Beneteau grey hull. Is it gel coat or something else?

sealegsjim

sealegsjim

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Had a few scratches in the grey "gel coat" on my Beneteau. You can't buy tubes of gel coat scratch repair but I was given some grey "gel coat" gratis from the Beneteau dealer - it looks like thickish paint- but the catalyst MEKP doesn't set it and neither does one for epoxy. Does anyone know exactly what the grey hull coating is?
Thanks
 
Usually its a colour to mix into 'white' or 'clear' gelcoat....the joy being how many times you do a mix before you feel the colour is a match. Dependant on how much of a mix you need, measure as accurately as possible very small quantities, let it dry to assess accuracy of result, repeat until you've got it right or lose the will to live.....
Example here...does it look like this? https://www.force4.co.uk/pigment-20g.html?sqr=gelcoat colour&
 
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It’ll be a RAL coded gel coat: polyester resin with the right dyes in it. East Coast Fibreglass do a series of different coloured kits to match here https://www.ecfibreglasssupplies.co.uk/category/gelcoat-repair-kits.
They’re fairly thin, you make some up, paint it thickly over the scratch, cover with release film until set then use wet and dry to fair the repair into the surface. The technique I’ve used is to make sure you use a little more then you need so as to overfill the scratch, use the release film to prevent it running out of the repair until set so that it’s slightly raised, then affair back when dry..
 
duncan99210 said:
It’ll be a RAL coded gel coat: polyester resin with the right dyes in it. East Coast Fibreglass do a series of different coloured kits to match here https://www.ecfibreglasssupplies.co.uk/category/gelcoat-repair-kits.
They’re fairly thin, you make some up, paint it thickly over the scratch, cover with release film until set then use wet and dry to fair the repair into the surface. The technique I’ve used is to make sure you use a little more then you need so as to overfill the scratch, use the release film to prevent it running out of the repair until set so that it’s slightly raised, then affair back when dry..
Click to expand...

Or mix wax with it to make (or get hold of) flow coat that needs no film to set fully.

Then finally buff with Farecla polishing compound (also from East Coast Fibreglass) until it's so shiny you can see your own handsome fizzog in the reflection.
 
jaypea said:
Usually its a colour to mix into 'white' or 'clear' gelcoat....the joy being how many times you do a mix before you feel the colour is a match. Dependant on how much of a mix you need, measure as accurately as possible very small quantities, let it dry to assess accuracy of result, repeat until you've got it right or lose the will to live.....
Example here...does it look like this? https://www.force4.co.uk/pigment-20g.html?sqr=gelcoat colour&
Click to expand...

It was a small amount given to me from their bulk supply
 
prv said:
If it was gelcoat then it would have gone off with the MEK the OP mixed with it. Sounds like Jaypea's suggestion of this just being the pigment is correct.

Pete
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Not immediately if it wasn't waxed?

gel coat needs air excluded. Flow coat doesn't.
 
William_H said:
My guess is that OP was given a pot of pigment. So not resin but should be mixed into resin, polyester to give a gel coat.
ol'will
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I think you are right and I need to mix it with a clear gel coat and catalyst. Any idea what I can use for release film rather than sending away for a roll?
 
i got away with using cling film on a rudder repair, see what's in the kitchen....it needs to be decent stuff otherwise it will stay on as a top layer!
Lidl's brand doesn't [in this case!] cut it ;)
 
Acetate is a suitable 'film'. Used to be easy to buy - no no-one uses an overhead projector I suspect not!

I've used cling film when desperate.

Depending on size - if you find a cardboard box with a 'window' in it - the window is usually suitable.

Brown parcel tape - "shiny side down".
 
If it’s a smallish scratch that you’re filling proud and then sanding flat, I don’t think you need any film. You’ll sand through the tacky layer anyway.

Pete
 
prv said:
If it’s a smallish scratch that you’re filling proud and then sanding flat, I don’t think you need any film. You’ll sand through the tacky layer anyway.

Pete
Click to expand...

If it is gelcoat, it won't cure without the film

When i do small repairs on my own boat i use 2" wide selotape. Parcel tape, as suggested above will also work.
 
PaulRainbow said:
If it is gelcoat, it won't cure without the film
Click to expand...

It's always worked for me.

How do the molecules in the middle of the mass know that their colleagues on the outside aren't properly clothed, and that out of solidarity they should refrain from reacting?

Mind you, your gelcoat that never cures in the cup must be handy for long jobs.

Pete
 
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