10/16 - C-Dory Gelcoat Class

This question is for Scott, as I forgot to ask it during the class (perhaps this thread can be an ongoing source of info related to fiberglass repair.)

Anyway, I have a few 3/8" (+/-) holes through the foredeck of my Tom Cat where I had a drum windlass mounted for a couple of years. I would like to gelcoat them (they are filled with LifeCaulk now) but some of them are through the non-skid pattern. At the seminar, Scott demonstrated how to fill in a hole and then grind it down to make it fair with the surrounding fiberglass. But I can't (don't want to) grind down the non-skid. Do I just spray some gelcoat in there and accept the small inevitable unevenness?

Also, did I understand Scott to say that using LifeCaulk (or similar) was a bad idea? According to my rigger he has used it for this purpose for years without any water issues.

Thanks,
Warren
 
Doryman":3nibyvku said:
<Some deleted>

But I can't (don't want to) grind down the non-skid. Do I just spray some gelcoat in there and accept the small inevitable unevenness?

Thanks,
Warren
Click to expand...

Warren- just mix some epoxy putty (I used MarineTex) up and then tint it to the color of the non-skid. We used a universal tinting kit for fiberglass repairs.

Slightly over fill the hole, then use a tool to shape the top into the cross-hatch pattern, making it match the lines in the original. We used a popsickle stick for the tool.

My wife did the final shaping, and you have to look very hard to see any evidence of variation from the original pattern.

Joe. :teeth :thup
 
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