Scratches on Gel Coat & Strake

[brucehawsker]

After an enthusiastic recovery in windy conditions, I now have a minor scrape on the grey rubbing strake - this is what is was designed for, after all

Any way to conceal the evidence?

Also I have three patches of tiny scratches (total areas 30mm by 1mm max) on the white gel coat on the hull. The black underlying the gel coat shows through. Does this matter? Do I need to cover the damage with something before I put her in the water again? If so, with what??

Again, longer term, how do I do a cosmetic repair?

Many thanks

Bruce

[EdwardH]

For removing scratches from a rubbing strake, i have succesfully used a mixture of white spirit and ICI rubbing compound and then wiped clean with water.

For gouges (ie scratches with depth), if its not in too obvious a place, I wouldn't worry about it, - mine has quite a few gouges as my mates who sometimes drive the boat continue to think that bouncy tubes are to be used as fenders and its ok to bounce off rocks at 8 knots... but again, you can take any discolouration off with some white spirit... if you really want to effect a repair you can melt the strake slightly with a very hot blade and then use white spirit on it...

[eupa]

mine has quite a few gouges as my mates who sometimes drive the boat continue to think that bouncy tubes are to be used as fenders and its ok to bounce off rocks at 8 knots...

Hi Edward,

Why do you think we use ribs?- very simple - if you hit anything - you just bounce off and no damage. Basically you dont need to moor by " ear" you just point the rib in the right direction , full throtlle, and hey presto you are "in"
The other day I watched a 'talented" yachtsman mooring his 20 m. He scapped somebody elses woodwork. What a palava, insurance agents all over
the place, police because there was going to be a fight. Thank god for a rubber boat.....

jonathan

[EdwardH]

Originally Posted by eupa

Why do you think we use ribs?- very simple - if you hit anything - you just bounce off and no damage. Basically you dont need to moor by " ear" you just point the rib in the right direction , full throtlle, and hey presto you are "in"

Hi Eupa, Your rocks must be much smoother and shallower than ours here in Aus...

Let me tell you that scraping your 'rubber boat' at 8 knots along a barnacle encrusted rock can bring 'considerable' damage... not to mention the fact that a GRP hull under the tubes is also somewhat prone to damage at an eight knot collision...

[Tim M]

I recently filled a gouge in my gel-coat with some gel-coat filler. It comes in a tube, is a two part paste, and cost about £7. Simply put it in the hole and finish with either some "wet and dry" or a bit of cream creamer and a bit of elbow grease.

[The Jackeens]

Originally Posted by eupa

Basically you dont need to moor by " ear" you just point the rib in the right direction , full throtlle, and hey presto you are "in"

missus

[philip]

I would recommend getting a little gelcoat from Solent so you get an exact colour match.

I used Rene's advice on this thread for a small bit of trailer rash :

Nick & Scratch

Fill scratch with gelcoat.
Tape over to keep inplace .
Fine wet and dry followed by Feracla cutting compound then polish.

wouldn't know it was there.

Cheers

Phil

Edit: Sorry Timofengland - just seen your reply much the same as mine

[DGR]

I've read all the bits on repairing the gel-coat - but what are the right proportions of gel-coat to hardener? What is the best way to measure/mix them? How critical is it - or does it just take less/more time to set?

Sorry if it's a bit dumb - but I've not done it before .

Ta!!

Dylan...

[Tim M]

The main thing is that it will go off quicker. I don't know if this would affect the properties of it once set........

As for proportions, my instructions say you need an equal length of each part (so if you put a blob an inch long on a piece of wood ready to mix, add an inch of the other).

[DGR]

Tim,

That sounds like the 2 pack epoxy stuff that I've used for other things. Ribcraft have sent me a litre (?) tub of gel-coat, with a little bottle of hardner, so I assume it's not a 1:1 mixture.

I s'pose I could always ring them tomorrow and ask.

D...