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 Gel coat		  New Topic  Topic Locked
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Jan Briede
Navigator

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USA
162 Posts
Initially Posted - 08/15/2011 :  11:49:22  Show Profile
I need to repair a one-square foot section of gel coat on my boat and got the west Marine system. Well as soon as I put the correct amount of hardener in it turned into oatmeal. Did it twice with no success. The second time I even used less hardener. Reading on the West Marine product review, everyone seems to have the same disaster.

Does anyone of you have a recommendation on some decent gel coat that does not set up in less then 3 seconds into some rubbery mess that can not be spread? Thanks.

Jan
Jan Briede
Beagle
1979 TR #1242 FK
L-Dinette
Yorktown, VA
Blog -- http://vanomad.blogspot.com/
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Tomas Kruska
Admiral

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Czech Republic
522 Posts
Response Posted - 08/15/2011 :  12:08:15  Show Profile  Visit Tomas Kruska's Homepage
I suppose you still have too much of hardener.
How much do you use? What is the mixing ratio 1:100?
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OJ
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4382 Posts
Response Posted - 08/15/2011 :  17:48:07  Show Profile
Jan,

Gel coat does have a pretty short shelf life (like 90 days or less.) Who knows how long it was sitting in the warehouse or store. If you explain to West Marine that you followed the instructions - they have a pretty liberal return policy. I had a friend that mixed an entire gallon of System 2000 at once thinking it would wouldn't cure between coats. Real bonehead move - but WM still refunded his money . . . I was shocked.

<i><b><font color="blue">My opinion is gel coat is as much art as it is science.</font id="blue"></b></i>

I had a professional patch a small area on my previous 1981 C25. I am not exaggerating when I say he sprayed, sanded, and polished the gel coat in about 30 minutes.

For the novice - I think Minicraft of Florida is the best option. Very helpful people and they have formulas for dozens of factory colors - including Catalina Yachts.

I believe they now have aerosol kits that greatly reduce the guess work. Just be sure follow every <i>syllable</i> in their directions!

Their website is pretty diverse - so you have to nose around.

http://www.minicraft.com/index.html

Good luck!
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Jan Briede
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USA
162 Posts
Response Posted - 08/17/2011 :  18:05:03  Show Profile
Thanks OJ ... West Marine actually told me it was he batch and there was a recall. They gave me a new can right there. I'll be trying it again this weekend.
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JimGo
Admiral

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USA
962 Posts
Response Posted - 10/06/2011 :  11:28:12  Show Profile
Jan, how did the gelcoat repair go?
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Jan Briede
Navigator

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USA
162 Posts
Response Posted - 10/08/2011 :  05:24:20  Show Profile
Jim, with a little colder weather and a lot less activator (like 5 drops instead of the recommended half tube) it went reasonably well. After some sanding etc the job does not look too bad.
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JimGo
Admiral

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USA
962 Posts
Response Posted - 10/08/2011 :  20:50:59  Show Profile
Nice! Thanks for the update, too. Are you going to be painting over it, or does the gel coat pach match close enough that you won't need paint?
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OJ
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4382 Posts
Response Posted - 10/09/2011 :  08:08:58  Show Profile
<blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"><i>Originally posted by JimGo</i>
<br />. . . Are you going to be painting over it, or does the gel coat pach match close enough that you won't need paint?
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></font id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">Jim, one of distinct advantages of gel coat is its hardness and durability. If you read some of the threads here on gel coat vs paint - paint is usually used as a last resort.
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Notice: The advice given on this site is based upon individual or quoted experience, yours may differ.
The Officers, Staff and members of this site only provide information based upon the concept that anyone utilizing this information does so at their own risk and holds harmless all contributors to this site.