How To Repair Boat Fiberglass Gelcoat

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Gelcoat is the protective coating that covers the fiberglass of boats and other watercraft. When you get a gouge or a scratch in the gelcoat of your fiberglass, you will accept to make clean information technology up by grinding or sanding earlier you tin can repair it. Then, you'll need to purchase a wax gelcoat repair kit that matches the color of your gelcoat and carefully employ information technology to the damaged expanse. To end the job off, sand it again until it is completely smoothen, so buff and wax it to become it looking like new.

1. one

   Employ a rotary tool with a burr scrap to taper the edges of gouges. Adhere a Five-shaped burr fleck to a rotary tool such as a Dremel tool. Plough it on and concur the tip confronting 1 side of the gouge at a 45-degree angle. Motility it back and forth along the sharp edge of the gouge, applying light pressure, to smooth it out. Repeat this for the other side to create a U-shaped groove.^[1]

   • A Dremel tool is a rotary tool that you can attach all kinds of bits to for things similar sanding, grinding, and polishing. A burr bit is a type of scrap that comes in diverse cone shapes and can be used for sanding and grinding. Yous tin can get both things at a home improvement store or order them online.
   • Use this method for deep gouges or chips that take sharp edges.
   • You just want to remove the sharp edges of the gouge and so the new gelcoat volition blend in with the surrounding gelcoat better.

   Alarm: Wear safety glasses when operating a rotary tool and then you lot don't go any dust in your eyes.

2. 2

   Sand out small scratches with eighty-dust, 150-grit, and 240-grit sandpaper. Sand with the direction of fine scratches starting with 80-dust sandpaper until the scratch is even with the area effectually it. Switch to 150-grit sandpaper and sand until the scratched area is evenly smooth, and then switch to 240-dust sandpaper and sand information technology until the texture becomes even smoother and the damage is blended in to the area around it.^[2]

   • Yous can use this method for very thin scratches that don't have sharp edges.

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3. three

   Wipe the surface of the damaged area with acetone to clean information technology. Pour a chip of acetone onto a make clean cloth. Wipe over the area you will repair to remove dirt, dust, and any other surface residues.^[3]

   • If there is a lot of dust from sanding and grinding, you can as well use a vacuum with a hose attachment to suck information technology up.

4. 4

   Record all the way effectually the damaged area with painter's tape. Employ 2 in (5.1 cm) broad blue painter'southward tape. Box off the damaged area, leaving about ¹⁄₁₆  in (0.16 cm) of space around the damage.^[4]

   • If you lot are working in an area where the new gelcoat could drip downwards, then mask off the expanse below it with tape too to protect it. Y'all tin can tape plastic sheets over large areas to protect them.

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1. ane

   Buy a wax gelcoat repair kit that matches the color of the damaged spot. Gelcoat repair kits come up with 2 parts that you lot mix together right before applying it to the damaged surface area. Endeavor to match the colour as closely as possible or go a kit that has different pigments you tin add together while mixing to change the colour.^[5]

   • Gelcoat repair kits are available at marine supply shops, domicile improvement centers, paint supply stores, and online. A marine supply store may be able to provide you with an verbal match for your model and color of boat if it is a current model.
   • Wax gelcoat is the best option to repair gelcoat because information technology will cure in the air without any additional components needed.

2. 2

   Mix the new gelcoat according to the manufacturer'due south instructions. Pour the amounts of each office recommended by the manufacturer into a plastic or paper disposable cup. Stir information technology with a mixing stick for at least 1 full minute or until it is about the consistency of peanut butter.^[6]

   • Vesture gloves, safety spectacles, and a face up mask when you mix the gelcoat.
   • If your gelcoat repair kit doesn't come with a mixing stick, and then use a clean craft stick (like a wooden popsicle stick) to mix the gelcoat.
   • Different gelcoat repair kits crave you to add different amounts of hardener, as well known every bit goad, to the gelcoat mixture and so that information technology cures properly. Brand certain you lot use the verbal ratios or your gelcoat will either dry too apace or won't cure all the way.

   Warning: Brand certain you mix enough of the gelcoat to repair the entire damaged area at once. If not, information technology may non all cure at the same charge per unit.

3. 3

   Press the gelcoat onto the damaged area with the mixing stick. Scoop enough of the putty out to overfill the damaged surface area by nearly ⁱ⁄₃₂  in (0.079 cm). Tap information technology with the tip of the mixing stick then it gets into the fibers and spread it out at the sides so it blends in with the surrounding area.^[7]

   • If you are repairing an area where you sanded out light scratches, then just rub an approximately ¹⁄₃₂  in (0.079 cm) layer of the putty over the sanded area with the mixing stick.
   • You will have about 10-15 minutes to work before the gelcoat starts to harden.

4. 4

   Let the gelcoat dry for at to the lowest degree viii hours to cure. Leave the repaired area to dry out overnight or for at least viii hours. This will ensure that the gelcoat is difficult plenty for sanding and finishing.^[eight]

   • Bear on the gelcoat to make sure it is hard earlier you proceed to sand information technology. If information technology still feels sticky or tacky, then let it dry longer until it is hard.

5. 5

   Sand downward the repaired area with 80-dust, 240-grit, and 400-grit sandpaper. Use a sanding cake and sand in circular motions. Start with 80-grit sandpaper and sand until the repaired surface area is level with the surrounding area. Movement on to 240-grit sandpaper and sand until it is completely smooth, then switch to 400-grit sandpaper to smooth information technology out fifty-fifty more so it feels like the surrounding areas.^[9]

   • If the area nonetheless feels rough afterwards yous utilise 400-dust sandpaper, y'all can keep working your way up all the mode to nigh 1000-grit sandpaper until you are happy with the smoothness.

6. 6

   Buff the repaired area with an electrical buffer and rubbing compound. Apply rubbing compound direct to the pad of an electric buffer and turn information technology on to low speed. Buff over the repaired surface area with medium pressure level and stop when the rubbing chemical compound starts to dry.^[10]

   • Remove the tape from effectually the repaired area before y'all begin buffing.
   • Wipe abroad the haze from the rubbing chemical compound with a clean cloth as you go.

7. 7

   Apply a glaze of wax to the buffed area to stop. Employ whatever wax you would usually use for your gunkhole and utilize it the same style you applied the rubbing compound with the electric buffer. Finish information technology off with a quick manus buff by rubbing a make clean cloth in circular motions until there is no more than haze and it looks shiny.^[11]

   • Once the wax has stale, later well-nigh 15 minutes in the sun, you can wash your whole boat and give the whole thing a 2nd coat of wax so that the repaired area and the rest of the boat are equally shiny.

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• Wearable safety glasses when operating a rotary tool. Wear rubber glasses, a face mask, and gloves when mixing gelcoat repair compound.

• Mix enough gelcoat repair chemical compound to repair the unabridged damaged expanse so it all cures at the same charge per unit.

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Things Yous'll Demand

• Rotary tool
• Sandpaper of diverse grits
• Sanding block
• Safety glasses
• Gloves
• Face mask
• Painter'due south record
• Wax gelcoat repair kit
• Electric buffer
• Mixing stick
• Rubbing chemical compound
• Wax
• Clean cloths

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