fixing up scratches
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=6856
Printed Date: 15 May 25 at 3:42am
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 9.665y - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: fixing up scratches
Posted By: zailor
Subject: fixing up scratches
Date Posted: 21 Jun 10 at 9:26pm
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hi. They aren't very deep scratches just surface ones in the gel coat (some more noticeable than others and might need filling) whats the best way to smoothing these bits out and making it look sexy again? |
Replies:
Posted By: Alistair426
Date Posted: 22 Jun 10 at 6:08pm
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Zailor, The following site http://www.schrothfiberglass.com/LaserMaint.htm#How To Make Your Bottom Pretty - http://www.schrothfiberglass.com/LaserMaint.htm#How To Make Your Bottom Pretty is a good starting point, particularly if you have a Laser or RS boat. If it is something a little more esoteric, you might need to follow all the suggested steps and then respray the area if the gelcoat is particularly thin or the hull was sprayed originally. |
Posted By: zailor
Date Posted: 22 Jun 10 at 7:27pm
| I think the method here is too OTT, they are individual scratches here and there, most of the hull is pristine |
Posted By: hollandsd
Date Posted: 23 Jun 10 at 5:23pm
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What I would do sailor is to wet sand the scratches out with 600 grit
wet and dry the. Go to 1200 wet then get some cutting paste/ polish and give it a good rub with that. If the scratches are significantly deep then fill them with gelcoat and follow the instructions above. If your class rules allow of course. I repaired the 3000 before the nationals in this way but there were a few patches of gelcoat missing before we started. Dan p.s pm me if you need any more help. ------------- Laser 184084 Tasar 3501 RS600 698 RS600 782 |
Posted By: zailor
Date Posted: 23 Jun 10 at 7:18pm
| Yep ok thats the kind of fix I'm after, the scratch isnt deep enough for gell coat filler but is there a "paint" version? |
Posted By: hollandsd
Date Posted: 23 Jun 10 at 11:00pm
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If you get the gelcoat itself rather than a filler it's a lot more runny And
will go on smaller scratches and can be put on with a brush or spatula. ------------- Laser 184084 Tasar 3501 RS600 698 RS600 782 |
Posted By: zailor
Date Posted: 24 Jun 10 at 7:41pm
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Ok cheers
Would this be the stuff? http://www.thefibreglassshop.co.uk/shop/article_15/01-Gelcoat-Resin-B-65pa---500g..html?shop_param=cid%3D132%26aid%3D15%26 - http://www.thefibreglassshop.co.uk/shop/article_15/01-Gelcoa t-Resin-B-(65pa)---500g..html?shop_param=cid%3D132%26aid%3D1 5%26 |
Posted By: tmoore
Date Posted: 24 Jun 10 at 8:51pm
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If your scratches are visible but cannot be felt when you run your hand over the area, you will need to simply sand it out using increasingly fine grades of wet and dry paper (with more and more water). Make sure you use a cork block (or bit of wood etc). Going up to 1500 or 2000 grade should do. Then use 'T-Cut' (available from any automotive store) over and over and over. . . . . you get the picture. Eventually you can end up with an invisible repair. If the scratches are more like tiny cracks or can be felt with your hand, get some gel coat in them. I think Hollandsd was talking about this kind of stuff: http://www.ldcracingsailboats.co.uk/index.asp?selection=detailed&uid=8742&itemtitle=RS - http://www.ldcracingsailboats.co.uk/index.asp?selection=deta iled&uid=8742&itemtitle=RS The gel coat kit is colour matched to your hull, (laser etc also do them) and nice and runny. I am doing some repairs on my 300 now and my top tip if using this would be to get a bit of clear asetone (the clear plastic stuff of cardboard stiffness). Tape this tight to the area of repair straight after putting your goo in. It will distribute the goo more evenly across the area and greatly reduce sanding time. Incidentally, why do you always seem to get those few bubbles in an otherwise perfect repair. Is it a result of too much catalyst, temperature, air included during mixing or what? I always get them with the RS stuff but never did with the Laser one. Hope this helps. ------------- Landlocked in Africa RS300 - 410 Firefly F517 - Nutshell Micro Magic RC yacht - Eclipse |
Posted By: zailor
Date Posted: 24 Jun 10 at 9:14pm
Ah marvelous, many thanks, I'm one happy fuss pot 
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Posted By: hollandsd
Date Posted: 25 Jun 10 at 8:24am
It could simply be to do with the temperature of the gelcoat or just the brands viscosity, as a less viscous liquid will shed its bubbles a lot faster than a thick liquid. My solution to gelcoat bubbles is to just fill them with more gelcoat when it has set. Dan ------------- Laser 184084 Tasar 3501 RS600 698 RS600 782 |
Posted By: tmoore
Date Posted: 25 Jun 10 at 10:49am
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Yea, thats what I'm doing at the moment, just wondered if there was a trick to not getting them in the first place. ------------- Landlocked in Africa RS300 - 410 Firefly F517 - Nutshell Micro Magic RC yacht - Eclipse |
Posted By: hollandsd
Date Posted: 25 Jun 10 at 10:52am
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The answer is to warm the gelcoat with a hairdryer before you add the catalyst and when you apply it, make sure you spread it and spread it and spread it about and it should remove all the bubbles. Another option is if your doing something small is to make it vibrate and that would release the bubbles also. Dan ------------- Laser 184084 Tasar 3501 RS600 698 RS600 782 |
Posted By: Rupert
Date Posted: 25 Jun 10 at 12:48pm
Hmm, what do you have at home to make these vibrations? ------------- Firefly 2324, Puffin 229, Minisail 3446 Mirror 70686 |