Gel coat repair question

[spharis]

You are going to have to use a polisher to be able to get the desired results. The 3M is fine for what you are doing, but an orbital buffer or hand isn't going to cut like you need.

[anhaney]

When I was at TIGE Andrew Reyes took me into the Gel-Coat repair section. They spray all there gel coat in. For a ding the size of yours you should have removed the old gel coat down to the fiberglass. From what I learned at the factory I would have doubled the size of the area you taped off. Then you overfill the area. Once that is done you use 500 wet or dry and sand it wet. Then you need to step up to 1500 and then 2000 to feather it and get the final finish. After that you will need a high speed buffer with 3M Finesse It http://solutions.3m.com/wps/portal/3...glWMD7RT4XCMbl
Buff it and you will not be able to find the repairs. DOMSZ and I have a boat that we are going to practice this stuff on this winter. It is an old Boy Scout boat that needs some TLC and they really don't care about matching. So we will play with it. Also the 3M Finesse It is great for just buffing then waxing your boat.

All of this stuff can be found at the CARQUEST down on Main Street in St. George. If they don't have it in stock they can get it next day from there paint and body supply in Vegas.

[Paublo]

I did several repairs on someone else's boat that turned out great. You have been given good suggestions- use a finer sandpaper and finish with a rubbing compound for gel coat. From the one picture it looks like there is a darker ring around where you filled in. I might consider grinding out what you have done and starting over. Remove the gel coat past the original hole or ding so you are filling against original virgin material, not a ding that may have been effected or tinted by dirt or oily water. overfill a little, but not too much. Also I wouldn't tape off around it. By the time you sand and polish, it is feathered into the rest of the boat and doesn't stand out as being more or less glossy at that spot. My experience is that the colors from Spectrum match very well. You should have to look very hard to see it- if you can even find the spot.

[off2board]

When I do a repair I use 1000 and then 1500 grit before poishing. I then use 3M rubbing compound, then Finess It finishing compound and then Imperial Hand glaze. Mequiars has a similar line of polishing products. I picked up a cheap buffer at Harbor Freight to do the hard part. The Sprectrum gel coat paste patch repair kit matched so good I had a hard time finding it. Did you use the Crystal White?

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...emnumber=92623

after wet sanding you go right into the 3m rubbing compound? whats the process you use? throw some 3m paste on and wheel it until its gone and repeat? what are you trying to achieve from the compound (so I know when to stop using the 3m compound). then after you said you use finishing compound...what should be the end result after this process?
Also...is a wheel absolutely required? or can it be done by hand? (I just have a tiny ding but Im not sure if there is a certain temp that has to be reached).

[SPBFAN]

after wet sanding you go right into the 3m rubbing compound? whats the process you use? throw some 3m paste on and wheel it until its gone and repeat? what are you trying to achieve from the compound (so I know when to stop using the 3m compound). then after you said you use finishing compound...what should be the end result after this process?
Also...is a wheel absolutely required? or can it be done by hand? (I just have a tiny ding but Im not sure if there is a certain temp that has to be reached).

Break it down with 1000 grit then 2000 grit and rub it out by hand. If you go to 1000 you should use a high speed buffer with the Finesse It 3m polish compound. Or Flitz. Either or works good.

[off2board]

Well I did my repair yesterday and my results are similar to what happened to Talltigeguy.
I thought that maybe what happened to him what that he didnt cut out the old gelcoat around the ding and dirt mismatched the repair resin. So I grinded out around my scratch. But it eneded up looking the same as Talltigeguys pictures...the color didnt match up. I used the same product as well...its the same color as his too (crystal white).
Everything else came out great...as far as the finish is concerned..its all glossy and smooth...all good...just not right color.
Will it fade in? or will buffing it more blend it in somehow?
Help!!!! my scratch is about 5inches...so this sticks out like a sore thumb.

[Duncan]

Ordered up some Spectrum in Tige Frost for our 2009 RZ2. Several little dings on the transom seat and interior foot well.

Thought I would bump this thread up as others might be contemplating the same thing.

[SPBFAN]

Well I did my repair yesterday and my results are similar to what happened to Talltigeguy.
I thought that maybe what happened to him what that he didnt cut out the old gelcoat around the ding and dirt mismatched the repair resin. So I grinded out around my scratch. But it eneded up looking the same as Talltigeguys pictures...the color didnt match up. I used the same product as well...its the same color as his too (crystal white).
Everything else came out great...as far as the finish is concerned..its all glossy and smooth...all good...just not right color.
Will it fade in? or will buffing it more blend it in somehow?
Help!!!! my scratch is about 5inches...so this sticks out like a sore thumb.

2007 were Frost white if I remember correctly. You may want to contact TIGE with the hull number to ensure that you do not have frost white. Did you order the repair kit from Spectrum or did you order the raw material and mix it yourself? That makes a difference also.

Let me know if you need frost white. I have a whole quart of the stuff and can send you enough to fix the ding if you pay the shipping. Or if anyone wants the whole Quart of Frost White I will sell it for $60.00 it is brand new.

[chpthril]

Well I did my repair yesterday and my results are similar to what happened to Talltigeguy.
I thought that maybe what happened to him what that he didnt cut out the old gelcoat around the ding and dirt mismatched the repair resin. So I grinded out around my scratch. But it eneded up looking the same as Talltigeguys pictures...the color didnt match up. I used the same product as well...its the same color as his too (crystal white).
Everything else came out great...as far as the finish is concerned..its all glossy and smooth...all good...just not right color.
Will it fade in? or will buffing it more blend it in somehow?
Help!!!! my scratch is about 5inches...so this sticks out like a sore thumb.

I hope it's fixed by now............since he posted Aug of last year

[majestic]

[QUOTE=Duncan;445691]Ordered up some Spectrum in Tige Frost for our 2009 RZ2. Several little dings on the transom seat and interior foot well.

Thought I would bump this thread up as others might be contemplating the same thing.[/QUOTE

After a trip over the pass I found a dozen or so rock chips in the side of the boat. What is the best way to fix those?

[TeamAllen]

Mike, I think Andrew was responding to Duncan who just posted today.

[chpthril]

Mike, I think Andrew was responding to Duncan who just posted today.

May be, but he quoted Off2board's post from last year

[talltigeguy]

Cool to see this thread resurrected.

Maybe I had frost white and should have had crystal white...interesting to find that out years later. I will get a chance to see my old boat next week, might have to see how the repair is holding up.

[Bad05]

Cool to see this thread resurrected.

Maybe I had frost white and should have had crystal white...interesting to find that out years later. I will get a chance to see my old boat next week, might have to see how the repair is holding up.

I actually had to have it redone, thought I had dinged the boat....thanks for the heads up on that one! Just kidding, but now I'm going to go find it and take a picture for everyone to see!