slowly until looking at the deck doesn't bother you anymore.
jssailem
SBO Weather and Forecasting Forum Jim & John
- Oct 22, 2014
- 23,648
Gelcoat is an optimal method. You can not have gelcoat and paint. It is one or the other. Gelcoat will never look as good as when it comes out of the mold at the factory. Once you choose to paint you will always be painting.
Here is the link to Andy’s work on gelcoat.
www.boatworkstoday.com
Here is the link to Andy’s work on gelcoat.
Search Results for “Gelcoat” | Boatworks Today
www.boatworkstoday.com
Whichever you choose, the prep is going to be the same - all of that checking and peeling gelcoat will have to be removed and the surface refaired. Not sure how you would approach the nonskid areas with peeling gelcoat.
Some of those pictures look like perhaps the gelcoat was applied post-mold and didn't adhere well. Maybe a later repair, or a bad mold pull in the factory that was post-mold finished.
1311 is easy - that is just pooled gelcoat along a corner that was too thick and cracked. It is a common occurrence, and fixing it is rather easy.
I'm with the others who say to ignore it, as it is all cosmetic, and the cost to repair it properly is disproportional to the value of the boat unless the areas you are showing us are very small and isolated (they look large and widespread to me).
Mark
Some of those pictures look like perhaps the gelcoat was applied post-mold and didn't adhere well. Maybe a later repair, or a bad mold pull in the factory that was post-mold finished.
1311 is easy - that is just pooled gelcoat along a corner that was too thick and cracked. It is a common occurrence, and fixing it is rather easy.
I'm with the others who say to ignore it, as it is all cosmetic, and the cost to repair it properly is disproportional to the value of the boat unless the areas you are showing us are very small and isolated (they look large and widespread to me).
Mark