The results are better than those obtained with polishing and waxing techniques. And most rubbing compound contains petroleum distillates. Thorough cleaning. Luckily, scratches and holes in the gelcoat that gives your boat its glossy appearance can be repaired with a little patience and the correct technique. If You Have a New Boat . However, restoring your gelcoat is one of the easiest boat tasks that you can undertake and is easy to do yourself. Gelcoat is normally sprayed on in multiple coats to achieve the final cured thickness. So, we are here to provide a step-by-step guide on how to properly apply gelcoat. Using Signaling Devices Properly. The first step is to thoroughly clean your boat exterior so that you’re working with as even and high-quality a … SEA-SHIELD® specializes in the restoration and protection of Gelcoat finishes. Clean with soap and water and wipe with a rag damp with acetone to remove old wax, oil or grease. Most people think that the best way to prepare a fiberglass boat for a gelcoat application is to have it done in a local car repair shop, where they handle similar coats everyday. So, I've already washed the boat down, and I'm going to walk you through the steps necessary to make a repair. But keep in mind that maintaining your boat’s gelcoat will help you “catch” more customers should you ever want to sell. How To Wax A Boat. All we did was basically scrub it down well, then rub in "wil-bond", then went directly to rolling on primer (I think 545 was the primer not sure though). What Is Gelcoat? It protects your boat from excessive moisture, salt, dirt, and mold. Now that you know the basics about your boat gelcoat, let’s discuss how to restore yours if it has degraded over time. Keeping gelcoat coated with wax-starting when the boat is new — is the best way to prolong its life. Getting Started. Gelcoat available with and without wax for boat building, repairs and layups. Turn the boat upside down if you can so you have a better working angle. TotalBoat ISO/NPG neutral and white marine gelcoats are available with or without wax for boat building and repairs. ft) it takes almost the whole quart of gelcoat due to the amount of gelcoat that is stuck to the sides of the spray cup. Gelcoat is a strong resin that adheres to the contours of your boat and flexes with the hull's contortions as it tackles the waves and weather. Owner apathy and dull, tired gelcoat go hand in hand. Regularly waxed gelcoat can retain its gloss for 15 years or more. By Jim Hendricks. Sometimes a hard knock can cause delamination within the hull, in which case a more serious repair will need to be carried out first. Whatever the underlying […] Although this usually starts off as a matter of cosmetics, in severe cases these surface cracks can grow, deepen, and eventually threaten your boat's structural integrity. . Over time, exposure to UV rays oxidizes the gelcoat, giving it a dull, chalky appearance. We are offering these as an aid to help determine the right size of gelcoat, high gloss addtive, and MEKP to purchase. Restoring gelcoat shine not only makes you feel better, it actually enhances the … virtually impossible to restore a faded gelcoat hull while a boat is in the water. Compound formulated for gelcoat is more abrasive and cuts faster—never use it on your car, or you’ll be heading for the spray booth. Gelcoat Crazing. Compatible with coloring agents. How To Maintain Your Gelcoat Wash Your Boat with Boat Wash. Use a mild pH-balanced boat soap and avoid using dish soap. How To. When the color of the gel coat’s surface loses the boater’s confidence and passion, he wants this boat care tool to restore the boat’s once bright look. The real purpose of a coat of wax is to protect, but wax also has restorative properties if the gelcoat is not too badly weathered. I recently took part in a work party on the (25 year old) boat I race on, and the owner decided to paint certain areas of the deck. The easiest repair method is to sand the surface heavily and roll on two coats of epoxy primer followed by two coats of two-part linear polyurethane. Properly applying gelcoat is the key to a good finish. Oils, grease and road grime from trailer rides accumulate on the hull, where they quickly break down the protective boat wax, and strain and pit the gelcoat. As every boat owner knows, even sturdy fiberglass boats are prone to damage from a poor landing, dropped fishing equipment, or a misplaced drill hole. In the opinion of some owners, bright, shiny boats don’t sail any better or catch more fish, so why bother with maintenance? Gelcoat is a liquid that hardens to form a thick layer that's used to protect fiberglass and give it a