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?
- Status
- Not open for further replies.
J
Jim WIllis
Do a temporary fix
Because it's down to the glass, I would definately put something in the gouge for now. You can use any recommended marine filler. Later, this can be sanded smooth and touched in. If the stripe is paint use paint, if gelcoat use gelcoat for color matching. In both cases spraying is better. Should the stripe be vinyl (this should be very obvious) you can still use a polyurethane (flexible ) paint. More details on fixing such dings and color matching can be seen on Fiberglass Trilogy Part II in the gelcoat and plastics forum I have a gouge on my white gelcoat that I should fiix but that is only in the gelcoat and is only cosmetic. Hope this is of some help. As for the filler, you only need a tiny amount. I have heard that marinetex is good. Jim W
Because it's down to the glass, I would definately put something in the gouge for now. You can use any recommended marine filler. Later, this can be sanded smooth and touched in. If the stripe is paint use paint, if gelcoat use gelcoat for color matching. In both cases spraying is better. Should the stripe be vinyl (this should be very obvious) you can still use a polyurethane (flexible ) paint. More details on fixing such dings and color matching can be seen on Fiberglass Trilogy Part II in the gelcoat and plastics forum I have a gouge on my white gelcoat that I should fiix but that is only in the gelcoat and is only cosmetic. Hope this is of some help. As for the filler, you only need a tiny amount. I have heard that marinetex is good. Jim W
Marine Tex is easy to work with.
Tom: Get some Marine Tex. You can mix it up on a piece of cardboard or in a small dixie cup. Do not use too much catalyst (follow directions). Mask off the the area with masking tape and just smooth on the Marine Tex with a putty knife. If you are careful you will not even need to worry about sanding. This stuff dries very hard in about 18-24 hrs. I do not know about getting it wet while it is curing. You may want to place some plastic over it (with holes in the plastic) to keep water from laping up on the spot overnite.
Tom: Get some Marine Tex. You can mix it up on a piece of cardboard or in a small dixie cup. Do not use too much catalyst (follow directions). Mask off the the area with masking tape and just smooth on the Marine Tex with a putty knife. If you are careful you will not even need to worry about sanding. This stuff dries very hard in about 18-24 hrs. I do not know about getting it wet while it is curing. You may want to place some plastic over it (with holes in the plastic) to keep water from laping up on the spot overnite.
B
Bruce Hill
Gelcoat
Gelcoat is the outermost layer applied to the set up glass when the hull comes out of the mold. Since this must be continuous, it would all be the same color. The boot stripe is painted on. You should fix the gouge. Gelcoat is easy to work with. Hunter should have supplied you with a repair kit including the proper color, if not, any marine supplier will have one. Mix it according to directions, make sure the color matches, and press it in to the gouge. Smooth it, wait a day, sand lightly until flush. A nice fininsh with a polishing compound and some wax and you are the only one who will ever know! The nice thing about the gelcoat is that it matches like new if you get the color right. If you have to fix the boot stripe, do the hull first and let dry, then do the boot with the right color gelcoat. Then light sand, polish, and wax. You should be able to do this from the dock since it is above the water.
Gelcoat is the outermost layer applied to the set up glass when the hull comes out of the mold. Since this must be continuous, it would all be the same color. The boot stripe is painted on. You should fix the gouge. Gelcoat is easy to work with. Hunter should have supplied you with a repair kit including the proper color, if not, any marine supplier will have one. Mix it according to directions, make sure the color matches, and press it in to the gouge. Smooth it, wait a day, sand lightly until flush. A nice fininsh with a polishing compound and some wax and you are the only one who will ever know! The nice thing about the gelcoat is that it matches like new if you get the color right. If you have to fix the boot stripe, do the hull first and let dry, then do the boot with the right color gelcoat. Then light sand, polish, and wax. You should be able to do this from the dock since it is above the water.
R
R.W.Landau
Tom
I agree that since the roving is exposed that you should fix it. I also agree that Marine tex is a good Quick fix.It can be ground out later but will protect the roving in the mean time I wouldn't even worry about how smooth it is and I would overlap the good fiberglass around it just for bonding and sealing purposes. Before you apply the Marine Tex, ( mixed per directions)wipe out the gouge with acetone or alcohol to clean it out and dry it. I have to disagree with Bruce. The gel coat is the first coat applied into the Female mold. Then the fiberglass is laid-up on that. r.w.landau
I agree that since the roving is exposed that you should fix it. I also agree that Marine tex is a good Quick fix.It can be ground out later but will protect the roving in the mean time I wouldn't even worry about how smooth it is and I would overlap the good fiberglass around it just for bonding and sealing purposes. Before you apply the Marine Tex, ( mixed per directions)wipe out the gouge with acetone or alcohol to clean it out and dry it. I have to disagree with Bruce. The gel coat is the first coat applied into the Female mold. Then the fiberglass is laid-up on that. r.w.landau
V
Vic
Some manufacturers also find it easy ...
to embed a color gelcoat stripe in the gelcoat ... Although a number of O'day models do use plastic tape stripes. I been looking at red duck type tape with a smooth finish to set up new stripes on my 272. Vic
to embed a color gelcoat stripe in the gelcoat ... Although a number of O'day models do use plastic tape stripes. I been looking at red duck type tape with a smooth finish to set up new stripes on my 272. Vic
B
Bob Howie
Marine-Tex
I agree with Steve Dion on the Marine-Tex patch. I've used this stuff for years for any number of repairs and some goof-ball mods. It's way better than gelcoat ever dreamed of being. It's a good idea to keep it dry while it's curing, but once it starts to get tacky, it's pretty much done; it's a catalyzed material, so it's a chemical process creating the cure, not air et. al.
I agree with Steve Dion on the Marine-Tex patch. I've used this stuff for years for any number of repairs and some goof-ball mods. It's way better than gelcoat ever dreamed of being. It's a good idea to keep it dry while it's curing, but once it starts to get tacky, it's pretty much done; it's a catalyzed material, so it's a chemical process creating the cure, not air et. al.
- Status
- Not open for further replies.