Gelcoat Repairs: Cracks, Air pockets and Scratches

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Gelcoat Repairs: Cracks, Air pockets and Scratches

1. Often exterior gelcoat cracking is the result of undue flex.
2. Air pockets are the evident result of poor casting.
3. Light scratches are effortlessly repairs, but deep scratches may require the same procedure as repairing gelcoat cracks.

Except for light scratchs, the procedure for fixing Gelcoat Cracking, Air Pocket or deep Scratch is approximately the same. They all require carving the gelcoat surface and filling it with matching coloured gelcoat, (if you wish to re-polish the surface), or with any other coloured gel., (if you will be painting the area).

1. Preparing the surface:
2. Opening the wound:
3. Filling the wound with matching coloured gelcoat, (or any other colour gel., If you will be painting the area):
4. Sanding the overlapping gel. Without damaging the surface:
5. (If you are not painting the surface area and using the same colour gel.): How Re-Polishing the surface:

1. 1. Apply acetone to the cracked area with a small brush then use a hair dryer on low to remove any acetone from inside the crack. The reason: You are trying to remove any dirt and water from the area. The hair dryer is used to evaporate the acetone. Acetone is highly flammable so : DON'T HURRY WITH THE HAIR DRYER!!!! Don't use compressed air to blow the acetone out of the crack because its air usually contains water and oil which is what you are trying to remove.

2. Once you believe the crack is dry, make sure the fiberglass returns to room temp. Then, using a sharp knife, (personally, I use a good heavy-duty Drywall Knife) and make a 45° "V" cut, or carving, approximately 20° to 25° on each side of the crack, as deep as the thickness or the depth of the gel. Do not touch the carving with fingers after it has been cut. (See Pictures)

   To remove any particle left in the "V" carving, use your knife blade. Touching it with your fingers may leave an oily and dirty film, which will stay on the gelcoat surface in the inside of the "V" carving and will form a dark line between the old gelcoat surface and the new gelcoat. After filling it, allow 24 hrs. for the gel. to harden.

3. Filling the wound with matching coloured gelcoat, (or any other colour gel., If you will be painting the area):
   As you fill up the carving with new gel., you must over fill it (in the thickness only), without spreading it on each side of the "V" carving, don't spread the gel. over the polished section of the surface you're working on. Remember that the wider you will apply the gel., the more sanding you will have to do.

   

4. 4. Sending the overflow of the harden gel. in the "V" carving, and Re-Polishing the surface:

   Yes, I know, you worry about a couple of scratches on you're boat or RV, and I'm suggesting to use a rough sand paper on it. Well there is a safe way to do it, I've done it for 25 years and believe me it can be done. Because a picture is worth a thousand words, I suggest that you go and have a look at a few pictures and some explanations, which I hope will clarify the process and help you fix your possession. (More Info)

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