shiny, smooth finish. Here's how to fix the problem. On Board With: Scott Collins. Many of our customers are hesitant to use it, thinking it’s too complicated or they think they can’t end up with a good finish. As with all our products, if… If the surface of your boat looks like a cracked eggshell, the gelcoat is suffering from crazing (sometimes called alligatoring). Gelcoat is the protective coating that covers the fiberglass of boats and other watercraft. How to Restore Boat Gelcoat as Quickly as Possible. If the gelcoat is in good condition with no major cracking or crazing, the job is relatively straightforward—clean and prepare the surface, apply an epoxy primer, sand the primer, remove the sanding residue and then apply the topcoat. Gelcoat is a soft resin that protects a boat’s fiberglass hull and provides a mirror-smooth shine. How to Repair Gelcoat. If you... Polish to a Shine. Small repairs like this are easily within the realm of a DIY boat owner. A boat in the tropics with little or no protection from the direct sun will require a more frequent maintenance schedule than one in a more moderate climate kept in a covered boat shed. Crazing in gelcoat, also known as spider cracks or stress cracks, plagues countless boaters and is an incredibly common issue on modern fiberglass boats. Through damage caused by the elements, the soft surface of the gelcoat is eroded and can leave it looking chalky and dull in its appearance. Apr 16, 2013 - How to Gelcoat Fiberglass. Now, gelcoat is that shiny surface on the outside of your boat. Yachts, powerboats, jet skis and other amphibious vehicles are coated with several layers of gelcoat to protect the fiberglass hull from wear and damage. Includes MEKP (methyl ethyl ketone peroxide) catalyst. How to Repair Gelcoat. You’ve cleaned, compounded and waxed, and it looks good for a while, but the chalkiness returns—maybe the red accent stripe that used to look so good looks pink, or the dark blue bootstripe is now baby blue. Wastage will vary based on a number of factors, for example when we spray a single small mold (8 sq. So, the gelcoat on your boat is looking chalky and faded. Gelcoat is a liquid that hardens to form a thick layer that's used to protect fiberglass and give it a shiny, smooth finish. 6. Is it … Knowing how or why your boat’s gelcoat cracks occurred in the first place is the key to a successful repair. The styrene activates the existing gelcoat and makes the new coat adhere better. Before we get into the 3 easy steps to restoring your boat’s fiberglass gelcoat, let’s touch on why it fades. You can successfully complete basic fiberglass boat repair by following these steps. If you really want to make quick(er) work of restoring badly oxidized gelcoat, don’t mess with a buffer; try a setup like this instead. Updated: February 10, 2020. Sep 23, 2013 - How to Gelcoat Fiberglass. Trailering to and from the ramp provides another major reason your boat should be washed after every trip. If Necessary, Clean Your Boat’s Surface. Gelcoat Maintenance Tip #2: Wash Trailered Boat. The gelcoat restorer. Gelcoat restorers are similar to polishing agents but provide a new surface for the roof. Your boat's gelcoat serves a bigger purpose than providing an alluring aesthetic appeal to entice a prospective buyer or to be the envy on your dock. However, as with everything else under the sun, your gelcoat is susceptible to wear and tear. The silicone gelcoat on your boat is one of its most important features, protecting the strength, color, and durability of your boat’s fiberglass. So, the gelcoat on your boat is looking chalky and faded. How to restore faded gel coat in 3 EZ steps with EZ Buff … Please keep in mind that these do not include wastage. The first job in any gelcoat repair is to check the damage closely, both inside and out. However, restorers have a drawback. What causes gelcoat crazing? How To. Over time it gets dings, it gets scratched, and it gets a few gouges in it that need to repaired. Step 1: Preparation and matching the colour. Andy Miller is continuing to use his time quarantined in his shop providing extra springtime launch tips for boaters who might also be putting this time to good use. Wipe the boat again with a rag, damp with styrene. More How To. Today he gives some advice on how to add non-skid to your gelcoat.He experiments with a few different ways that non-skid additives can be used with thickened gelcoat and even without adding any of the Soft Sand texture particles. Today, many products on the market claim to be a one-stop solution to restore gelcoat on your boat. To help to restore the color, shine and appearance of your boat, choose a gelcoat restorer.