I recently replaced the GPS unit on my rib and as a consequence had to change the bracket and reposition it!
I'm now left with a few old drill holes which I need /want to fill. Reading though here I think I can use a gel coat (int orange) to do this? I don't want to just bodge it up I want it to at least look the same colour!
I was thinking I could use some cello-tape of some kind in the underside inside the hull as a temporary thing to hold the gel coat in the hole, mix a little bit up and just pour it into the holes?
The holes are 3-4mm!
I've never used gel coat before but am told its like epoxy where I mix it with a hardener? Is this the case? I assume the ratio will be on the packaging?
The other thing is where the old bracket was its a brighter colour where the paint has faded, can anything be done? I did think about mounting a new too to the console but I don't really want to do that
If you put too thick a layer of gelcoat in the hole you stand the chance of it cracking. Better to back fill the holes first, possibly with fibre glass matting/resin if you can access the underside easily, and then apply gelcoat on top of this.
If the fading is bad the filled holes will stand out. I had a similar problem on a Ribtec 585 - couldn't find a good match for the console which had stood out in the sun for around 10 years. Was full of holes from old gauges, switches, GPS, etc. So, I glassed over the inside, filled the holes, then covered in vinyl. Not quite the match I had hoped for but still looked considerably better after.
Ok I got my flow coat paint on the tin it talks about percentage ratio I assume that's based on milli litres etc so 100ml of paint needs 2-4% catalyst?
If you put too thick a layer of gelcoat in the hole you stand the chance of it cracking. Better to back fill the holes first, possibly with fibre glass matting/resin if you can access the underside easily, and then apply gelcoat on top of this.
That's sound advice. I'd also chamfer the edge of the hole, and sand back the gel around the repair. it gives a greater surface area for the gel to stick to, and less likely to crack.
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