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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

General Sailing Forum

Repairing gelcoat

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Turk
Admiral

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USA
736 Posts

Initially Posted - 04/30/2007 : 18:55:04

I've noticed a few holes (3) appearing in the cockpit. I've covered them with tape temporarily, but now is the time to fix them. I received a pint of gel coat from Catalina that matches my 250, but have a few questions about going about this repair. The holes seem to be air bubbles that must have gotten in the mold when the deck was formed. I haven't looked how deep they are yet and they are about 1/4" x 1/8" in size.

Do I fill them with epoxy and a filler first allowing it to bulge out and sand later or do I fill to a slight depression and top with the gel coat?

Also, what would be an appropriate hardener for the gel coat? Catalina could not send the hardener through the mail and told me to pick some up anywhere. Right. I believe I'm to use a polyester resin hardener.

I assume I cover the area around the repair with masking tape. What is the trick with plastic wrap and gel coat.

Now it's time to Google!

Turk

www.turk.mysailboatblog.com
2003 C250 WK #663
Northeast Ohio
Mosquito Lake/Lake Erie

Edited by - Turk on 04/30/2007 19:12:24

Champipple
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
6855 Posts

Response Posted - 04/30/2007 : 19:15:23

A lot of the pro's thicken the gel coat with powdered cotton when dealing with small to mid size patches or holes. You can probably pick up the hardner at West Marine. I thought I had some, but when I just checked we saved the aquanet hairspray and pitched everything else...go figure!!! Unfortunately, you might have to buy the entire shebang to get the hardener.

If the areas are small enough you won't need the plastic. Polyvinyl alcohol or aquanet hairspray is what most people I know use instead of the saran wrap.

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Turk
Admiral

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USA
736 Posts

Response Posted - 04/30/2007 : 21:02:36

Why would you want your hair to look nice while fixing gelcoat???

Actually, what on earth do you do with hair spray?

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Champipple
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
6855 Posts

Response Posted - 04/30/2007 : 21:32:08

Same thing you would do with the Polyvinyl or the saran wrap. I might not get the terminology here, but Gel coat sets up in the absence of oxygen. The Aquanet is way cheaper than the polyvinyl alcohol and just as effective. Without removing its air source the stuff would stay gooey for a long long time

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Jmurfy
Navigator

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USA
176 Posts

Response Posted - 04/30/2007 : 21:49:43

I buffed my hull a little to much in one spot and the glass was starting to show in an area around 4" in diameter. Is the gel coat restorable?

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britinusa
Web Editor

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USA
5404 Posts

Response Posted - 04/30/2007 : 22:09:28

Turk, keep us informed on your experience here. (When we scrubbed JD this weekend I noticed a couple of dings that need fixing only jel-coat deep.

And would someone clearly describe the hairnet process!
TIA
Paul

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Leon Sisson
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1893 Posts

Response Posted - 05/01/2007 : 08:28:31

What Catalina told Turk to buy locally might be the catalyst, which is problematic to ship because it's hazardous. (So be carefull!) I believe it's the same stuff for all polyester resins. As mentioned above, you also need to deprive the resin of air to get it to harden tack-free. (The "stays tacky" feature is helpful in building up laminations in a large mold, but not so helpful in getting the final coat of resin to harden completely.)

I agree with strengthening the gelcoat with fibers to make a colored filler putty for small cavities. Depending on the fiber used, you may want to also apply a thin final coat w/o fibers.

-- Leon S.

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Ericson33
Admiral

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USA
892 Posts

Response Posted - 05/02/2007 : 00:47:44

A little advice here, as I feel I have done a fair share of Gelcoat work.

1. MEKP is the hardner (cancer in a bottle)be carefull, wear gloves and eye wear.

2. you don't need to thicken the gelcoat, it is just a colored polyester resin. If the holes are not bad, then I would fill the holes, and let it come up off of the surface about 1/8". Get some 320 grit, sand light, then get some black laqure, and spray a light mist over the surface, sand it down with 400, the laqure will show the high and low spots. sand then with 600 wet and dry, compound, polish then wax.

PVA is used to spray a light mist over the gelcoat to setup, or KICK. you can use allot of different things, I used wax paper, but the PVA is the best way to go. (1) it has a purple tint to it, and (2) it doesn't mix with the gelcoat. and (3) it cleans up with water.

Get a scrap and play around with it, Its really neat stuff to work with.

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