Chip in Gel coat,what to use?

[CaptRonn]

Here’s a hint on the Spectrum repair kit.

Once opened the unmixed and unused gelcoat will harden over time making it useless.

Take a food saver bag, one of those that extract all the air out to store the unused kit in. Keep in a dark place.

I have a kit I opened a year ago, and the kit is still like new and ready to use if needed. When done, just put back in the bag and remove the air.

I bought a cheapy battery operated food saver from Target that came with a few bags for under $20.

 

[BillK2632]

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

What is the proper caulk to use around cuddy windows, on the outside?

What is the proper caulk to use around the helm?

I like BoatLife caulk for general caulking around deck fittings, portholes, transducers etc.. A lot of people will go directly to 3m 5200, problem is that is a permanent adhesive caulking, only put that on something you never intend to rebed or take apart. In 30+ years of owning boats I have never used 5200.

 

[HP12Sea]

Boatlife Life Caulk is good as said above.

 

[Golfman25]

So here is what I would do. Dremel out the edges of the damaged area. Looks like there are some loose fibers in there as well. Then I'd hit it with a coat or two of epoxy to build it up a little bit. Or you could use marine tex as well. Then gel coat -- spectrum or the west marine kits.

 

[MHorn0817]

Should I use lifecalk or life seal? For around outside cuddy glass and helm to deck seam?

 

[Creekwood]

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

What is the proper caulk to use around cuddy windows, on the outside?

What is the proper caulk to use around the helm?

Spectrum will be an exact match FYI. You don't have to try to match it.

 

[Blueone]

If I was buying a boat and the diy guy used JB weld or some other epoxy to fix it I would wonder what else he did half ass.... get it fixed like new professionally or use Spectrum and if you can’t make it look perfect get a professional.

 

[Christo]

I had a couple similar chips in my boat and used MarineTex, was easy to use and turned out pretty good, but as you can see in the pic, doesn’t match my boat color:/

 

[HP12Sea]

If I was buying a boat and the diy guy used JB weld or some other epoxy to fix it I would wonder what else he did half ass....

I kind of agree with this. It would make you wonder.

Just don't say maintained with an open checkbook if you do go that route, LoL.

Good luck.

 

[bbwhitejr]

Should I use lifecalk or life seal? For around outside cuddy glass and helm to deck seam?

I use the Life Seal….

Bennett

 

[Almightys]

For those who have used the spectrum patch repair kits. How many spots can you repair with these? I have a few dingers to repair

 

[BillK2632]

For those who have used the spectrum patch repair kits. How many spots can you repair with these? I have a few dingers to repair

A fair amount, the kit is a 1/2 pint or so jar. I fixed one big scratch and about 5 smaller chips and still had some left. My boat was 15yrs old when I did this and the gelcoat did not match exactly because it had faded, but unless you looked right at it it was not noticeable and now a few years later I have trouble finding it.

 

[CaptRonn]

For those who have used the spectrum patch repair kits. How many spots can you repair with these? I have a few dingers to repair

The description says 2 oz is the size, and will cover about the area of 5 silver dollars. And has a shelf life of 6 months.

I have some here on the boat over a year old and it’s still good, but I keep it in a vacuum food saver bag.