Boat fiberglass damage can occur as a result of a storm, an accident, beaching or docking while its gel coat gets damaged via chipping, cracking or scratching. But you do not have to fear as there are tools and parts that can be used to do the necessary repair, having your fiberglass boat look new again.

The first thing to do would be to check how bad the damage is so that you can assess whether the boat can be repaired at home or should be done by a professional. If the gel coat is destroyed with the fiberglass, a professional must do the repair in a shop. He would then check the entire damage to ascertain if it is structural or not. If the damage is done only on the gel coat, the next step must not be skipped.

If the damage on the gel coat is a scratch, you will need to buy a gel coat repair kit. Get a utility knife and create the letter “V” on the scratch. The resin of gel coat is very thin and cannot fill a minor scratch. The paste of gel coat is very thick, thus it will just bridge the scratch and not penetrate it causing a void. As you prepare the scratch, do not cut the matting of the fiberglass.

When the damage is a gouge or is due to an impact, take the affected gel coat off from the perimeter. If the loose or damaged coat is at the repair’s perimeter, it shall crack and should undergo repair the second time at the exact spot. You will need to make the damaged area rough by using 80-grit sandpaper.

Prepare the damaged area and then place sufficient amount of resin in a paper cup that is waxed. Place coloring agents on the resin till it is 1/2 a shade darker than your damaged area. When you are satisfied with the resin’s color, get a sufficient quantity of hardener per instructions in the repair kit of the gel coat. Get a scraper or plastic spreader to slowly place resin on the affected area. Do not trap air bubbles while repairing.

The repair should bulge a bit at the back of the spreader. As the resin cures, it will shrink. Make sure the repair does not bulge much as you will have to sand even more later on. Take off excess paste further from the patch area.

Get waxed paper on the whole area after filling the repair area. If needed, utilize tape for securing purposes. The resin should harden as indicated in your gel coat repair instructions. Sand the affected area till it is even with the gel coat’s surface after the repair area has hardened and looks flushed with the areas around yet feels a bit raised when touched.

Get a bowl of clean water and dip your 400-grit sandpaper to moisten it. Sand your repair area till it smoothens. When the sandpaper is wet frequently, it shall take off the material of the gel coat from the sandpaper. It also avoids damage to the repaired area. If the water becomes much discolored and the bowl’s bottom cannot be seen, replace with fresh water.

Get 600-grit sandpaper, dip it into a bowl of clean water and then sand your repaired area till it is very shiny. Keep on wetting the sandpaper if needed so as to get optimal results. Pour out water from your bowl if it gets too discolored and then place clean water again. Follow this up with primer coat.

Once you follow these steps, you will see your boat fiberglass and its gel coat appear new again.

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Find out more about http://www.yachtfishmarine.com and make the most out of it. Learn more at http://www.yachtfishmarine.com/seattle.html.

Author Bio: Find out more about http://www.yachtfishmarine.com and make the most out of it. Learn more at http://www.yachtfishmarine.com/seattle.html.

Category: Automotive
Keywords: boat repair, yacht, sailboat, boating, Seattle, Port Orchard, Washington, marine, outdoor, sports