CONTINUOUSWAVE

I am a recent new owner of an 1984 Montauk 17 that been garaged for [for more than eight] years out of fresh water. The boat is in very good condition except for the keel. The gel coat has been worn from a point about five feet from the forward water line toward the stern—obviously from running the boat up on shore.

The fiberglass is exposed, but no holes or foam exposed.

As I am new to Whalers, I am looking for someone experienced to repair this common problem. I'm in Chattanooga, Tennessee, and in close proximity to Nashville, Knoxville, Atlanta, and Birmingham.

Could anyone share a name or business that does Whaler hull repairs. Just want it done right.

Thanks so much.
Reed

Pictures would help; as the repair may just require a top coat, or may need some glass work. Several good pictures speak volumes.

-Laurent

The most important caution: don’t use the boat until you get the repair done. Exposed laminate will absorb water.

Since the 1984 MONTAUKL 17 boat has not been in the water for eight years, the hull should be dry. Don’t get it wet.

Based on your clear description of the damage being just some gel coat abrasion, the repair will be minor and easily done by any good boat laminate shop. I don't think it will be necessary for you to post multiple images of the damage, unless for some reason your description of the damage is completely misleading and you have failed to properly describe it to us.

SeaRay has a huge presence in your area, and they are often also Boston Whaler dealers.

Call Boston Whaler customer service to get a local Whaler dealer contact.

I’d probably repair this sort of damage myself with epoxy resin. I don't have any knowledge of individuals or small shops in your area that are specialists in the repair of Boston Whaler boats.

For some advice on making repairs to Boston Whaler boats that will give you proper background information, I recommend you read the following three articles:

From the WHALER section of the website from the REFERENCE section:

Repairing Hull Damage the Whaler Way
by Taylor Clark
http://continuouswave.com/whaler/reference/whalerRepair.html

and

INSTRUCTIONS -- HULL PATCH KITS (from Boston Whaler literature and transcribed carefully to HTML)
http://continuouswave.com/whaler/reference/repairInstructions.html

From my own first-hand experience in making minor repairs from the MAINTENANCE LOGS section of the website:

The Epoxy Cure
http://continuouswave.com/maintenance-logs/epoxy/

These are the best photos I could take considering where the boat is stored and the fact it is on the trailer. One interesting observation I am not sure one can see from the photos is the fact the "scuffs" have a faint greenish tint to them. Thanks for your help--Reed

The images shows the same damage as you described. I don't see any evidence that would affect the recommendation I made earlier.