Gelcoat Scratches

[b.clancy]

I have a few minor scratches on my hull (colored fiber glass)- nothing serious requiring full-blown gelcoat repair. I've got everything on her cleaned and waxed and ready to go for the season, but I'd like to touch up the scratched area a bit better. I tried using rubbing compound and wax, but that didn't really fill in the scratches. Is there something I can use to fill in or smooth out the scratches before applying wax over it?
Bob

[flynny]

Yes, I just did mine this past weekend. I can't remember the brand name, but I would assume that most marine stores would carry it. Very easy to do, I used a small thin paint brush to fill in the scrapes and scatches, then after a few minutes wiped it off just like you would waxing the boat. It costs about $10 (for white), then another $6 for the coloring agent, if necessary.

[DaleH]

Gelcoat repair is 'simple' once you know the basics. To me the key is the prep, using good materials, and then patience when sanding ... and it is the sanding that will deliniate the pro from the hack. When sanding, my wet/dry paper spends as much time being rinsed in fresh water as it does sanding and ALWAYS use a sanding block.

Below is a basic gelcoat repair article. I'd buy some gelcoat from your boat dealer or from http://www.minicraft.com/ or http://www.spectrumcolor.com/ . Both sites also have excellent tutorials on the repair process.

Note: DO NOT stop sanding at 400 grit, go to 600, 800, or higher. Again, ALWAYS use a sanding block on spot repairs or you will "dish" the area. RIGHT-CLICK these to save them to your PC, then you can print them out in color and use them as a reference.

Or check this post if the R-T PC police let it through, click here (http://classicparker.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=579), otherwise PM me for the link. It's a detailed 'how to' gelcoat repair article, complete with many pictures of the process, to a Parker boat.

http://classicparker.com/phpBB2/files/gel_coat__pg1_large_141.jpg

http://classicparker.com/phpBB2/files/gel_coat__pg2_large_149.jpg

http://classicparker.com/phpBB2/files/gel_coat__pg3_large_106.jpg