First boat - first mistake (I think). While removing the boot stripe I accidently sanded through the gel coat to the fiberglass. Perhaps a rotary sander was not the way to go. Anyway, the hole is very small (several centimeters) and a friend said to fill it with epoxy and paint over. Just wanted a second opinion - any thoughts as to the apporopriate action/ materials to use would be appreciated!
P.S this board has served as a valuable guide thus far, THANKS!
Bill
Zingara
CD 28
bkerkam@yahoo.com
epoxy vs. gel coat for repair
Moderator: Jim Walsh
-
John Phillips
Re: epoxy vs. gel coat for repair
Bill:
If it is all under the boot stripe you could fill it with any fiberglass repair. West Systems makes some easy patch kits. You may find an orbital sander more forgiving. Casey in his book, This Old Boat, doesn't recommend Bondo if it is going to be below the water line. I used Interlux stripper and had different problems. Where the stripper slopped above the waterline with some of the red boot stripe desolved in it, it had a tendancy to stain the gelcoat. That has taken some time to repair. I used Easypoxy by Pettit to paint the new stripe and it really went on quite well. But for every spot that I mentally said "Good enough" I have a spot that is not good enough.
John
branchedoakmarina@alltel.net
If it is all under the boot stripe you could fill it with any fiberglass repair. West Systems makes some easy patch kits. You may find an orbital sander more forgiving. Casey in his book, This Old Boat, doesn't recommend Bondo if it is going to be below the water line. I used Interlux stripper and had different problems. Where the stripper slopped above the waterline with some of the red boot stripe desolved in it, it had a tendancy to stain the gelcoat. That has taken some time to repair. I used Easypoxy by Pettit to paint the new stripe and it really went on quite well. But for every spot that I mentally said "Good enough" I have a spot that is not good enough.
John
Bill wrote: First boat - first mistake (I think). While removing the boot stripe I accidently sanded through the gel coat to the fiberglass. Perhaps a rotary sander was not the way to go. Anyway, the hole is very small (several centimeters) and a friend said to fill it with epoxy and paint over. Just wanted a second opinion - any thoughts as to the apporopriate action/ materials to use would be appreciated!
P.S this board has served as a valuable guide thus far, THANKS!
Bill
Zingara
CD 28
branchedoakmarina@alltel.net