Gel coat

[Scott215]

I have a dime size semi circle of gel coat clear coat that is on the back of boat above the water line. Of you tap it with finger it makes a sound asif it were loose. How can I fill the crack so it won't chip off. You may need to zoom in I just don't want the piece to chip away and get lost how can I prevent that from happening

 

[techmitch]

That looks like a possible previous repair or a void below the gelcoat.

 

[Scott215]

It was there when I bought the boat and I was just waxing it this weekend and noted that if you tap on it it's a little bit loose it's really very small how can I just fill the crack I don't want to get into a major fiberglass repair job I just want to keep it there for now until next season or whenever I can have it professionally fixed

 

[Scott215]

Basically I just want something to fill the crack in and wipe off the excess and that's it until I can afford to get it professionally repaired thank you

 

[OllieC]

You can get Spectrum Gel coat to match. My color is pearl ash I think. I’ve done repairs and you wouldn’t know it. You would need to rough it up and make a void, clean it out with some acetone, masking tape off the area, then apply the gel coat. Once dried, get some 1000 grit sand paper and wet sand it down. Try and be precise when applying because it takes time to sand if you go overboard. You could use 600 grit wet sand to get it down, then go to 1000. Once at your desired depth and look, apply some 3M Finesse It, then polish and wax. You’ll never know it was there.

 

[Scott215]

Is there anything that I can just fill the crack with like a two-part fiberglass epoxy and a q-tip or a very very small artist brush and just fill the crack so I don't lose that piece it's not loose but I just want to kind of shore it up a little bit thank you for your reply

 

[Old Machinist]

JB Weld Marine Weld. Color won't match but it'll hold.

 

[OllieC]

Is there anything that I can just fill the crack with like a two-part fiberglass epoxy and a q-tip or a very very small artist brush and just fill the crack so I don't lose that piece it's not loose but I just want to kind of shore it up a little bit thank you for your reply

Marine Tex - but why not do it correctly? If it’s loose, take it out and use more gel coat, then sand to perfection. There’s tons of videos on how to do it.

 

[Scott215]

It's not loose and I can't get it out and I don't want to gouge up the boat trying to get it out I just want to keep it in place

 

[Golfman25]

Strategically place a sticker or decal over it. Otherwise, grind it out and repair with new gel coat. What you’re seeking will not work very well.

 

[Bill Curtis]

You try this and see if it does what you want: Capt. Tolley's Creeping Crack Cure 2 oz.
https://www.amazon.com/Captain-Toll...5e-a0b8-9e076dcaa36d&pd_rd_i=B003T6EJ9A&psc=1

 

[ttmott]

The issue I think there is water, oils, and waxes in that cavity now and nothing will adhere in there. I suspect you will do more damage trying to fill it rather than leave it be.

 

[Scott215]

I appreciate what you're saying I just don't want the piece to chip off That's the only thing I'm trying to prevent right now so I was thinking just a little bit of the two part epoxy and just a q-tip and just put a little bit in the crack just to hold it in there

 

[SKybolt]

@Scott215 If you pop out that piece with a razor blade, clean with acetone, use this spectrum color, color matched repair putty and fill the void. While it is still wet, put saran wrap over the patch and pull tightly and let set. Wet sand, compound and wax.

 

[BillK2632]

I appreciate what you're saying I just don't want the piece to chip off That's the only thing I'm trying to prevent right now so I was thinking just a little bit of the two part epoxy and just a q-tip and just put a little bit in the crack just to hold it in there

You could try that, realizing it's temporary and might not look very good. Personally if you are not looking to fix it now, I would just leave it. As others having mentioned, the "right" fix is really very easy using a Spectrum Gelcoat kit. It's like filling the spot with putty, then sanding and polishing.

Here is a spot I fixed on my 185, after a few weeks I had trouble finding the repair:

 

[Scott215]

I just don't want to pull that bubble up because I can't even get under it to pull it up I just want to make sure it's going to stay that's all and I'll deal with it after the season so I was thinking of masking taping both sides of the seam and just lightly filling in the seam for now that's it

 

[Scott215]

But see mine is not a chip or chunk missing
Just don't want to loose the piece of it comes loose. Will put a little 2 part clear and not think about it till end of summer. Looks like someone dropped a small anchor and just cracked it