How to repair Gelcoat Part 2 

I ordered my gel coat, catalyst, surface drying agent and a bit of white pigment. TAP shipped same day & delivered in 2 days. Just finished patching 2 holes in my tub surround. Worked like a dream.

By far, the BEST video collection on gel coat repairs in right here. But most importantly, the products mentioned in the video are available for purchase. Unlike so many other badly made vids here on YT. Thanks guys! Now I can fix the 2 holes in my shower surround & sell this place & get the hell outta this house.

Nice!!! I've seen a ton of "How To" videos and this is one of the very best. Nice job.

@gardee37 The spider web lines are called 'stress cracks'. If they radiate from a point, they could be the result of impact. Since they are recurring, they are more likely the result of some stress or flexing that was greater than the gel coat's ability to absorb. The fact that they were repaired and returned indicates that any simple repair will be equally temporary. A permanent fix would involve reinforcing the area from behind to eliminate the flexing.

Hi great video thanks. Can you please tell me what is the life of the gel coat in the can at room temperature after it's been open for a small repair? Thank you.

I have found that if you 'replace' the air [oxidizer] in the can of gelcoat, paint etc, with Co2, there will not be any drying of the product in the can, therefore extending the life of the paint, or other product. I have been using this method on Japan Colors & house paints for 20 years. Co2 is heavier than air and will displace air when added slowly. Put the lid on, store in a cool cabinet.

This is a major job for an entire hull. Consider using a good marine paint that is designed for use below the water line. There are catalyzed paints that produce very tough and gorgeous finishes with far less labor.

it was very helfull am goin to do some fiberglassing then gelcoating

That depends on the temperature and catalyst ratio. Usually it takes less than an hour.

@rubberduckno1 You can but it does take experience to get it to work right.

If the uncured gel coat is still liquid and wet (not gelled), you can apply Mylar to get a good surface cure. If the resin has gelled, either wait for it to cure more, or apply more gel coat and immediately apply Mylar. You can apply heat to accelerate the cure, but be careful to apply the heat evenly.

@gardee37 not a problem. dremmel them out wider than the actual stress fracture. key the area up with 120 grit and fill with chopped strand fibre glass. wait for that to cure and then sand back to a flush finish. gel and repeat the sanding process.

Great video! I love the theme song!

It depends on the structure of the piece you are repairing. Some fiberglass has a clear coat added to the pigmented gel coat. This is most common when you see the metal flake designs. Otherwise, most fiberglass products do not have a clear coat.

I would like to do a complete paint job on my boat...do I need gelcoat with or without wax? also do I need to prime the boat first? Thanks!

do you sell a kit with the plastic , sand paper etc.. for small repairs on jet ski

@denzzz28 Thickness of gel coat should be no thicker than 12 to 18 mils, it can’t be used as a filler.

Without being there, it is hard to give a definitive answer. It is the combination of heat and catalyst that causes gel coat to cure. However, the top layer of molecules that are in contact with air will never cure. Sometimes they will remain tacky, other times, not. In either case, the surface is not cured.

Shelf life is highly dependent on storage temperature. Generally 6 months is a minimum, but we have see good gel coat that is over 2 years old. Don't count on that, however.

First of all, gel coat is not a paint. It does not self level or cure to a gloss like paint. When boats are made, the gel coat is applied to the mold, then the fiberglass is applied to the gel coat. When the boat is pulled out of the mold, it has a glossy finish as a result of the mold surface. When gel coat is applied like paint, it will cure with an uneven, dull surface which must be sanded and buffed to create a gloss.

Very helpful. Thanks

same here

@soccergal500 Not at this time.

Gel coat cracks should be examined by a professional to make sure they are not the result of a structural issue. They may be strictly a cosmetic problem, but only a professional inspection can determine that.

If you apply gel coat with fibers, the repair will be conspicuous and not attractive. A better approach would be to grind down the area, apply some mat and resin, then top coat with gel coat. Once cured the gel coat will need to be sanded smooth and buffed to a shine.