Drilling for Daylight

M

MichaelOnTheClaraMae

Moderator
You would think after five years of successfully drilling, cutting, mounting and the like I would know how thick every panel from stem to stern is. So, of course, while replacing a simple light fixture over the galley that came with slightly longer screws, I drilled right on through to God's sky.

So for this one small hole and a few other gel coat chips in the cockpit, I will likely look to a West Systems product for repair. Any suggestions for the novice body man?
 
Michael-

I admire your candid and humorous admission of your intrusion into the Wild Blue Yonder and C-Dory No-Fly Zone!

Seriously, if it was me and I only had the one major hole and a few nicks, I'd just use Marine Tex and tint it down with a universal fiberglass (polyester) tinting kit to get the color match to the off-white "Oyster" hull color and then ever so slightly overfill the hole and nicks, followed by careful sanding and polishing.

On the other hand, it would be very easy to find a good source of advice on how to repair the gelcoat and do it that way.. The factory can supply you with some color matched gel coat. Here's a good source of the "How To":

Gelcoat Scratch Repair by Don Casey

Of course, it would also be possible to have a local dealer or shop that specializes in fiberglass repair do the work for you.

"Keep on truck...er...drillin'!

Joe. :teeth
 
marvin4239":1vcp3pzq said:
www.spectrumcolor.com has exact color match kits for C-Dory's in gel coat paste kits.
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From the Spectrum site, here's the description of the patch kit:

Description:
The Patch Paste Kit includes Patch Paste, hardener, and easy to follow instructions. The Patch Paste is 2 ounces of factory matched Gel Coat made into a paste with thixotropics, and surfacing agents. Patch Paste is best used to repair smaller nicks, scratches and drill holes.

You obviously aren't the first! 8)
 
Sea Wolf":l4gk7zir said:
The factory can supply you with some color matched gel coat. "Keep on truck...er...drillin'!

Joe. :teeth
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Hey Joe, the factory will only supply you with color matched gel coat if you go to the factory to get it or ya buy a new boat and it'll be in a care package inside. I can get away with sending it to you if I don't say what's inside but shipping that stuff is way too complicated any more for a vendor.

Good excuse to visit the factory and go to the boat show though!

Don
 
I confess to having done this - twice. First on the original Daydream, and most recently trying to mount a cabin light in Crabby Lou. Had the factory fix my first boo-boo. May try the patch kit this time...
 
Maybe we should have a poll to see how many of us have done the same thing. I'd bet the results would be embarrassing.
Al
 
Well it has happened to me more than once-I always use Fred's technique. SS through bolt with a little bedding works for me! Also works well if you decide to move or replace an item and have old holes that don't match. Who knows someday I may change my mind again and need those holes.
 
MOOSE":3aw9m1p7 said:
Maybe we should have a poll to see how many of us have done the same thing. I'd bet the results would be embarrassing.
Al
Click to expand...

Maybe it just runs in certain families. My rude awakening was when I found out the side of the cabin in my brand new C-22 wasn't cored.... Then again my short little nephew does take after his mother's side of the family so twice isn't unusual. When he was growing up his dad used to call Pat's favorite (and almost only) tool a "Crescent Hammer." :wink
 
I've repaired minor chips with evercoat gelcoat repair. I think I used their blanc white. It matches close enough.

5652.jpg
 
To save sanding and polishing. After filling clean excess from around the chip or hole. Cover the spot with Scotch tape, rub lightly with your finger. After gel coat hardens remove the tape, you will have a slick polished surface.
 
Yup, I forgot about the shipping restrictions on the extremely dangerous thixotropic reisins in gelcoat materials that can be used to:

1. make x-ray undetectable bombs for terrorist attacks

2. manufacture methamphetamines and/or synthetic opiates

3. serve as a substitute fissionable material for Plutonium and U-235

4. reverse the aging process and make Viagra and Cialis obsolete

Joe. :crook

P.S.: If anyone wants to go for the record, I have a 5/8" Milwaukee drill that will push drill bits in excess of 1" diameter for some real cabin ventilation.
 
If any of you do purchase from Spectrum, check it out right away and make sure it is fresh. Mine wasn't but the hassle to replace it wasn't worth it. Shipping is more than the material. You need to cut it with styrene if it isn't fresh.
 
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