repairing nicks and dings in gelcoat

surfbird

Following the long drive to Anchorage the bow of our new C-dory is pitted with a hundred nicks and dings from gravel. Crook

What are my options for repairing cosmetic blemishes in both the blue and white gelcoat?

Thanks,
Jim

Jazzmanic · Posted: Tue Nov 06, 2007 2:14 am Post subject:

surfbird,

Sorry to hear about all the damage to your new boat on the trip home. There's lots of good info if you use the Search function at the top of the page, type Gelcoat Repair and select "search for all terms". I'll be needing to put a lot of the advice shared from this site into reparing some scratches and gouges accumulated over the last three years. Sad

Oh well, live and learn. Good luck with your project and enjoy the new boat. Peter

surfbird · Posted: Tue Nov 06, 2007 12:32 pm Post subject:

Thanks Peter.

I am wondering whether anyone has used the Spectrum Color patch kits.

Also, wondering whether I can even repair the many chips without making the situation worse.

Jim

thataway · Posted: Tue Nov 06, 2007 3:51 pm Post subject:

I have used the spectrum color kit--on another brand boat--the match was excellent. I did a boat which had fallen 30 feet and had multiple scrapes and holes in it--you cannot see any of the repairs when we were thru. After two years, the repairs are still not evident.

You may want to ask C Dory for some Gel Coat --it may be cheaper there, than from Specturm.

SEA3PO · Posted: Tue Nov 06, 2007 3:56 pm Post subject:

I see your boat is almost new...the factory usually gives you a small can of gel coat... I am sure they will if you ask... I have had excellent luck with just filling the chips and then putting a piece of mylar over the resin....the mylar will not stick to the gel coat and pulls off easily....plus it will give the surface a shiny smooth surface.

Joel
SEA3PO

lloyds · Posted: Tue Nov 06, 2007 8:59 pm Post subject:

I tried to get some gelcoat paste from the factory but they told me they don't have a permit to ship it so you have to go to spectrum. Expensive.

SEA3PO · Posted: Tue Nov 06, 2007 10:16 pm Post subject:

Boy that's perfect. !!!! Now ya tell the little lady that ya have to go to the Seattle Boat Show to pick up some materials from da factory..... perfect !!
Actually it would be nice if we could have a bit of a clinic at the hotel while we are all there....to show us all how to patch small chips....I am sure the factory could provide an expert...

Or, you could try to locate someone near by that has a C-Dory that will pick it up at the factory for ya, or ya barrow theirs....heck theirs a bunch in that can... Is there a C-Dory dealer near you ??
I am flying up for the show, but there are a bunch of folks that are driving that might haul a can for you.....

Joel
SEA3PO

surfbird · Posted: Wed Nov 07, 2007 1:44 am Post subject:

That is too bad that C-Dory won't ship HAZMAT.
Next time I make it down to Seattle, I will stop by the C-Dory factory to pick up some gelcoat.
A demonstration of gelcoat repair at the boat show in Seattle sounds like a great idea to me and would be well worth the price of a plane ticket.
Thanks to everyone for their advice.
Jim

lloyds · Posted: Wed Nov 07, 2007 11:00 am Post subject:

The gelcoat workshop would be a terrific idea.