Advice please filling screws holes in GRP

M

markcw

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Bridgwater, Somerset
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Hi all
Have been doing a bit of tinkering while waiting for the weather, i pulled off some grip tape on the front of the boat today and found a horrid sight:( in my beloved wellcrafty, See Pic, i knew the grip tape must of been masking something and i was right:(:(

Question 1
Please could any one with knowledge give me some advice on doing this job and cleaning up the whole area as it looks tatty and f!@#$%g awful

i have read you should fill from the inside, but this is impossible as the inside cuddy area has carpeted roof and i do not want to start trying to peel it away, i thought may be sanding the holes down 3mm and then try and fill with a matching colour filler or white gelcoat

Question 2
How do i go about finding the correct gelcoat and colour, a quick eBay search show a lot of white gelcoat and hardener for around the 5 quid.


Hope you can help
 
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markcw said:
Hi all
Have been doing a bit of tinkering while waiting for the weather, i pulled off some grip tape on the front of the boat toaday and found a horrid sight:( in my beloved wellcrafty, See Pic, i knew the grip tape must of been masking something and i was right:(:(

Question 1
Please could any one with knowledge give me some advice on doing this job and cleaning up the whole area as it looks tatty and f!@#$%g awful

i have read you should fill from the inside, but this is impossible as the inside cuddy area has carpeted roof and i do not want to start trying to peel it away, i thought may be sanding the holes down 3mm and then try and fill with a matching colour filler or white gelcoat


Question 2
How do i go about finding the correct gelcoat and colour, a quick ebay search show a lot of white gelcoat and hardener for around the 5 quid.

Hope you can help
Click to expand...

Bloody hell - are they bullet holes?
 
easyest way is to grind back a little bit with a dremel and fill with gel coat as you described. the stuff at the chandlers usually works fine but sadly seldom matches. It tends to be very very white and most boats aren't. A professional repairer could probably get a good match but is it worth it for a small repair?
 
Am i right but that looks like something has been screwed from inside the cubby with screws that are too long and have pierced to the out side ?
 
Definitely fix from outside, not inside. That's nowt of a job. Prepare, then apply gelcoat, sand off, going down to 1000 grit, then polish, and it will be nice and shiny

Trcky job is matching the shade of white. It might not matter for such small area? Otherwise you'll have to go to a pukka colour matching gelcoat supplier
 
ARA said:
Am i right but that looks like something has been screwed from inside the cubby with screws that are too long and have pierced to the out side ?
Click to expand...

From my understanding this area had a wiper motor inside and the holes held the motor and the wiper external brackets

Thanks for advise just orderd some gel coat , I just wanted to ask for advice on the best way to tackle the job.
 
As per other replies.
Most gelcoat on ebay will more than likely be white but i'm sure this will be fine for you.

Its a 2 part filler,so once mixed you'll have little over 5-10 mins before set so prepare first,then fill. Just try not to overfill as you'll have to sand the rest back and the stuff sets hard!!. Easy job tho.You'll be fine.
 
kashurst said:
easyest way is to grind back a little bit with a dremel and fill with gel coat as you described. the stuff at the chandlers usually works fine but sadly seldom matches. It tends to be very very white and most boats aren't.
Click to expand...

Agreeing and also re iterating the importance of cleaning the hole first, possibly by drilling a bigger hole to take the threads out.

The hole will be mucky/rusty/stained from the screws.
when you fill the hole you will cover over the muck BUT when you sand down the gel coat the muck will surface and be ingrained into your gelcoat for ever.
Mix the gel slowly as to avoid bubbles.
 
PaulGooch said:
If you fill with Gelcoat, it will never fully dry, unless you add wax to it. This will be available from wherever you buy the Gelcoat. If you buy flowcoat, that won't need the wax, as it's already added (flowcoat is gelcoat with added wax).
Click to expand...


Oh poo i ordered the stuff last night its isophthalic, Lloyd s Approved Gelcoat. but does not mention a wax.:(


Spent about 3 hours today removing the 4 broken screws and preping the whole area also cleaned the holes out, then added some glass fiber and resin to seal the hole up.

Ive seen vids on YouTube using plastic, can i assume it just a general piece of thick film/plastic or is more advanced than that.:confused::confused:
 
gelcoat repair

Hi Mark, just spent 1/2 hour writting then time out so lost it all, CFS 01209821028 can supply everything you need they are on the net, I found Alex very helpfull
Tony
 
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T1ony said:
sorry Mark this site is not letting me show the other two pictures of the repair, its late bed time, I will write tomorrow or send me your e-mail address and I will explain how to do, it's not as bad as you may think.
Tony
Click to expand...

Rather than do it by PM, I reckon there are plenty of people on here who would be happy to see an explanation of how to do gelcoat repairs, if you're willing to share...
 
If you haven't started yet:

Clean out the holes with a dremel, don't be too carefull. You want a nice scoop forme (more surface contact=better)

Throroughly degrease with acetone and rags: dont dip, wipe, and wipe with several pieces of fresh cloth (best is a cloth roll,and after every wipe: remove a leaf); you dont want to spread the grease/grime, you want to remove it.

Normally you can just fill small holes with gelcoat, anything bigger than a screw hole can be filled first with fibre paste.

After applying the gelcoat with an artists brush, put a piece of tape over it, this will prevent it from sagging and give you a nice even surface. Any tape will do, I use mylar as it is stiffer and smoother.

You might have to go around with the gelcoat again, to fill little air bubbles/imperfections. Its basic maintenance each year: everywhere where there is a ding, where the fibre shows, or the gelcoat has been cracked up to the fibre MUST BE recoated. Otherwise moisture can get in.

Finnish with sanding, buffing and waxing. Wait with buffing untill fully hardened (in this weather: 2 weeks).

By the way: the wite gelcoat you ordered will not be the same color. The new gelcoat will be pure white, your boat will by now be washed-out-white. Colour matching is nearly impossible.
 
gelcoat repair

when I took off the swimplatform I found this, I did a quick repair so as to make it water tight, you will never see it again once the swimplatform is put back
 
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