Gelcoat repair questions. What's the best kit and how to do?

[Alex D]

I still have a few very, very minor surface scratches in one place on my starboard deck sides from the previous owner. They are hardly visible, but too deep to just get polished out and I can see them and I want them gone. Our marina glass shop would probably charge $500 because it is a lot of little fussin' around for these to get them removed. I believe our marina glass shop uses a spray on gelcoat to cover all glass repairs small and large.

I have read some of the posts here, but I am still looking for the consensus what the best gelcoat repair kit for our Sea Rays is that is easy to use and matches the SR hull white.

Also I would like to hear the best process to apply the repair gelcoat and get the scratches gone.

Thanks for you help !! :thumbsup:

 

[boatmailster]

if the scratch didn't go through gel coat you can try to wet sand it and polish
if it did go trough gel coat Spectrum repairs kits are OK
Marinas usually spray repairs because it is easier to blend not perfect color match on bigger area than on small repair

 

[teekster]

I repaired some holes I drilled in my old boat (2004 280da). I used the product that my dealer gave me. It was putty consistency that was mixed with a catalyst. Most people couldn't tell where the repair was, but it was easy for me to spot.

I would try wet sanding it with a sequence of course to fine sandpaper and then polishing it first.

 

[Alex D]

What grit sequence for wet sand paper do you recommend?
I have one scratch I need to fill ... pls. recommend best gelcoat kit to do so in your opinion.

Alos, I checked the Spectrum site ... what type of white do I have??? Arctic white, Classic white??? Please advise

:thumbsup:

 

[boatmailster]

What grit sequence for wet sand paper do you recommend?
I have one scratch I need to fill ... pls. recommend best gelcoat kit to do so in your opinion.

Alos, I checked the Spectrum site ... what type of white do I have??? Arctic white, Classic white??? Please advise

:thumbsup:

any newer sea rays are arctic white, some are pearl (yellowish tint)
grit order depends how fine yob you want to do wet sanding scratch:
start with 400 (you can start with 320 but be gentle), 600, 800, 1000, 1200, 1500, 2000, polishing compound, wax
you can skip 1200,1500, 2000 if you like results
always sand area slightly bigger than sanded with smaller grit
you may want to wrap sand paper on sanding block to have nice flat finish (don't end-up with "finger sanding")

ps they didn't make 340 dancers in pearl

 

[tc410]

Alos, I checked the Spectrum site ... what type of white do I have??? Arctic white, Classic white??? Please advise

You can call the Spectrum folks at the number on their website and give them your HIN. They will tell you, and sell you, the exact match for that HIN. I have used Spectrum on my last two boats and it is a great match.

I have used both the white for the hull and deck, and the tan for the dash. I can point the minor repairs out to you, but you wouldn't notice them on your own. On the other hand, I can also point to the minor repairs made by the so called "pro" glass guy at $500 a whack that Sea Ray paid for under warranty.

 

[Henry Boyd]

I have also had great luck with Spectrum. BTW there are several shades of Sea Ray Artic White. Spectrum is a great help, but call Sea Ray direct and give them the HIN and they will give you the color number. Then give the color number to Spectrum.

I had a 3 foot long gouge about the width of a pencil eraser and about the depth of a fingernail. I did the wet sanding thorugh the various stages and the mark is completely invisible. Couple of things I learned:

1. Don't glop the stuff on, less is better even if you have to do multiple thin coats. It goes on way easier than it comes off!
2. Use a good flat sanding block.
3. Wet sanding works better when there is lots of wet. The water keeps the material cool, and flushs away the cuttings. If you can do this where you can set a hose with a mist spray on where you are sanding the paper cuts much better than sanding and dunking. Needless to say if you can do this now it will be much more fun then next April....

Hope this helps.

Henry