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Author Topic:   Blue Gel Coat Repair, Color Match

padrefigure posted 06-17-2014 09:20 AM ET (US)
Please offer guidance on repairing, matching blue gel coat. I will be repairing the interior of a 13 foot whaler that has severe stress cracking. Thinking about taking on small sections at a time, say a couple of square feet. The process would be to dig out the cracks, fill, re-surface coat, move to next section, etc until complete, then come back and re-skim the entire surface for perfect consistency. Does that seem to be a reasonable approach?
contender posted 06-17-2014 09:50 AM ET (US)
If you are going to the repair, do everything at once, take your time, or do it when you have time to do the entire boat at once, I sanded down the entire boat inside and out for the redo. sanded down the cracks filled them in and sanded eveything again, it just going to take some man hours but do it all the same time
picflight posted 06-24-2014 01:53 PM ET (US)
It is certainly a luxury of time and resources to tackle a fairly complex project all in one shot.
I say luxury because in my experience there has been several instances where the project has diverged.
Planning is everything, in your head and if you can write it out.
Open up cracks, fill in, sand whole area smooth and spray gelcoat. From what I have read, the little extra effort of spraying makes the final finish that much spectacular.
Measure meticulously the test quantity of white gelcoat and blue pigment if you are mixing the colors yourself. Test it out on the coat without catalyzing the gelcoat. Wipe clean with acetone. Once you have the formula for the correct match, then spray away.
padrefigure posted 06-24-2014 08:58 PM ET (US)
Thanks for the input. Probably will not start until the end of summer. I will post updates as I make progress.
wezie posted 06-25-2014 12:29 PM ET (US)
Matching colors has been debated and instructed for ever here and in other places. I believe there is enough advice on the net to make this a practical task. Look for it.
For touch up, in my opinion, it will not match.
It will look better. If you eliminate the cause of the crack, it will be less likely to return.
You will learn how to use the products. Practice!
We learn how to get closer to color.
But you will most likely not match it.
Accept the last and have fun.
Go forward and your repairs will improve the over all condition of the boat. A well maintained boat, clean and neat will always look better. If the results look intentional and thought out, great. At some time in the future, maybe you will be able to do the whole thing; but I agree with the previous post about the size of the project becoming too great to begin.
Good Luck

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Author	Topic: Blue Gel Coat Repair, Color Match
padrefigure	posted 06-17-2014 09:20 AM ET (US) Please offer guidance on repairing, matching blue gel coat. I will be repairing the interior of a 13 foot whaler that has severe stress cracking. Thinking about taking on small sections at a time, say a couple of square feet. The process would be to dig out the cracks, fill, re-surface coat, move to next section, etc until complete, then come back and re-skim the entire surface for perfect consistency. Does that seem to be a reasonable approach?
contender	posted 06-17-2014 09:50 AM ET (US) If you are going to the repair, do everything at once, take your time, or do it when you have time to do the entire boat at once, I sanded down the entire boat inside and out for the redo. sanded down the cracks filled them in and sanded eveything again, it just going to take some man hours but do it all the same time
picflight	posted 06-24-2014 01:53 PM ET (US) It is certainly a luxury of time and resources to tackle a fairly complex project all in one shot. I say luxury because in my experience there has been several instances where the project has diverged. Planning is everything, in your head and if you can write it out. Open up cracks, fill in, sand whole area smooth and spray gelcoat. From what I have read, the little extra effort of spraying makes the final finish that much spectacular. Measure meticulously the test quantity of white gelcoat and blue pigment if you are mixing the colors yourself. Test it out on the coat without catalyzing the gelcoat. Wipe clean with acetone. Once you have the formula for the correct match, then spray away.
padrefigure	posted 06-24-2014 08:58 PM ET (US) Thanks for the input. Probably will not start until the end of summer. I will post updates as I make progress.
wezie	posted 06-25-2014 12:29 PM ET (US) Matching colors has been debated and instructed for ever here and in other places. I believe there is enough advice on the net to make this a practical task. Look for it. For touch up, in my opinion, it will not match. It will look better. If you eliminate the cause of the crack, it will be less likely to return. You will learn how to use the products. Practice! We learn how to get closer to color. But you will most likely not match it. Accept the last and have fun. Go forward and your repairs will improve the over all condition of the boat. A well maintained boat, clean and neat will always look better. If the results look intentional and thought out, great. At some time in the future, maybe you will be able to do the whole thing; but I agree with the previous post about the size of the project becoming too great to begin. Good Luck