fixing the hull

[kidlurch]

I am planning on fixing a couple small gouges approx. the size of a dime. My hull is white so I bought the white marine tex. The gouges are are through the gel coat exposing some of the black fiberglass on my Ranger bassboat. My plan is to follwo the directions on the marine tex. Is there any thing else I need to do?

[BASSCAT7]

Clean the chip area real well with acetone to remove any waxy contamination's .
Lightly sand the edges to remove any loose particles, try to bevel the edges sloping into the repair area. Make sure there are no ledges.

Tape off the area around the repair.
Stay close to the repair. Make sure there are no tape ends in the sanding area. The purpose of the tape is to avoid a mess and protect the area around the repair from the sand paper.

Mix the MT according to the instructions, fill the spot and use a plastic scraper to get it as smooth as possible to reduce the finish sanding. Let it cure a day and wet sand with 800 grit then 1000/1200 grit. Compound and polish.

[kidlurch]

Thanks for the info just wondering what you mean by Compound? and also what kind of wax would you use? Sorry if the questions seem dumb but I have never worked on glass before.

[NoCAL]

Use a wheel with finishing compound to get the final polish. I must warn you though it will not be a match for your hull. If they aren't where you can see them, MT is fine but if you are worried about looks, gelcoat isn't that much more difficult to work with and can be a perfect match. I just filled in some screw holes on my upper deck with MT. The finish is perfect and they are as smooth as anywhere else but the color is not right. MT has more of a grey/white tint and will be visible. Good luck.

NoCAL

[BASSCAT7]

Local auto parts store or WalMart will have a white finishing compound. You use this after the finish sanding. The rubbing compound will remove the fine sanding marks left by the 1000 grit sandpaper.
You can use an electric buffing wheel, or do it by hand.
Something like this :

http://www.amazon.com/3M-39002...NUNB6

Once you compound it down where the sanding marks are gone, then you polish with a glaze to restore the gloss.

http://www.amazon.com/3M-Imper...KMHRU

[BASSCAT7]

<table width="90%" cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 align=center><tr><td>Quote, originally posted by NoCAL &raquo;</td></tr><tr><td class="quote">Use a wheel with finishing compound to get the final polish. I must warn you though it will not be a match for your hull. If they aren't where you can see them, MT is fine but if you are worried about looks, gelcoat isn't that much more difficult to work with and can be a perfect match. I just filled in some screw holes on my upper deck with MT. The finish is perfect and they are as smooth as anywhere else but the color is not right. MT has more of a grey/white tint and will be visible. Good luck.

NoCAL</td></tr></table>

Yea, MT is white but there are so many different shades of white gelcoat that you have a 50/50 shot at having anything near a match. If it is on the bottom where no one sees it you're ok.
But for any top cap or hull work get the matching gelcoat from the manufacturer or from Minicraft company.
Evercoat makes a gel repair kit with white, black and a few other gel colors,and all the other materials needed to make a small repair.
You can tint the white to try and match whatever white you have.

http://www.jamestowndistributo...r+Kit

Clean the chip area real well, lightly sand the edges to remove any loose particles, try to bevel the edges sloping into the repair area. Make sure there are no ledges.

Tape off the area around the repair.
Stay close to the repair. Make sure there are no tape ends in the sanding area.

Follow the instructions for mixing the catalyst into the gelcoat.
Usually mix about 1/4" inch of Gelcoat in a non waxed paper cup with 5-6 drops of MEKP catalyst.
Make sure to stir completely.
Build the gel a little over as it will shrink some.
Lay the film they give you directly onto the wet gelcoat repair, it seals off the air so the gelcoat can cure.
Should be cured in 4 hours, but waiting overnight to sand is best.

[kidlurch]

Thanks for all the info guys went to work on the boat this afternoon. It went well. Thanks again.