Gouge in gelcoat (also in 'Ask all Sailors')

[Tom Wootton]

We hit a rock at slow speed in my '95 Hunter 26 this weekend. Acquired a small gouge in the gelcoat at the bow, right where the blue boottop stripe gives way to the white gelcoat. I can see woven fiberglass in the middle of the gouge. It's maybe 1/8" to 3/16" deep at the worst part. It doesn't leak. Three questions: Is the blue stripe painted on, or was it a different color gelcoat applied when the hull was formed? Since the gouge is above the actual water level by about 3 inches, and since the hull is surely solid FG with no core material at that point, can I wait awhile before hauling the boat and doing the repair? Is there a product I should apply as a temporary fix until then?

 

[Ray Bowles]

Tom, I just finished glassing my CB and rudder

on my 26 because they to had whacks that went through to the glass. I would be worried that if you left it alone the glass mat would wick up water and start to seperate. Before any repair can be made the area must be dried out totally. If you can dry it out a temporary repair that will keep out water for quite a long time (a full season)is to cover the area with 3M 4200 bedding compound. Drying can be speeded up with a heat lamp 16 to 18 inches from the whack. I did this last summer to the lower edge of my rudder and it worked very well. Last week when I pulled it and reglassed the area the 4200 peeled off nicely with a very sharp pocket knife and would probably held up for a long time to come.RayS/V Speedy