Re: [Paddlewise] Hull Repairs

Doug Lloyd wrote:
> 
> ...
> 1. Deep hull scratches  -  I normally use a gel coat filler (this is the
> paste variety, not the thin stuff), commercially available to match hull
> color (usually white). ... Does anyone use any other product?

I use gel coat. ("Ack!", you say.) I have a yellow hull whose color is
difficult to match, but I find that using gel coat from the manufacturer
matches well and is easy to work with. I rough up the gouge (if it is
not already rough) and clean it out, mix the gel coat with the hardener,
apply it with an appropriate sized tool (small!) and then cover it with
acetate film taped firmly over the repair. When the film is removed it
which leaves a nice shiny surface. Hint: Don't apply too much gel coat
or it will ooze out of the gouge and you will have to sand it flush and
then polish it to get a shiny surface. (This is not difficult, but it is
time consuming.) I have never had a gel coat repair fail. I should note
that most professionals do not use gel coat--they tend to use various
"shortcuts"--and perhaps if I were repairing a lot of boats I would too.
But I suggest that folks give gel coat a try before dismissing it. If
you have the right touch you can get a near perfect repair with only
modest effort.

Doug continues:

> 2. Excessive keel-line wear (usually near the stern)  -   I will either
> use thick multiple layers of gel coat fill (thick stuff), or add cloth
> impregnated with resin, then perhaps top off with gel coat fill. Does
> anyone do it differently? ...

I use Marine-Tex Epoxy Putty along the stern keel (which gets a lot of
abuse on my boat). This is a putty--not the liquid stuff that some folks
were discussing a while back. It contains fibers that make it very
abrasion resistant. I have added quite a thick "rail", which is slowly
becoming thinner over time. It is more difficult than gel coat to apply
evenly because it is exceptionally "gooey", but it can be sanded to
shape once it it hardens. (Use a good respirator mask when sanding.)
Here is a description of the product:

http://www.marinetex.com/marine_tex.htm

Gel coat colors can be added to the mix, but I have not had good luck
with this. It can be painted, but the paint will wear off along the rub
surface. A third alternative is to top it off with gel coat. This is
much more difficult, however, than filling gouges with gel coat. 
A while back someone mentioned that it is possible to mix up one's own
repair putty at lower cost. This may be, but the absolute cost of the
Marine-Tex putty is quite low (given the quantities required), and the
Marine-Tex folks seem to have developed an excellent mix of fibers,
epoxy, etc. I do not see any reason to try to invent my own formulation
in order to save a few bucks.  

As always, YMMV.

Dan Hagen
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