Topsides Gelcoat Repair Questions for CD22 and TY Senior

[MHBsailor]

Lately I've seen several CD22s and a Typhoon Senior that had significant topsides gelcoat cracking on the foredeck and side deck nonskid, cabin house non-skid, smooth cabin house gelcoat and cockpit floor non-skid (I've attached a few examples). While there are several theories about why there is so much topsides gelcoat cracking on Cape Dories, my interest is in understanding when the repair is within the capabilities of the owner (e.g., say using the rolled-on Kiwi Grip Non-Skid Deck System or rolled-on one-part polyurethane) and when it is best left to a professional (e.g., sprayed-on gelcoat or 2-part polyurethane). And while I can see the owner using the Kiwi Grip to make a textured surface, I have no idea how an owner could make large portions of smooth gelcoat, although I've seen examples of professional spray-application of gelcoat that could do this). Would be interested in hearing from owners who have either done the non-skid and/or smooth gelcoat repairs themselves, or decided to have a boat yard do the repairs (which I've heard can be quite expensive). For purposes of responding, please assume that the underlying laminate and balsa core are undamaged, and we're just talking surface gelcoat repair only. Thank you!

[Frenchy]

For non-skid gelcoat refurbishment, a good article to read is Brian Cleverly's "Redo your non-skid" in the Sept/Oct 2007
issue of Good Old Boat. Perhaps you can order a reprint from them. His formula is 10:3:1 (by volume) of gelcoat,
silica and talc (available at the drug store). He rolls it on with a textured roller manufactured by Symphony (available
at Lowe's). I've used his method with good success.
To mix color requires practice and finesse; I would recommend buying premixed (available
at Gel Coat Products in Washington state. They have Cape Dory White and Beige.
To gelcoat the smooth areas, I would buy the gelcoat premixed 50-50 with Duratec. This will allow
you to spray with no other additives. You can use a Preval sprayer for this (inexpensive). You can even "paint" with this mix, and the results are much better than with plain gelcoat. You will have to sand, however, to get a smooth surface. I've had good results with this too. Anything larger than say 15 sq. in. or so, I would spray.
One other little tip, when you catalyze the gelcoat, use enough catalyst and mix, mix,
mix. It's disappointing when the gelcoat doesn't "kick" and you end up with a sticky mess.
As for a DIY repair, - go for it. There's a lot of information online and as a practical matter, when you own an
old boat, it's disheartening to pour boatyard dollars in and never recover when you sell. -Good luck, Jean

[MHBsailor]

Thanks so much Jean, both for the technical tips and encouragement! I was able to find the article you referenced on-line. One of the pointers was to use System Three SB-112 because it will bond to the polyester gelcoat. While I'm feeling good about doing the non-skid portions, I'm still not so sure about the smooth portions (e.g., between the tan non-skid on the side decks and the teak toe rails (see Photo 3), or on the portion of the cabin house on the TY Senior near the mast base and foredeck hatch where it is smooth, and a single smooth line that proceeds downward from aft of the mast base on either side bisecting the cabin house non-skid (see Photo 2)).

[Frenchy]

You're welcome. I'm struggling through the same issues as you are. I don't like the thought of painting over the gelcoat, yet the repairs to it
are expensive and time consuming. For now, I'm doing a section at a time and am resolved that it's a multi-year project.
Painting the smooth areas and applying kiwi-grip would be much easier and is what most people do, I think. I just can't do it. - Jean

[MHBsailor]

Curious what you don't like about the Kiwi Grip non-skid? One question I have about it is how long it will last given it's advertised as being a "water-based acrylic" product. Seems to have mostly decent reviews on Amazon, but one reviewer commented that it doesn't adhere well to corner/edge surfaces and tends to chip off in these areas.

[Frenchy]

Most of the users of Kiwi-Grip have nothing but good things to say, and I have no bias against it- but once you commit
to painting gelcoat, you can't turn back , at least not easily. Applying the gelcoat with a textured roller isn't any harder
(maybe a bit more costly), and the durability is better.
Also, I like to keep the boat's exterior as it left the factory. As a buyer, given the choice between a painted boat
and one with the original gelcoat in good shape, I'd opt for the latter. -It's just a personal preference. There's no
right or wrong here, and the decision to paint is definitely a good practical one. - Jean