Chip in Gel coat,what to use?

[MHorn0817]

1998 215ec

We have a dime size chip in our gel coat below our rub rail. Instead of paying to re coat and repaint, we wanted to know if there was a product we could use that would fill in the void and be safe. Was looking at 3m 5200 and the Marine Tex. Would either of those achieve what we're going after or should we use a different product?

 

[CaptRonn]

Order a patch kit. About $45

You can get the color to match your present gelcoat.

https://spectrumcolor-com.3dcartstores.com/Gel-Coat-Search_c_7.html

 

[Mauler34Rod]

Order a patch kit. About $45

You can get the color to match your present gelcoat.

https://spectrumcolor-com.3dcartstores.com/Gel-Coat-Search_c_7.html

+1 on the Spectrum patch kit. I just used it and it works great.

 

[Lazy Daze]

There is no "paint" on your boat. It's all gelcoat and the options mentioned above would provide as close to original as possible - but it will take some time and finesse to do it to make it look right.

Based on the options you proposed, it sounds like you just want to make it look decent enough so it's not obvious. You could just buy a very small jar of exterior paint that closely matches the hue of your boat and call it a day. 5200 is caulk and could yellow - it actually has extremely limited uses around a boat - forget about that one. MT would be fine - it will be slightly off white when done. But, you have to mix the whole thing. A better alternative to MT would PC-11 - about $6 and comes in a double barrel squeeze tube so you only mix what you want.

 

[BillK2632]

Really the Spectrum gel coat patch kit is very easy. Even a first time user could fix a spot like that to the point it would be hard to find the repair.

 

[MHorn0817]

Is there any product at West Marine that would work like the spectrum or similar, so I could buy in store tomorrow?

Yes I would like it sealed up and obviously white so it's not as obvious. I'd like to do more then just the paint touch up idea so that the chip is filled and mostly smooth.

 

[HP12Sea]

Yeah, Evercoat or West Marine Gel Coat repair Kit. I know it says fail but he sorts it and has a few videos.

 

[ZZ13]

JB Weld Water Weld epoxy putty is white. Easy to use and tool to be flat and fairly seamless other than a perfect color match. Available at any hardware store. I’ve used it to fill holes and chips on my swim platform.

 

[MHorn0817]

I'll have to check out the repair kit. Would the color be white or artic white?

I seen the jb weld marine epoxy putty and I thought about that too. Wasn't sure of that would be okay or not.

 

[HP12Sea]

Usually when mixing boat white's not really that white. It's white with a hint of brown mixed in.

 

[Mauler34Rod]

I'll have to check out the repair kit. Would the color be white or artic white?

I seen the jb weld marine epoxy putty and I thought about that too. Wasn't sure of that would be okay or not.

Contact Sea Ray and provide them the SN# of the hull. They will tell you the color. Then send that to Spectrum and they will cross and provide you a match.

 

[Lazy Daze]

Is there any product at West Marine that would work like the spectrum or similar, so I could buy in store tomorrow?

Yes I would like it sealed up and obviously white so it's not as obvious. I'd like to do more then just the paint touch up idea so that the chip is filled and mostly smooth.

See what I wrote above

 

[MHorn0817]

I've found Marine Tex, JB water weld, West Marine gel coat repair, locally. Guy at West Marine suggested Evercoat marine polyester gel coat paste but I wasn't too sure about it.

Did my picture load so everyone could see the damage?

 

[Juliery]

I've had great success with Marintex. Use only what you need and proportion the catalyst accordingly. The ratio only needs to be close. Mix well. Clean the area with acetone then fill only the damaged area - not too much. Stretch and tape plastic wrap over the filler, then tool gently - your finger can work - to a smooth finish under the wrap. Let it cure 24 hours. Peel off the plastic wrap to reveal a near-perfect repair!

 

[MHorn0817]

That sounds nice and simple as well. So many options, lol

Would any of these be worthwhile? Is the marine epoxy like the pc-12?

 

[Juliery]

That sounds nice and simple as well. So many options, lol

Would any of these be worthwhile? Is the marine epoxy like the pc-12?

Any epoxy could work but I would also consider the consistency. You need the filler thick enough that it will not run or sag.

 

[Creekwood]

Epoxy will yellow over time and look bad. Spectrum repair kit is the answer. Easy and cheap to make it look perfect.

 

[Lazy Daze]

PC-11, not 12.

 

[lawndoctor]

Epoxy will yellow over time and look bad. Spectrum repair kit is the answer. Easy and cheap to make it look perfect.

This. Can’t imagine doing anything other than the Spectrum gel coat paste. Easy, cheap, and comes out perfectly with a little attention to detail.

 

[MHorn0817]

Okay, I'll just go with Spectrum or the West Marine gel coat repair and will report back.

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