Gelcoat Repair Kit - colour matching and more???

[davidni]

Ok so my little searider has a few chips in the gelcoat - they are small enough but expose some csm.

Firstly - Is it a big no no to stick it in the water for a day like this?

The hull doesnt look brilliant white to me. Would it have been originally and just needs a good polish up? Or are they generally an 'off white'?

Lots of kits online. Im hoping one of you folks will know a bit about this since the sr4's are so popular on here.

I want to match the colour as closely as possible so just looking a bit of first hand advice. Assuming there are a few experts on here as well.

Last question...I dont fancy having to sand gelcoat filler down as surely I will end up sanding the glossy finish of the original gelcoat regardless of how careful I am.

Is there a trick to finishing it off so it doesnt really need sanding much?

[davidni]

Anybody had to colour match gelcoat repair on their sr4 with the off white hull?

Tired contacting Avon directly bit no response as yet.

[jeffstevens763@g]

Originally Posted by davidni

Anybody had to colour match gelcoat repair on their sr4 with the off white hull?

Tired contacting Avon directly bit no response as yet.

David talk to east Coast resin supplies they have videos of various ways of glass fibering very helpful

[ShinyShoe]

Pretty sure some SR4 are a slightly creamy white. Bit like two gloos paints could be white but another is whiter than the other.

East Coast are certainly worth contacting.

You want flow rather than gelcoat for easy touch up. Sand back with reducing grades of wet n dry (wet) and then polish up with some cutting paste (t-cut).

Or use gel coat filler but don't expect a decent colour match. You may find its stiff enough to be knife-able so far less sanding...

If you can avoid putting CSM in water do. If you can't make sure it dries **thoroughly** before gelling...

[davidni]

Yes it seems an offish white to me.

Just plain old original t cut for polishing up? None if the fancy compounds etc?

I would be interested to know, is there a specialist tape etc that could be used over the filler to mould it into shape to lessen need for excessive sanding?

So flowcoat then.

I want to spend bit of time to do it properly but no time for few weeks. If I used a little dab of gelcoat filler - just enough to cover the csm, this would keep it dry for a day or 2 wouldn't it? Then could prep and repair fully when getting down ti doing it properly.

Going to clean up the hull before repairing so I know exactly what colour it should be....whats your fav polish for doing this?

Will indeed give east coast a call.

[ShinyShoe]

I'm sure the pros will have a preferred rubbing compound. They all seem fairly similar to me.

If I'm doing a big job I use some acetate taped in place with gel coat rather than flow. But you still end up sanding...

You ideally need the RAL number for the colour. Even with that you won't get 100% perfect match... ...the old gel will have faded slightly.

[jonp]

If your boat is anything like mine most of my chips come from driving onto the trailer, if so these hide all of those https://www.keelguard.com/

As for any other chips I just mask of with tape and use white gelcoat filler, the filled chips are so small you dont notice them even if there is a slight difference in colour.

Jon

[Nos4r2]

Best rubbing compound I found is Farecla Profile 300 on gelcoat.

[gtflash]

Do you have a picture? In my DIYer opinion. I think it would depend on the size of the chips. Gel coat is brittle and not very strong alone. So if the chips are big it might need some filler. You will always have to sand regardless of what product you use, just mask off the area and be tidy to reduce the amount. I really like I plastic padding gelcoat filler, but it is a funny colour white.

The CSM should be encapsulated in resin so i would have thought its waterproof even if it's showing.

[ShinyShoe]

Originally Posted by gtflash

The CSM should be encapsulated in resin so i would have thought its waterproof even if it's showing.

Except resin is not 100% waterproof. Its maybe 98% or something. So a small amount of water can be absorbed into the resin. Trouble is its really hard to get back out again...

[davidni]

Originally Posted by gtflash

Do you have a picture? In my DIYer opinion. I think it would depend on the size of the chips. Gel coat is brittle and not very strong alone. So if the chips are big it might need some filler. You will always have to sand regardless of what product you use, just mask off the area and be tidy to reduce the amount. I really like I plastic padding gelcoat filler, but it is a funny colour white.

The CSM should be encapsulated in resin so i would have thought its waterproof even if it's showing.

Will post few pics tomorrow.

Have tried to call Avon numerous times...and emailed.

Anybody think they may know a close match????

The chips are small enough but not microscopic.

I like to make a good job of things...its a very very tidy little Rib so don't want to spoil it by botching anything. A close colourmatch is good enough though.

Might even just touch in the chips to keep the water out and finish them.nicely at a later stage.

[gtflash]

Is gel coat different from normal resin then and more waterproof?

[ShinyShoe]

Yip. Gel is waterproof, resin isn't 100%.