Getting Started With Gell Coat

[bchesley]

The paste has a wax in it that will seal as it cures. The past is ready to rock, just add hardener. I have done what david said to do on large repairs in a bilge area and yes regular gel will stay tacky indefinately. You dont have that problem with the paste. The colder it gets the more hardener it might take to kick. But you can get it too hot and ruin it if you dont becareful. I would heat the garage and use the right amount of hardener. I have had to redo a large are because of too much hardener and I will never do that again.

[DavidF]

Yes, you should NOT gel in temperatures below 65 degrees.

[DavidF]

I think what he is saying is the gell shrink's over time if you let it shrink then when you sand it flat a month later it will not shrink more and look like a dip.

This is not a problem and does not happen...or at least will not be noticable. Overnight cure is fine.

[DanielC]

Waiting for 65 degree weather in Texas might not be a problem. Here in Oregon, I choose to do work on my boat when it is cooler, because if it is 65 degrees out, I would rather be using it.
I have applied gelcoat in temperatures as low as 39 degrees. I preheated the area first, with a catalytic propane radiant heater, applied the gelcoat, and then kept the area warm with lamps, and the afternoon sun.
If you can smell the solvents in the gelcoat, it is still too soon to finish it.
Again, if you are working in a shop, get it done, get it out the door, get the customer their boat back, and get the next job going. Working on your own boat, take time for the gelcoat to fully cure, it will polish better.

[jaybird]

To be realistic just do the best you can but don’t get your expectations to high. I have done many gel coat repairs and seen many, I have even seen boats from the factory that had mold blemish repairs, and none were an exact match. The repair will always be noticeable.

[mf01]

Is a week long enough cure time with the paste and no tape?

[DanielC]

A week is fine. Again, take careful notes of everything you do, so you can duplicate a process that works for you.
Your first repair will be noticeable, but with a little practice, you will make repairs that will be hard to find.

[DavidF]

Why not use the tape? Trust me, for chip/hole repairs it is the way to go. Just leave the tape on overnight. If you want to wait a week before sanding/finishing, no harm done. If anyone is interested in a couple of photos of my gelcoat work, just let me know.

[core-rider]

DavidF, can you explain the purpose of using tape? I have never heard that before and was wondering what the purpopse is behind it. It sounds like a good idea, but I thought it would make the curing time longer.

[Grant_West]

David: Yea a few pick's would be awesome I have a good idea what to do but a few picks never hurt

[WakeSlayer]

My understanding, and I am just observing cause I need to learn this stuff, is that gel cures best without air, which is why they use it on boat molds.

[bchesley]

Slayer,

Yes you are correct. If you are doing an out of mold repair you have to add a wax to the gel that when applied the wax floats to the top to seal it so it will cure. Or you seal it by other means, tape, etc. The paste kits you get from spectrum are premixed and ready to use with out a seal.

Brad

[TRBenj]

Here are a few pictures of DavidF's handiwork.

Before:





Fiberglass repaired:





Regelled:

[WakeSlayer]

^^ which is why I suggested him in the first place as a good source of info. That is a pretty involved repair, and a fantastic job.

[Grant_West]

Wow That's quite a repair. I bet they were happy to get their boat back all fixed up.
I can't even think about how bad I would feel if i were to some how dammage my boat like that