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Author Topic:   Gel Coat Repairs

sapple posted 08-19-2009 07:29 PM ET (US)
This pic shows some gelcoat damage. How bad is it and what can or should I do about it?
http://i215.photobucket.com/albums/cc264/sapple2/IMG_8423a.jpg
HAPPYJIM posted 08-19-2009 08:12 PM ET (US)
Very minor to me. Gelcoat paste will do the fix.
deepwater posted 08-19-2009 08:25 PM ET (US)
I have teeth marks from a 8' Mako that look worse,,You can get that much damage hitting a bottle at cruse
newt posted 08-19-2009 09:30 PM ET (US)
Agreed. I have teeth marks from a 37" child worse than that. Use Spectrum paste color matched for your hull.
sapple posted 08-19-2009 10:30 PM ET (US)
Thanks for your advice.
BTW, that is the result of pressure washing. Lesson learned: I will never use a pressure washer on my boat again.
Jefecinco posted 08-20-2009 09:57 AM ET (US)
Sapple,
What kind of pressure and which nozzle were you using? I use a pressure washer a few times per year with no issues. Mine is a 3600 PSI machine but I use a fairly wide beam nozzle which spreads the impact out a little. I also try to keep the nozzle a few inches back from the gel coat to reduce the chance of damage. The washer does such a superior and effortless job of cleaning the non-skid that I would hate to give it up.
Ordinarily I would suspect that the damage was due to an earlier event which had weakened the gel coat but the photo really looks like the damage was caused solely by the pressure washer.
Butch
sapple posted 08-20-2009 06:40 PM ET (US)
Jefecinco, my pressure washer is rated at 2200 psi max. I used a fan-like spray pattern when the damage was done. I probably had the spray nozzle too close to the hull.
I know what you are saying about the convenience of using a pressure washer. However, I have found that a combination of Starbrite, a brush on the end of a long broom handle, and a conventional garden hose spray attachment is about the same amount of work as using a power washer but does a more effective cleaning job on non-skid and the rest of the interior. For the exterior a brush and general purpose soap does the job. However, my clean up is not that severe because the only time (except vacations) my boat is in the water is when I am using it. The rest of the time it is in my garage. Also, my boat is only a 17 foot CC and I don't fish so there is not really that much mess or area to clean up.

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Author	Topic: Gel Coat Repairs
sapple	posted 08-19-2009 07:29 PM ET (US) This pic shows some gelcoat damage. How bad is it and what can or should I do about it? http://i215.photobucket.com/albums/cc264/sapple2/IMG_8423a.jpg
HAPPYJIM	posted 08-19-2009 08:12 PM ET (US) Very minor to me. Gelcoat paste will do the fix.
deepwater	posted 08-19-2009 08:25 PM ET (US) I have teeth marks from a 8' Mako that look worse,,You can get that much damage hitting a bottle at cruse
newt	posted 08-19-2009 09:30 PM ET (US) Agreed. I have teeth marks from a 37" child worse than that. Use Spectrum paste color matched for your hull.
sapple	posted 08-19-2009 10:30 PM ET (US) Thanks for your advice. BTW, that is the result of pressure washing. Lesson learned: I will never use a pressure washer on my boat again.
Jefecinco	posted 08-20-2009 09:57 AM ET (US) Sapple, What kind of pressure and which nozzle were you using? I use a pressure washer a few times per year with no issues. Mine is a 3600 PSI machine but I use a fairly wide beam nozzle which spreads the impact out a little. I also try to keep the nozzle a few inches back from the gel coat to reduce the chance of damage. The washer does such a superior and effortless job of cleaning the non-skid that I would hate to give it up. Ordinarily I would suspect that the damage was due to an earlier event which had weakened the gel coat but the photo really looks like the damage was caused solely by the pressure washer. Butch
sapple	posted 08-20-2009 06:40 PM ET (US) Jefecinco, my pressure washer is rated at 2200 psi max. I used a fan-like spray pattern when the damage was done. I probably had the spray nozzle too close to the hull. I know what you are saying about the convenience of using a pressure washer. However, I have found that a combination of Starbrite, a brush on the end of a long broom handle, and a conventional garden hose spray attachment is about the same amount of work as using a power washer but does a more effective cleaning job on non-skid and the rest of the interior. For the exterior a brush and general purpose soap does the job. However, my clean up is not that severe because the only time (except vacations) my boat is in the water is when I am using it. The rest of the time it is in my garage. Also, my boat is only a 17 foot CC and I don't fish so there is not really that much mess or area to clean up.