Gelcoat Repair - Recommend a Product

[YachtKahlua]

Hi All,

I took a little ding to the starboard side of my Jenneau Leadaer 705 recently.
The damage penetrates the gelcoat surface, but the fiber underneath seems solid. Im just looking for some recommendations regarding the best products to repair it with?
Is a gelcoat repair enough, or does it need something like an expoxy resin over it?

 

[Baddox]

I used the very reasonably priced kit from East Coast Fibreglass to repair a larger area og gelcoat which wasn't so deep. If you can find the RAL number for your gelcoat colour they'll make the gelcoat for you otherwise you'll have to try and colourmatch.

ECF Gelcoat Repair Kit - Any Colour

Their online guides are good too.
Video - How to repair damaged gelcoat

 

[Baggywrinkle]

Can't recommend a product, but I can recommend a how to ... you have to watch it on YouTube .... the channel is https://www.youtube.com/@FishBumpTV

 

[gjgm]

Hi All,

I took a little ding to the starboard side of my Jenneau Leadaer 705 recently.
The damage penetrates the gelcoat surface, but the fiber underneath seems solid. Im just looking for some recommendations regarding the best products to repair it with?
Is a gelcoat repair enough, or does it need something like an expoxy resin over it?


View attachment 202092

Can't tell the size, but it doesn't need to be much before a gel only fix is questionable, and grinding back a bit and around and putting in some tape or similar first will strengthen the repair and adhesion.
If it isn't anywhere terribly visible and is minor then you could just fill it with resin and filler for now. There are also small gel/resin putty kits. If later you are not happy, then grind that back a bit and finish with some gel.
West Systems do a small DIY kit of resin and tape etc. As regards gel, you will need about a tablespoon if a small repair, and the stuff doesn't really keep too well, so alot of wastage.
If you want to colour match, note the technique is to get a close shade, abrade back a much larger area,gel that whole area and then sand back down so the damaged area is blended in. The repair itself is not a perfect colour match, but bcz you blend it in,your eye cannot see the colour shift. Youtube will have lessons!
So, you can go from some epoxy and filler/putty solution and a cheap quick fix for now, to needing quite a few products, sanding grades and quite alot of hours. It is alot easier in the dry warm summer ! If you hope for a good result and you are not familiar, you may well be doing the gel several times.