10/16 - C-Dory Gelcoat Class

John S · From 16 Oct 2010 to 16 Oct 2010 (included)

Hope someone can help.
I'm getting ready to tackle some repairs and holes from all the different projects I've done on my boat. I've bought the Bennett DVD on fiberglass repair. I also bought "The Fiberglass Boat Repair Manual."

I thought this gelcoat thing would be easy. I have the C-Dory Owners manual with the numbers written in it for my gelcoat. WRONG!!

No one can match these numbers up. My boat is in Alaska, so there is no UPS ground for hazardous shipping. It would be best to buy my gelcoat in AK.

One of my colors is listed as "Roberts Grey" Cook number 953AA440. the other color is listed as "white" 953WA441.

I realize that gelcoat mixed today exactly the same as was applied to my boat 10 years ago would no longer match. It would sure be a good start though.

Plaschem of Anchorage is going to give me some charts to compare to my boat. They will match my color if I bring a chunk of my boat in. The Roberts Grey is on my hull and theres nothing to unscrew and bring in of it. It's a 6 hour trailering ride to take it there and they cure some gelcoat up. So they said it would take all day.

What are others doing??

Thanks

Jazzmanic · Posted: Wed May 12, 2010 1:02 pm Post subject:

John,

Have you tried Spectrum Color? They have C-Dory colors on file. Their website used to show the different colors but it has been "down" for some time. I just phone ordered some small gelcoat bottles from them last month to take care of my chips and dings.

Would those little glass jars be considered hazardous shipping? Hmmm.

Here's the link: Spectrum Color

John S · Posted: Wed May 12, 2010 1:35 pm Post subject:

I don't know what is going on with them. (Spectrum) I've called them previously and they haven't answered. The WA state location seems to be closed. The website is missing pages. I'll try them again, I think the location that the phone is ringing to is on the east coast and I may have been calling too late.

Did you have to adjust the gelcoat they sent you to match any changes over the years to yours? (fading, sun, etc.)

lloyds · Posted: Wed May 12, 2010 1:39 pm Post subject:

They can ship you the jars but not the hardener. That is what is considered hazardous. You have to go to someplace like TAP Plastics to get the hardener. Last time I got some jars though the fiberglass guy had a hard time using it as it had dried out.

John S · Posted: Wed May 12, 2010 7:33 pm Post subject:

I got a hold of Spectrum today. They read off my Cook gelcoat number from my C-Dory manual before I even told it to her. Both my colors are stadard stocking items.

Not that easy though. They said the gelcoat to Alaska has to go overnight or two day service AND the price is $95.00 a quart before shipping.

Our local supplier in Anchorage is running $25.00 a quart. I think I need to try matching some up.

thataway · Posted: Wed May 12, 2010 7:45 pm Post subject:

I have used Specturm color in the past, but in much smaller amounts. A quart of gel coat is a lot!

You can get tints which will allow you to come very close to matching. Usuallyl a little black, a little yellow and or a little brown will bring the white near. The grey--probably with black pigment--but you find close grey.

White is often one of the hardest colors to match.

John S · Posted: Wed May 12, 2010 9:34 pm Post subject:

C-Dorius · Posted: Thu May 13, 2010 3:14 am Post subject:

John, Plaschem did a real close match for me just a few weeks ago. Since then I have found a small bottle of factory color gel-coat patchpaste (putty) from Spectrum that is even a closer match. I thought I would give it to Plaschem Supply and have them make a guart of gel coat. There will be more than enough to split with you if you are still interested. I live in Girdwood. Let me know.
Chuck Dorius, C-Dorius
Playin'Hooky

John S · Posted: Thu May 13, 2010 1:36 pm Post subject:

Chuck, hey that sounds great! I think your grey is not the same as mine, so I'm assuming you're talking about the white. Do you have your owner's manual? If you do, does your number for the white paint match mine? If the numbers match I'll PM you some contact info for me.

This could work great!

Thanks

John S · Posted: Thu May 13, 2010 4:03 pm Post subject:

Here's a quote I received this morning from Spectrum Color. I told her UPS Ground was available to Anchorage business addresses, but she said they still had to ship a minimum of 2 day service at $159.57 Sad

Yes you read that shipping price correctly.

C-Dory Roberts Grey item # F50-17000 $95.51
C-Dory White item # F50-17000 $95.51
Shipping & Handeling to Alaska $159.57
Total for shipment is $350.59

Captains Cat · Posted: Thu May 13, 2010 5:16 pm Post subject:

Hey John, that's ridiculous! Area code 253 which is what they show for a phone number is around Tacoma WA. If I were there, I'd drive over there, pick up your order, put it in a flat rate USPS box and send it to you for about $30 or so. Any Brats in that area willing to do that for John?

You might have to fudge it a little when they ask you what's in the box but I'd have no problem doing that myself.

Charlie

John S · Posted: Thu May 13, 2010 5:59 pm Post subject:

Captains Cat · Posted: Thu May 13, 2010 10:21 pm Post subject:

You are welcome John. I'd rather deal locally if I can too. Not sure I'd trust anyone that doesn't advertise where they are located anyway.

Charlie

bmacpiper · Posted: Sun May 23, 2010 4:38 pm Post subject:

Hey John,

I got the little jars from them last fall; perhaps they have closed in the meantime, but if they're still around I think the 1 qt. thing is wrong. I want to say I paid about $20 each for the small quantities. As someone else mentioned, there are a bunch of us in the Seattle area, and I'd be more than happy to arrange post for you.
tx,
bmc

Sneaks · Posted: Wed Sep 08, 2010 8:20 pm Post subject:

John, I jumped into the gelcoat matching arena this past week. Found out there is an alternative to Spectrum called MiniCraft.com and interestingly, it's also in Florida and though it's far more comprehensive, it seems to duplicate Spectrum in many ways.

I ended up emailing Scott at Triton Marine for some color numbers, not expecting much because the C-Brat is 17 years young, but he thinks the same white has been pretty much standard. Cook Composites # DX-963-506 should be close to my white, and the dark blue color should be Cooks Composite Products # 953-LJ-110 "Tailgate Blue". A good start, anyway. Kudos to Scott. He really is dedicated to building a relationship with C-Dory owners past, present, and future. Not bad marketing either....

Spectrum prices suck for sure. $112 for a quart of the white used on 1998 C-Dorys and $102 for the 2005-2008 dark blue. I'll be contacting MiniCraft tomorrow to see what they say about the factory numbers Scott gave me.

It might be a good idea to open a thread dedicated to color matching gel coat with pigment amounts per oz etc., if available, but my suspicion is that very few of us are willing to DIY such a cosmetically critical task.

Don