Repair of Damage to Gel Coat Layer on Hull Bottom

Repair or modification of Boston Whaler boats, their engines, trailers, and gear
roguewave
Posts: 42
Joined: Tue Mar 01, 2016 11:33 am
Location: Texas/Maine

Repair of Damage to Gel Coat Layer on Hull Bottom

Postby roguewave » Sun May 27, 2018 4:57 pm

I wasn't paying attention and ran the boat onto on some submerged rocks--at slow speed, thankfully. Until I pulled the boat off the grinding was disheartening.

After siting at the dock in saltwater for a couple days, I pulled the boat. I saw some gouges on the bottom. One spot is the size of a pencil eraser. I can see some dark color--fiberglass, I guess.

Give suggestions on the repair procedure. Is a repair even necessary?

Thanks.
..."some gave all, KIA"...

jimh
Posts: 11674
Joined: Fri Oct 09, 2015 12:25 pm
Location: Michigan, Lower Peninsula
Contact:

Re: Repair of Damage to Gel Coat Layer on Hull Bottom

Postby jimh » Sun May 27, 2018 5:32 pm

If the gel coat layer has been abraded away and the underlying laminate layers are exposed, a repair should be made.

Because the damage is on the hull bottom and will be perpetually underwater when the boat is in use, a repair is necessary. The gel coat layer is considered a water-resistant layer, but the underlying laminate layers are not water resistant. As the repair generally will not be visible, making a completely perfect cosmetic repair won't be mandatory.

For advice on how to make minor repairs to a Boston Whaler, there are three good articles. Here are the links.

The Epoxy Cure
by Jim Hebert

http://continuouswave.com/maintenance-logs/epoxy/
INSTRUCTIONS -- HULL PATCH KITS
by Boston Whaler

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

http://continuouswave.com/whaler/reference/whalerRepair.html

roguewave
Posts: 42
Joined: Tue Mar 01, 2016 11:33 am
Location: Texas/Maine

Re: Repair of Damage to Gel Coat Layer on Hull Bottom

Postby roguewave » Sun May 27, 2018 8:45 pm

Thanks Jim
..."some gave all, KIA"...