Search results for query: gelcoat repair

There have been discussions about moving to lighter weight canoes as we age but that tends to mean more fragile construction. I want a canoe that is both light weight and robust! The Flashfire is one of my favorite canoes. I had a Bell Flashfire that weighed about 36 pounds and then when a...

I have too, but I don’t think they have green. I could be wrong. Bob

The first layer went well. I managed to get it squeegeed and bubble free before the resin kicked - but at 80° in the shop, there was little time to spare. Now I have to say something good about Wenonah's vintage '95 build. The gelcoat is faded and has countless scratches all over. But I have...

A few years ago I purchased an automotive headlight lens restoration kit which came with several small sheets of emery from 2400 to 10000 grit. I can't tell you how many scuffs and scratches I've made disappear with that kit. For deeper scratches on Swifts, I use clear gelcoat from Evercoat...

closing in on the end of winter, and i'd like to make repairs before canoeing season hits so i don't lose any days that i could be out on the water. just wondering if anyone else has any repair advice, or retailer/brand suggestions for fiberglass cloth, gelcoat, etc. i'm assuming that west...

I have used Evercoat Marine's gelcoat repair kit for years with good results. It has all the base colors that allow you to mix and match as required, which comes in handy when you're matching a faded color. But most late model Swift's aren't gel-coat (except the champagne bottom) but tinted...

Literally just doing this a couple of days ago. If you don't address sharp scratches in the gelcoat, it tends to propagate, as shown in this pic. When I have a color that's very hard to match, like this seafoam green, I will use Gflex and then mix automotive paint or Krylon to cover with an...

I did a little research, and tuffstuff is a blend of basalt and innegra. Innegra is basically polypropylene and nothing sticks to it, including gel coat. The lowdown is: Epoxy doesn't bond well, so eliminating the gel coat won't really fix the problem. Vinylester adheres a little better but...

Nice overview. Approximately where do you live? If you're near SW MI I have a couple boats you could try. I'd bet a dollar that you'd like my Starfire. I had an SRT. Very cool boat. It rolls quickly off center so for me it was a kneeling boat which is fine since I'm primarily a kneeler. It's...

I have a NC Prospector that the hull is worn down to the point you can start to see the weave and structure, but not structurally damaged. It's essentially worn off the gelcoat so needs more I suspect. My plan is to roll on 2-3 coats of non-waxed gelcoat then 1 coat of waxed. Other than...

I have seen this a lot with used NovaCraft hulls. Usually after a relatively minor hit. The gelcoat will pop off but the layup looks good. As I am bumbling through my repairs on a non-tinted gelcoat on a Super Nova, I have found that the gelcoat is FULL of tiny bubbles. A filet cut along a...

Good day, While working on a wall rack in the garage today I had the canoe on the ground and knocked over a roll of wire fencing into it. Wire struck the side of the bow and left a scratch which appears to have got through the gelcoat into the cloth. Looks and feels rough. Had it just been...

...stated the Black/Gold was OK for "light whitewater". Mine has shrugged off lots of light to medium rock hits and only required minor gelcoat repair on a couple of bad hits, but I'm on quieter rivers with generally roundish rocks...not Class III. I came close to ordering a Swift Wildfire last...

...in wind and waves. I wouldn't pay even $600 without a test paddle. It's too unusual a solo to predict handling from specs. Hopefully the seller is near some sort of test water. If you really like its performance and weight, it seems worth the price and trouble of some gelcoat repairs. If...

Thanks for the offer! I’m pretty near St. Louis, MO but occasionally get up to Gary, IN for work which would put me within a relatively short distance of SW Michigan. Not sure when I’ll make it up that way again but I may take you up on it! I totally forgot about the StarFire. A cool boat...

The boat I’m referencing cost $4,000 plus. I assume that meets your definition of a top tear maker.

Hello everyone, first post here although I have been reading others for a while. Especially the trip reports! I was given a 1996 Mad River Malecite in kevlar that has most of the gunwales rotted off. Not problem for me to replace those .My question is what do I need to do with these cracks? They...

I am planning a trip with my Wenonah WWC-1 in about a month. I was thinking of covering a few areas of exposed cloth with G-Flex. Is this a good idea? If I use it should it be thickened? I really just want to make it usable for now. When I get more time I may grind the old patches off the stems...

Mastering boat gelcoat repair involves selecting the right color, preparing the surface and resin, applying gelcoat, and adding finishing touches. You can finish this project in two days.

Nope, that happens to polyester resin layups that use the wax to exclude air to allow a complete cure. Most canoe laminaters who use polyester might use the no-wax equivalent to allow an interior gelcoat or paint to stick better. Polyester stays sticky for a long time (years?), though will cure...