Hello all... This weekend I was out for a nice sail on the San Diego bay and made the mistake of assuming someone (other than myself) was keeping an eye on where the boat was headed. Long story short I went down below for a moment and when I came back up I turned around just in time to see myself plowing into one of our many navigational buoys out here on the Bay. Aside from realizing just how stupid it was to assume anyone else is watching out for my boat (yes, yes... I know I'm the captain... I'm responsible... believe me I've beat myself up enough over this) I now need to figure out to fix the damage to the front of the boat. Basically the impact left a fist sized dent in the bow of the boat... which I'm attempting to repair using West System products. What I was hoping someone on this board would be able to help me with is finding a paint that matches the color of my boat once I'm all done with the patch. I'm on a 2000 model Hunter 340. Does anyone know how I would even begin finding a paint that matches? Does Hunter keep a record of matching paints? Is there a shop that sells this stuff? Any help would greatly be appreciated. Thanks, -Levin
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Colour Eye
You might try calling around to paint suppliers or body shops and ask if they could come out to the boat with a "colour eye". Might be able to entice then with a couple hours sailing. Dave
You might try calling around to paint suppliers or body shops and ask if they could come out to the boat with a "colour eye". Might be able to entice then with a couple hours sailing. Dave
Sell your boat
Before you plow into someone else's boat, with even greater damage and possible loss of life. If I blew 5 short blasts on my airhorn every time some bozo turned to port and cut across my bow I'd be deaf by now. There are too many boaters who act like they are the only thing on the water.
Before you plow into someone else's boat, with even greater damage and possible loss of life. If I blew 5 short blasts on my airhorn every time some bozo turned to port and cut across my bow I'd be deaf by now. There are too many boaters who act like they are the only thing on the water.
You Knew These Responses Were Coming Right?
This can be a tough crowd. Matching the finish is an art. I think I'd let a professional do it and get a job that is virtually undetectable otherwise it may affect the value of your boat. Don’t beat your self up too much on this you learned a valuable lesson. Nobody hurt and rather negligible damage.
This can be a tough crowd. Matching the finish is an art. I think I'd let a professional do it and get a job that is virtually undetectable otherwise it may affect the value of your boat. Don’t beat your self up too much on this you learned a valuable lesson. Nobody hurt and rather negligible damage.
Do you even have paint?
Unless you (or a PO) have painted the boat you should just have gelcoat. In which case you will only need to re(gel)coat and sand/polish it out once you finish the repair job.
Unless you (or a PO) have painted the boat you should just have gelcoat. In which case you will only need to re(gel)coat and sand/polish it out once you finish the repair job.
As a Prospective Buyer
I walked away from a boat for sale *quickly* a couple of weeks ago - it had damage similar to Levin's that had been *badly* repaired. So I agree with Rick, get it done right. I doubt a paint store can match gelcoat & if the boat is gelcoat now, then it probably needs someone who does gelcoat and boats - a marine pro. If it were a 30 year old cheap boat, and mine, I'd DIY it. But on the newer bigger boat it will affect resale unless done well enough to be almost invisible - so I'd call a pro. JM2C, OldCat
I walked away from a boat for sale *quickly* a couple of weeks ago - it had damage similar to Levin's that had been *badly* repaired. So I agree with Rick, get it done right. I doubt a paint store can match gelcoat & if the boat is gelcoat now, then it probably needs someone who does gelcoat and boats - a marine pro. If it were a 30 year old cheap boat, and mine, I'd DIY it. But on the newer bigger boat it will affect resale unless done well enough to be almost invisible - so I'd call a pro. JM2C, OldCat
Gelcoat
Gelcoat? Is that what the white stuff on the o ouside of the hull is? I was never sure exactly what constituted gelcoat. Basically the damage destroyed what I now believe is gelcoat and exposed the fiberglass "threads". So you all are saying I just replace the gelcoat and I can get a fairly even match? Can I pick up gelcoat at West Marine? Thanks... -Levin P.S. I knew the comments were comming... and were expected... but it was a good lesson learned, I won't be trusting others again with watching out for where the boat is going.
Gelcoat? Is that what the white stuff on the o ouside of the hull is? I was never sure exactly what constituted gelcoat. Basically the damage destroyed what I now believe is gelcoat and exposed the fiberglass "threads". So you all are saying I just replace the gelcoat and I can get a fairly even match? Can I pick up gelcoat at West Marine? Thanks... -Levin P.S. I knew the comments were comming... and were expected... but it was a good lesson learned, I won't be trusting others again with watching out for where the boat is going.
Fiberglass dosen't dent!!
