Grind, fill, fair, buff
Hi Rudy - I've found that he toughtest part about repairing older gel coat is getting a good color match, since it changes color slightly over time with exposure to UV rays. Some gel coat companies can do a pretty good job mixing up small batches to match a hatch or other part of the boat if you can get it to them. I've gone to a company called GCP in Seattle. You can always add tint to the mix to color match it yourself as well. You'll need to grind out the crazed or cracked area to allow the new gel coat to bond well. Mix catalyst, spread a dab in the groove(s), and allow to dry. Then sand with successively finer paper and buff out. I am by no means an expert here, but I have improved the appearance of my boat by filling several dings and cracks. I found a much more detailed "how-to" article by Don Casey (see Related Link), someone who is much more qualified than myself. Bottom line is that it's not rocket science, but it takes a little time to master the technique. You can do it! Best of luck, Trevor
