Re: [Paddlewise] How the Gelcoat Repair Turned Out

From: Shawn Baker <shawnkayak_at_yahoo.com>
Date: Thu, 19 Jun 2003 10:43:43 -0700 (PDT)
"Lisa Williams" <lisa_at_cadence90.com> wrote:
>Of course, gelcoat shrinks as it cures, and overall, while the new
gelcoat patch covered and sealed the fiberglass patch underneath, it
wasn't near even with the original gelcoat`.  

>...I'd get more spreaders/mixers (little popsicle sticks would do
fine) 

Little spreaders or "squeegees" can be used to fill small divots.  They
scrape excess off the high areas, leaving only the "valleys" filled. 
Either prop your boat so the repaired surface is horizontal, wait a bit
until the gelcoat "gels", or use more tape and waxed paper.

Using a little colloidal silica ("Cabosil" or silica fume) will make
the gelcoat tougher.  Silica fume is a "thixotrope", which means it is
non-sag.  Household baking flour is also a thixotrope.

Shawn

__________________________________
Do you Yahoo!?
SBC Yahoo! DSL - Now only $29.95 per month!
http://sbc.yahoo.com
***************************************************************************
PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed
here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire
responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author.
Submissions:     PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net
Subscriptions:   PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net
Website:         http://www.paddlewise.net/
***************************************************************************
Received on Thu Jun 19 2003 - 10:43:50 PDT

This archive was generated by hypermail 2.4.0 : Thu Aug 21 2025 - 16:31:08 PDT