Gel Coat?
Printed From: Yachts and Yachting Online
Category: General
Forum Name: Repair & maintenance
Forum Discription: Questions & tips on the subject
URL: http://www.yachtsandyachting.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=2617
Printed Date: 26 Jun 25 at 7:24pm
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 9.665y - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: Gel Coat?
Posted By: ftms
Subject: Gel Coat?
Date Posted: 19 Jan 07 at 11:05am
| My laser has about fingernail sized chip on the hull. The fibres as exposed [light tan colour], but the hull is still sound. I was just wondering how long I could sail it like this without doing permant damage to the hull. At the moment I pretty have no spare time and my only free day is sunday, so I would really prefer to be sailing, rather than repairing the boat. |
Replies:
Posted By: English Dave
Date Posted: 19 Jan 07 at 12:09pm
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Eventually the GRP will become waterlogged. Only locally, you understand and I'm not saying it will become soggy, but to repair a chip the area needs to be dry and that's not going to happen if you are sailing it every Sunday. Assuming it's not too cold and the chip really is small, Gelcoat doesn't take long to go off. You could even use the fast setting stuff but it won't colour match your boat. If I chip my rudders or centreboard, I refinish with PP's Marine Filler. It too is white but it cures in about 20 minutes and is easy to fair when set. But then, I'm not too worried about the appearance of my rudders. You are probably not going to sail this weekend, given the current conditions. Follow the old "stich in time" adage and prevent a small problem this week becoming perhaps a bigger one next. ------------- English Dave http://www.ballyholme.com - Ballyholme Yacht Club (You'd think I'd be better at it by now) Hurricane 5.9 SX RS700 |
Posted By: radixon
Date Posted: 19 Jan 07 at 12:33pm
I agree with English Dave. I had a small repair to the bow o my boat, I got hold of the repair kit from Rooster, it isn't the same colour as the boat but did set quickly. If you do it now, it will stop you from sailing mid season and cause a bigger headache.
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Posted By: Noble Marine
Date Posted: 19 Jan 07 at 1:53pm
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Assuming the hole is dry, sand the edges, fill with gelcoat, and put some waterproof tape (insulation tape or even brown parcel tape should do the trick) over the top. It shouldn't take more than 10 minutes. You're then ready to go sailing! Once you've finished sailing, remove the tape and if the gelcoat is dry give it a quick sand. If the gelcoat is not dry, it will be the next time you want to sail. ------------- http://www.noblemarine.co.uk" rel="nofollow - Boat Insurance from Noble Marine http://www.facebook.com/noblemarine" rel="nofollow - Noble Marine on Facebook . |
Posted By: English Dave
Date Posted: 19 Jan 07 at 3:11pm
Brown parcel tape leaves its brownness all over your repair. I found this out the hard way. Insulation tape will do the job but isn't so sticky. Bog standard sellotape is fine because by the time the water washes it away the gelcoat should have set. ------------- English Dave http://www.ballyholme.com - Ballyholme Yacht Club (You'd think I'd be better at it by now) Hurricane 5.9 SX RS700 |
Posted By: ftms
Date Posted: 19 Jan 07 at 3:21pm
| Thanks for the replies. I knew it would be a small, simple job, but i thought the drying would take some time. Okay - duct tape on the repair; good or to sticky? Sandpaper- the coarse stuff or the fine stuff [cant remember the grades at the mo] |
Posted By: English Dave
Date Posted: 19 Jan 07 at 4:37pm
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If you don't use too much gel coat and are careful how you apply the tape, very little sanding will be needed. Duct tape is OK but it too can leave a residue and becaue it is cloth based, may imprint the pattern of the cloth on the gel. Clear tape is a good idea as you can then be certain that there are no bubbles and you will get a smooth surface when you peel it back. When you are sanding down, mask off the surrounding area so that you don't inadvertently sand down the "good" hull. Use the finest wet and dry you can get away with. 800 then 1600 then rubbing compound if you want it to look really good. Three words of warning. Make sure you get the right hardener - there are a couple of types and they are not interchangeable. Wear disposable plastic gloves and your oldest clothes cos gelcoat doesn't wash off - ever. Don't apply too much gelcoat - it will shrink very very slighly as it cures but gelcoat is very hard stuff and not at all easy to sand in quantity. And don't expect perfection - at least not on your first go. ------------- English Dave http://www.ballyholme.com - Ballyholme Yacht Club (You'd think I'd be better at it by now) Hurricane 5.9 SX RS700 |
Posted By: Ian99
Date Posted: 22 Jan 07 at 8:01pm
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The tape you want to use is "Lane Marking Tape" - used to mark out
walking routes, storage areas etc within on factory floors. It is like
a very wide (2 inch), incredibly tough electrical tape with a far more
agressive adhesive, so it doesn't get pulled off by the boat sliding
onto the trolley etc. I'd not bother trying to actually repair the gelcoat until the weather is much warmer - not only is it miserable trying to do repairs outside in the winter, they usually don't work as well as the chemicals don't react properly below about fifteen degrees. A piece of the lane marking tape (available in white so many people won't even notice!) stuck over the hole will seal things quite satisfactorily for a good few months until the weather gets better. The tape (sometimes referred to as Hazard Warning Tape) is available from all good trade suppliers, many of which will now sell to "the public" over the internet. It's also usually cheaper than the really rubbish gaffer tape is in DIY shops!  |