Fiberglass damage, fixed with pictures.

This topic has 41 replies, 16 voices, and was last updated 7 years, 5 months ago by Caldwellj.

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February 16, 2018 at 3:20 am #466098

Gasbasser
Participant

So, is all liquid hardner the same? I have some that came with the same kit smbass77 used, but is not even remotely getting hard a 15 minutes. I measured out exactly how much gel coat and followed the instructions. The first coat did get hard, after several hours. Not sure the shelf life on the liquid hardner. Local auto parts stores have liquid hardner but is says for fiberglass. Is this the same? disclaimer, I am using Bass Cat’s gelcoat and not the gel coat that came in the kit.

Thanks

February 16, 2018 at 3:43 am #466099

oldtimer57
Participant

It is not like 5-10 minute epoxy. Gel is normally sprayed on in thin coats. Too thick and it sags.

February 16, 2018 at 5:44 am #466100

Gasbasser
Participant

Top picture is a before, bottom is after second coat of gelcoat. Still not the end result I am looking for. I think one more coat and that’ll probably be the best I can do. It’s extremely difficult working on vertical and bottom surfaces. Probably wouldn’t be so bad if I had any idea what I was doing. If i’m not happy I will just have a professional fix it one day as I am just trying to get on the water for now.
Britt

February 17, 2018 at 1:21 am #466101

oldtimer57
Participant

I think the problem here is that this is not a gel coat repair issue. You really needed something to fill and smooth before you do the gel coat. Marine Tex would have worked. West Marine epoxy resin + filler would have worked. Those are thick as in peanut butter, and won’t run/sag. You can shape accurately, let it begin to cure, then hit it with the gel coat… gel coat is thin, as you have discovered, hard to do any filling at all unless it is on a level surface and you are doing the top surface…

February 17, 2018 at 2:54 am #466102

Gasbasser
Participant

Well, It’s taken 4 coats to get close. Sure wish I had done what you mentioned. That would have been the ticket. Oh well, live and learn. That’s what happens when an amateur does the job. It’s been a learning curve. That would have made things so much faster and easier.

February 18, 2018 at 5:14 am #466103

Gasbasser
Participant

Well, this is it for now. I still think it needs a little fine tuning, because I am not 100% happy. This has been much more difficult than expected, and I expected it to be tough. There is a reason professionals charge $$$ for things like this.

Things I learned:
Most professionals have the right tools and know how, I had neither.
Marine tex may have been my best first choice to obtain the shape I needed/wanted.
Thank god I ordered the gelcoat from BCB that matched my boat, I would have hated to try and mix the color right 5 times, yes I have 5 coats of gelcoat on there, hence the need possibly for marine tex first. I could have gotten away with the gelcoat from BCB and some liquid hardner and never needed the kit I ordered from Amazon.

Also, thank goodness it was a solid color with no flake.
Working upside down on 2 different surfaces is tough.
I don’t regret taking this on, I just wish it had been a little more simple for my first time. I guess I should be happy it wasn’t flake or in a very visible spot.
I am truly appreciative to everyone who offered suggestions and especially the tutorial mentioned earlier on gelcoat repair. Believe it or not, youtube was not very helpful for this type of repair. If it weren’t for this board, I am not sure I would have tackled this.

Thanks again to all,
Britt
S. Carolina

February 18, 2018 at 8:13 am #466104

lamoon78
Participant

Not a bad job really better than before you started. I’m like you most wouldn’t even notice but it would bug me cause I know it’s there.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

December 18, 2018 at 7:07 pm #466106

Gasbasser
Participant

I don’t have a clue kent7351, but several people suggested doing that first. I wish I had cause of the size.
Britt

December 18, 2018 at 9:11 pm #466105

kent7351
Participant

Will Gel coat cure properly on top of marine tex?

Ps, I think your repair looks good gasbasser!

December 31, 2018 at 9:35 pm #466070

Gasbasser
Participant

Bass Cat Boats wrote:

Gosh, when you swap this one out some day the second owner is going to be fortunate. Your extremely meticulous ownership is appreciated.

What makes you say that?

December 31, 2018 at 10:48 pm #466073

texlacat
Participant

I think BCB is saying that most people wouldn’t fix something like that and when they sold that boat the new owner would probably not see that damage right away or maybe ever. I had the exact same thing happen on my last Cat and like you I wanted it fixed. I had a local guy fix that and buff out any scratches on the entire boat including a scratch on the boot for $500.

January 2, 2019 at 4:41 am #466107

Caldwellj
Participant

You can do the work yourself with a basic gel coat repair kit from West Marine.

Unless you dont want to mess with it then Id find a fiberglass guy in your area and let him fix it.

Not sure where you are but anyone in NC (FT.Bragg) area – I highly recommend Jeff Ahrndt in Sanford, NC – [email protected]

He has fixed lots of minor to major items on friends boat and mine. Great work, great prices, and gets you back on the water quickly.
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