Catalina - Capri - 25s International Assocaition Logo(2006)  
Assn Members Area · Join
h.jpg Home.
a.jpg Association Forum
s.jpg Ships Store
c.jpg Cruising
r.jpg Racing
t.jpg Technical Tips
g.jpg Photo Gallery - New
o.jpg Boat Search - Updated
m.jpg Manuals & Brochures
3rdrpt.jpg Swap Meet
l.jpg Links
f.jpg Officer Flag Line & Staff
b.jpg Bylaws & Constitution
 
1.jpg Members Area
1.jpg Join the Association
 
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.
 
Association Forum
Association Forum
Home | Profile | Register | Active Topics | Forum Users | Search | FAQ
Username:
 Password:
Save Password
Forgot your Password?

 All Forums
 Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums
 Catalina 25 Specific Forum
 Gelcoat Repair		  New Topic  Topic Locked
 Printer Friendly
Author Previous Topic Topic Next Topic  

Chris Z
Captain

Member Avatar

452 Posts
Initially Posted - 04/14/2008 :  15:09:12  Show Profile  Visit Chris Z's Homepage
I was looking on CD's web site and see they have Gel Coat White Paste '80-'88 at a tune of $18.95. Does anyone have another option for this stuff?
Chris Z.
Water Warrior
1982 Force 5

Former Owner Blown Away - C25
Edited by - on

newell
Navigator

Members Avatar

USA
113 Posts
Response Posted - 04/14/2008 :  15:13:27  Show Profile
I bought some of the same brand from another outlet but have yet to use it.

newell
Edited by - on
Go to Top of Page

John Russell
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

USA
3444 Posts
Response Posted - 04/14/2008 :  16:36:18  Show Profile
A fellow sailor that works at a local hardware store recommended porcelain appliance repair liquid for small chips and such. I used it on a quarter size chip below the water line. We'll see in the fall how it worked but, it looked pretty good before covering it with paint. It might be worth a try for small chips above the waterline as well. Put it on in a couple thin coats then rub it out with a little polishing compound to blend it in. I think it was about $4 for a large nail polish size bottle.
Edited by - on
Go to Top of Page

Happy D
Admiral

Members Avatar

921 Posts
Response Posted - 04/14/2008 :  18:52:55  Show Profile
The glecoat made to color match my gelcoat cost $95.00 a quart.
I also purchase white gelcoat for $22.00 a quart, so your price of $18.95 a quart is the best price I've ever seen.

Dan
Edited by - Happy D on 04/14/2008 18:55:36
Go to Top of Page

Chris Z
Captain

Members Avatar

452 Posts
Response Posted - 04/14/2008 :  20:56:59  Show Profile  Visit Chris Z's Homepage
Dan,

This is not a quart, it is about 3 oz. Not a good deal at all.
Edited by - on
Go to Top of Page

dlucier
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

Virgin Islands (United Kingdom)
7583 Posts
Response Posted - 04/14/2008 :  21:55:54  Show Profile
Years ago, I ordered a small jar of white gel coat from CD that was supposed to match my hull, but it had a rather buttery, yellow tint to it. Didn't like it.

Although I've never ordered from them, here's another vendor.

[url="https://www.minicraft.com/retail/catalinayachts.htm"]MiniCraft[/url]
Edited by - on
Go to Top of Page

stampeder
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

1608 Posts
Response Posted - 04/14/2008 :  22:14:15  Show Profile
How would Marine-tex look?
Edited by - on
Go to Top of Page

Dave5041
Former Mainsheet Editor

Members Avatar

USA
3758 Posts
Response Posted - 04/14/2008 :  23:56:28  Show Profile
Gel coat to match your boat will match it before UV, ozone, nitrogen oxides, and other pollutants have had their way with it. The best, and cheapest, approach is plain white gel coat and tints. I have used a daylight photo after buffing an area of the hull and sampled the color in photoshop to get an r:g:b ratio as a starting point. Then mix a small batch and compare when hardened. Continue with a new sample until you have a close match, it will never be perfect, and then you have a ratio of tints:base for future mixes of any size.
Edited by - on
Go to Top of Page

Happy D
Admiral

Members Avatar

921 Posts
Response Posted - 04/15/2008 :  06:40:46  Show Profile
<blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">This is not a quart, it is about 3 oz. Not a good deal at all.<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></font id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
Wow....I didn't realize that.
I sent a sample of gelcoat to a company in Florida and they matched it perfectly. Mine was for interior gelcoat.
For outside work, it is very dificult to match due to fading.
Edited by - on
Go to Top of Page

