How to repair a small chip in gelcoat-gctid820831

[MonteVista]

Inside the side of the cockpit arch in my cockpit has a small (about 3/4" long)




chip off the gelcoat. What is a good way to repair this?

Thanks,

[Damorsoft]

Get a small can of Gelcoat of a matching color, clean divot with acetone and a light sanding. You could add some thickener to make the job go faster or use multiple coats. Sand and wax, all done.

[BB_Mike]

The gel coat will run thin. if that's a horizontal surface, then have something ready to wipe off the extra drip down. Go thin and multiple coats like mentioned above. If you are worried about the repair being noticeable, paint something else like a washer with the gel coat, let it dry, then set it next to that area to see how well the colors match. white isn't always white. more so for older stuff.

[MonteVista]

I should have mentioned that the chip is on a vertical segment. I am worried about run off with gravity. I shall experiment with different colors and/or thickeners on a spare plastic piece before I attempt the fix.

Thanks,

[Iproff]

This is not that difficult a fix have done a few hundred of these. If it is straight white it's very easy. Clean with acetone or styrene dry or wet sand area with 320. Mix your gelcoat use a hobby paint brush to brush it on. Take a piece of Saran Wrap and put it over the gelcoat keep it tight to the surface. This will stop it from sagging. Once dried you need to wet sand with 320 then 400 then 800 finally 1500. Then you need to polish it then a coat of wax.

For 100 to 150 you might get a shop to fix it. If it needs to be tinted you could spend more on materials then they will charge you.

Ken

[builderdude]

Vista, take a look at this guys videos, he does a great job of explaining the different ways of many types of repair.

http://boatworkstoday.com/video-page

[Guest]

spectrum color sells factory match. works great for me

[Discovery]

I use marine Tex epoxy putty for the small stuff. $25 and 25 min to done.

http://www.marinetex.com/products/marine-tex-products/marine-tex-epoxy-putty/