Levin, I have worker with this stuff for years and it doesn't dent. Flex, oilcan,chip,bend and pop back into shape, but not dent. I hope you used the term for lack of a better one. If it truley is a dent like in a car fender, you probably have structural damage on the inside of the laminate. You need to remove the forward bulkhead and inspect the damaged area for stress cracks or even broken fibers. If you find anything other than a nice smooth surface with all the fibers in tack, I think you should have it looked at by a professional; especially if it is by the stemhead fitting. Good luck on this one. PM
Levin, I have worker with this stuff for years and it doesn't dent. Flex, oilcan,chip,bend and pop back into shape, but not dent. I hope you used the term for lack of a better one. If it truley is a dent like in a car fender, you probably have structural damage on the inside of the laminate. You need to remove the forward bulkhead and inspect the damaged area for stress cracks or even broken fibers. If you find anything other than a nice smooth surface with all the fibers in tack, I think you should have it looked at by a professional; especially if it is by the stemhead fitting. Good luck on this one. PM
Scratches, Dents, Broken Laminate
Levin: Scratches can be fixed with gelcoat - available at West Marine - but exact color matching to Hunter specs may be tough. Maybe Hunter sells a gelcoat? It sounds like your dent is broken laminate - this repair is more involved - especially as others have noted, you may have structure underneath with damage. These could be stringers, hull grid or similar hull reinforcement. All can be repaired - but will require proper grinding, glass and resin, & someone who knows what they are looking at. If you want to learn fiberglass repair - a nice newer boat is not the place to learn. Get a pro for your boat and a cheap dink to fix up and learn on, plus some books for guidance. Get a pro to quote it, consider consulting a surveyor and your insurance company. No problem here a few bucks won't solve, and as for the "commenters" - their day will come. OldCat
Levin: Scratches can be fixed with gelcoat - available at West Marine - but exact color matching to Hunter specs may be tough. Maybe Hunter sells a gelcoat? It sounds like your dent is broken laminate - this repair is more involved - especially as others have noted, you may have structure underneath with damage. These could be stringers, hull grid or similar hull reinforcement. All can be repaired - but will require proper grinding, glass and resin, & someone who knows what they are looking at. If you want to learn fiberglass repair - a nice newer boat is not the place to learn. Get a pro for your boat and a cheap dink to fix up and learn on, plus some books for guidance. Get a pro to quote it, consider consulting a surveyor and your insurance company. No problem here a few bucks won't solve, and as for the "commenters" - their day will come. OldCat
Broken Laminate
Hello again... Ok now I think I'm beginning to understand what happened. No the fiberglass itself did not dent but I did destroy the laminate (or at least what I think is laminate). It cracked in a circular pattern, and I had to flake it off using a screwdriver to expose all of the fiberglass threads. I did take off a paper thin sheet of those fiberglass threads when I pulled away the laminate, but I don't think it was enough to cause structural damage. I have since covered the whole area in 105/206 and 404 all mixed together West System product and it should be hard by today. I was hoping to sand that down to shape and my orginal plan was to paint it... but it sounds like that is going to look very unprofessional. Sounds what I needed to do was replace the laminate (however that is done)... but it looks like this could be a job for a professional. Thanks everyone for the help and responses... seems I always learn more about my boat... even if it's not in the way I wanted to learn. -Levin
Hello again... Ok now I think I'm beginning to understand what happened. No the fiberglass itself did not dent but I did destroy the laminate (or at least what I think is laminate). It cracked in a circular pattern, and I had to flake it off using a screwdriver to expose all of the fiberglass threads. I did take off a paper thin sheet of those fiberglass threads when I pulled away the laminate, but I don't think it was enough to cause structural damage. I have since covered the whole area in 105/206 and 404 all mixed together West System product and it should be hard by today. I was hoping to sand that down to shape and my orginal plan was to paint it... but it sounds like that is going to look very unprofessional. Sounds what I needed to do was replace the laminate (however that is done)... but it looks like this could be a job for a professional. Thanks everyone for the help and responses... seems I always learn more about my boat... even if it's not in the way I wanted to learn. -Levin
Just kidding! I sail in that bay also. Levin, was it in the North Bay or South bay? Winds were really kicking butt yesterday. Great day for sailing, yeah?
Need to start to define terms
...laminate ...gelcoat ...fiberglass ...threads Verrry confusing. I recommend, Levin, that you hop on down to your local chandlery and turn the pages on a book, start with "This Old Boat," by Don Casey, OR, alternatively, do some research on the web, like BoatUS's website, or many others, and learn a bit about fiberglass and how your boat is built. While these responses have been very helpful, and very varying, if YOU learn about it from sources that are perhaps no more knowledgeable than the folks here, but certainly more detailed and specific, YOU will be learning something that YOU can apply. Sorry about the ding, hope you're still talking to who was at the wheel. A few years ago we were run into by a fellow racer BETWEEN races. Yeah, he shoulda known better, too... Stuff happens. Stu
...laminate ...gelcoat ...fiberglass ...threads Verrry confusing. I recommend, Levin, that you hop on down to your local chandlery and turn the pages on a book, start with "This Old Boat," by Don Casey, OR, alternatively, do some research on the web, like BoatUS's website, or many others, and learn a bit about fiberglass and how your boat is built. While these responses have been very helpful, and very varying, if YOU learn about it from sources that are perhaps no more knowledgeable than the folks here, but certainly more detailed and specific, YOU will be learning something that YOU can apply. Sorry about the ding, hope you're still talking to who was at the wheel. A few years ago we were run into by a fellow racer BETWEEN races. Yeah, he shoulda known better, too... Stuff happens. Stu
Gelcoat source
Try www.spectrumcolor.com. They sell gelcoat and patch kits that are color matched by manufacturer and year of production. There may be a slight difference in color due to fading/oxidation of the gelcoat on your boat.
Try www.spectrumcolor.com. They sell gelcoat and patch kits that are color matched by manufacturer and year of production. There may be a slight difference in color due to fading/oxidation of the gelcoat on your boat.
West System Epoxy
Prowl around their site and order instructional materials before you attempt further repair. However, I would agree that it's a job for a professional more than a first-timer to maintain your resale. I'd bite the bullet on this one. Rick D. PS: don't feel too bad. I had a couple next to me who put in a traffic lane bouy as a waypoint and hit it square on while they were distracted with ah... other activity. And, I almost hit one in San Diego leaving the harbor one night singlehanding. Those things disappear into the coast at night.
Prowl around their site and order instructional materials before you attempt further repair. However, I would agree that it's a job for a professional more than a first-timer to maintain your resale. I'd bite the bullet on this one. Rick D. PS: don't feel too bad. I had a couple next to me who put in a traffic lane bouy as a waypoint and hit it square on while they were distracted with ah... other activity. And, I almost hit one in San Diego leaving the harbor one night singlehanding. Those things disappear into the coast at night.
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