Tuesday, June 14, 2011

Information On Boat Gelcoat Repair

By Jim Hansen


Nothing sparkles and shines like a new boat on the water. Inevitably, however, after time and use, some of this sparkle will fade. This will usually occur because of scratches and cracks to the surface. Boat gelcoat repair can make it look as good as it did the day you bought it.

Fiberglass is the material of choice for most boats today. It is very lightweight. However, it does tend to scratch rather easily even though a resin layer for protection and shine covers it. This resin layer is the gelcoat. When it gets scratched, repairs should be done to avoid later problems that could be more serious. If done properly, it will look new again. No one will ever know it was ever damaged.

This damage usually occurs because of impacts in the water with hard objects. You should make a regular careful check for any chips, cracks, or scratches. If the scratch is very small, it may be fixable by carefully buffing and polishing the surface. If the problem is worse, repairs should be done. Fortunately, products are available for you to use to make this job easy and affordable.

Before starting, carefully wash the affected area with water and soap. You should rinse the area very thoroughly. Then, mark off the area with tape. For protection, wear long pants and a long sleeved shirt. Protection for the eyes should also be worn. Hands can be protected with no fragrance talc. Always have good ventilation in the work area.

For the application to adhere properly, the scratch or crack must be cleaned out. After cleaning, the product should be applied. All spaces in the crack must be filled with no holes and/or bubbles. Once it dries, sand it lightly and clean.

Once filled, next comes matching the original color. This can be hard to do. The color will probably not match exactly. With natural wear the original color has probably changed a little. However, with care, you will find a close match. Fill the area with the paste and then cover completely with plastic film. If exposed to air, the paste will not hold. Once cured, it should be sanded smooth and waxed. The damage will be virtually invisible now.

Finding the best boat gelcoat repair can be an easy way to get that great sparkly, shiny look once again. It will look like it originally did. You can now go boating with pride.




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