Paint or Repair

[Jim Miller]

I have several deep gouges in the side of my ODay 34. These gouges go all the way through the gel coat to the fiberglass. I am thinking of either having my hull professionally repaired and painted with Awlgrip or repaired cleaned, buffed, and waxed. Has anyone had their hull painted, and if so do you wish you had stayed with the gel coat? Does anyone know where you can get matching gelcoat for Odays?

 

[Justin - O'day Owner's Web]

Gel coat

There are kits available from several suppliers that will let you mix up any color of gel coat you want. Many yards have someone experienced in doing just this. Call a yard and ask around. You might ask other poeple around the yard to see who they've used as quality varries a great deal.Justin - O'day Owner's Web

 

[A.L. ("Jim") Willis Pres of ISLAND GIRL PROD.]

Stay with the gelcoat

I would get a gelcoat repair kit, making following the proper instructions. Basically, wet sand back into the surrounding gelcoat a bit to get to true color, open up clean and sand gouges, then use a small hand spray to spray in gelcoat to fill in gouges (instructions in kit). You finish with mold release, sprayed on or under cellophave membrane (I've seen it done but nver done it). Fine grit 600 and up wet and dry then boff out to smoothness (after a few days) then wax etc.Much cheaper than paint and done properly is pretty much undtectable.You should really only consider painting if the gelcoat is showing through to the fibers and/or you want to change the color anyway.Still - its your boat, your money!If you want more advice on gelcoat repair call TAP Plastics (925 829 4889)and ask for Conrad.ThanksJim WIGPPS I will practicing what I preach on my own boat in the near future to deal with some cracks that have appeared around fittings.

 

[A.L. ("Jim") Willis Pres of ISLAND GIRL PROD.]

See reply to next item

Still learing about gelcoat repair- see reply to "gelcoat paste" itemJim W