Renzo
Admiral

Members Avatar

USA
621 Posts
Response Posted - 04/15/2008 :  06:51:24  Show Profile
Just bought a "super glue" sized tube of white, gel-coat scratch repair at WM for $12.99. Repaired some racing battle scars(a small gouge and chip) near the bow about three quarters of the way up from the water line. Looks good for now,can hardly see the repair. we'll see how it holds up.
Edited by - on
Go to Top of Page

Merrick
Navigator

Members Avatar

USA
192 Posts
Response Posted - 04/15/2008 :  11:49:58  Show Profile
Have you guys repaired stress cracks in gel coat? Do you widen them and then fill? I have several that don't seem to cause a problem, but look bad. Would like to take the time to fix if it's doable.
Edited by - on
Go to Top of Page

Dave Bristle
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

Djibouti
10005 Posts
Response Posted - 04/15/2008 :  14:46:09  Show Profile
Welcome, Steve... Hopefully you mean "spider cracks"--generally caused by shrinkage of the gelcoat. (Stress cracks are bad things.) I've never seen a very good looking attempt to fill them--the result always seems to look worse after a while than the cracks did. Sorta like some plastic surgery.
Edited by - on
Go to Top of Page

Dave5041
Former Mainsheet Editor

Members Avatar

USA
3758 Posts
Response Posted - 04/15/2008 :  16:13:43  Show Profile
Dave, I'll have to disagree with you here. Gelcoat is brittle, and near areas of high load like fasteners and corners, hairline cracks in the gelcoat do not indicate underlying failure. Some call them spiders because of their web like or radial pattern, but they are usually the same thing. But I agree that whatever you call them, they are best left alone. You can spend a lot of time color matching and filling, but they will come back. But on the other hand, if they bother you, go for it. In a few years, you'll either accept them or or open them up a little and do it again. So yes. gouge them out a little before filling. You can try to undercut the edges a little, but they will probably just flake off. Accept a "U" or "V" shape, I've never had success creating the inverted "V".
Edited by - on
Go to Top of Page

Merrick
Navigator

Members Avatar

USA
192 Posts
Response Posted - 04/15/2008 :  16:56:36  Show Profile
I've got two odd looking cracks, I may take a picture and show you. Odd because they aren't near any fittings or obvious stress points. One is on the corner of the cabin up front, the other near it on the flat part of the deck. Don't appear to be causing a problem at this time but are definitely noticeable. May not be worth trying to fix. I'll have to inspect it more closely, just bought the boat a month or so ago.
Edited by - on
Go to Top of Page

Merrick
Navigator

Members Avatar

USA
192 Posts
Response Posted - 04/15/2008 :  17:03:10  Show Profile
Thanks for your comments. This forum has been really helpful
already and I haven't even put the boat in the water yet. I have a
std rig /swing keel '81 model #2555.
Edited by - on
Go to Top of Page

Dave5041
Former Mainsheet Editor

Members Avatar

USA
3758 Posts
Response Posted - 04/15/2008 :  17:56:41  Show Profile
That would be worth investigating. Picture will be good, both close-ups and wider views
Edited by - on
Go to Top of Page

Deric
Captain

Members Avatar

USA
408 Posts
Response Posted - 04/15/2008 :  19:55:02  Show Profile
I have read that when repairing a spider crack and merely applying the gel-coat over the crack that the material only bridges the scratch; however, if the a v notch is made in the crack, then the crack is filled with the gel-coat; makes for a stronger bond.

Regarding matching the gel-coat tint to the original gel coat, many have indicated they come close to matching, but I have not read nor heard that anyone has matched gel-coat. Sounds like a practice and test of nerves, patience, and will.

Interesting to read that Dave used photoshop to get an idea of the balance between the colors. Great idea!

For the past few days, I have been chemically stripping the bottom paint away from the hull. Today I noticed a few minor spider cracks near the water line. I may need to play with gel coat some as well.

Deric
Edited by - on
Go to Top of Page
  Previous Topic Topic Next Topic  
 New Topic  Topic Locked
 Printer Friendly
Jump To:
Association Forum © since 1999 Catalina Capri 25s International Association Go To Top Of Page
Powered By: Snitz Forums 2000 Version 3.4.06
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.