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  Color Matching In Repair of Gel Coat

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Author Topic:   Color Matching In Repair of Gel Coat
Creeker posted 05-24-2014 01:28 PM ET (US)   Profile for Creeker   Send Email to Creeker  
I have a classic 1987 Outrage that has some nicks and spider cracks. I came across an interesting new product that I want to buy. However I can't seem to be able to decide the right color match for the outside of the hull and the interior. Any help will be appreciated.
egres posted 05-25-2014 03:52 PM ET (US)     Profile for egres  Send Email to egres     
Interesting new product from Australia. Obtain the color chart of availability and match to your hull. I would be keen to see how well this one would hold in our climates here.
Binkster posted 05-26-2014 09:55 AM ET (US)     Profile for Binkster  Send Email to Binkster     
Even if it works as advertised--which is doubtful--it would be a million to one shot that the colors on their color chart would match your boat. As to "how well this one would hold in our climates here." I don't see a problem after all Austrailia is located on planet Earth, same as we are.

rich

jimh posted 05-26-2014 10:17 AM ET (US)     Profile for jimh  Send Email to jimh     
An off-white color, like that found on a Boston Whaler hull gel coat, is hard to color match, as there are very subtle variations in the hue. It takes some skill or training or experience with matching colors, particularly in white tones, to be able to see the differences. It is impossible to know if you have the necessary eye for this sort of judgement.

Further complicating the problem is the surface luster. The same color will appear differently depending on the gloss or matte finish of the surface.

An additional problem is the light source used to compare colors.

My recommendation for color matching is to compare small color chips of the repair material with the hull gel coat color, using areas of the hull where the surface reflectivity or gloss matches the color chip. If the color chip is a matte finish, compare it to a not-too-glossy part of the hull. Make the comparison in daylight, in mid-day, without a lot of cloud cover.

In no instance can you use any sort of color shown on a computer's display screen. The colorimetry of a display monitor is so variable that no decision could ever be made about color or hue from looking at a monitor, except in the case of very expensive, very carefully matched and set-up monitors, which have been calibrated to match actual colors of paint or gel coat.

wezie posted 05-27-2014 10:59 AM ET (US)     Profile for wezie  Send Email to wezie     
This project begins with matching the paint on your wife's car. Once you can touch up the hood, you are ready to attempt working with gel coat.

Spectrumcolor.com does offer matching gel coat. They are a good company and their product will be close.
One company, now gone, worked with an index of paint chips. You selected the color and they sent it to you.

The new guys might hit the match the first time?

Jim's comments are right on.
Rich, also has a lot of experience

The spider/stress cracks will most likely not hold any coating. The problem with either is getting to the bottom of the crack and to the problem that caused the crack.

Good Luck

george nagy posted 05-27-2014 11:27 AM ET (US)     Profile for george nagy  Send Email to george nagy     
Which cracks are you intending on filling? I have used the spectrum gelcoat on that boat before and had success in color matching pretty well. The repairs on the port side near the registration numbers were not done by me so don't use that as an example, that repair looks to be too gray to me. Anyway how is the boat? Hope you are enjoying it. Is the deck solid still? The one I have now, needs a new deck and I don't remember ever having an issue with the old one.

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