Gel coat chips/cracks and repair

[Pirate0408]

Looking to repair some chips and hairline cracks in my gel coat CORRECTLY. I've used Marine-Tex here and there to fill in some small chips below the water line, but I feel there is a better product. I've used the gel coat repair kit you can pick up at WM with the tubes of tint. Had some luck but wasn't very pleased with the results, but that may have been to lack of experience and knowledge Not very familiar with fiberglass, gel coats, resins, etc. and what works best where.

Any suggestions?

[slvrlng]

Get some Bondoglass, grind out the chips with a dremel then put a small amount of mixed bondoglass into the hole. When its still uncured use a squeegee to smooth it out until it is just above the old gel. Just as it starts to kick(its kind of springy when you mash on it) take a scraper or razor blade and shave off material until it is just below the old gel. Let this cure a little more and hit it with some 100 grit. let this cure overnight. Next day take your matched gel and apply across the filled area and let it cure. Wetsand it smooth and buff out area and and you are done. If the chips are really small just use gel, you can add cabosil to the gel so it won't run down. It won't hurt the material on such a small spot just knock the shine back a little.

Unless you grind out the cracks all the way down and bridge them with glass they will come back. The old marinetex needs to be ground out before putting gel on it unless it is really old. Sometimes gel won't cure out and just stays sticky.

Oh yeah, the colorants in the tubes are VERY strong! A little goes a long way (especially black)!

Call Finishmaster over on Westgate Rd. 919-787-9923 If they don't have this stuff they can order it. Wally World stocks it too.

If you want to try and match it post back and I can try to walk you through how to match colors.

[GoneFission]

Good post Lewis!  And even a reference to a local biz.  That's what this forum is all about - helping folks with expert advice!  

[Pirate0408]

Thank you much!