Repairing Gel Coat Gouge

thompsdw

Member
Joined
Nov 29, 2003
RO Number
12507
Messages
57
Last season I put the best gouge that this captain has ever put in a boat (3 boats later). 1/4" wide - 9" long. The gouge goes into the glass. Spectrum does not make a color matched patch kit for my boat (that is the gelcoat I have always used). In addition, I live in a remote area and there is no one that can perform gelcoat repairs here.

I purchased the Evercoat repair kit and did the normal prep (dremel, acetone, and then filler). I can get the color close but not perfect. The problem is that I cannot get good adhesion of the vinyl repair to the glass. This is the largest repair that I have ever done, so I wonder if this is a normal problem filling large voids. I am following the instructions to the letter and the vinyl is curing appropriately.

Ok, time for the question. I am ready to give up on this and fill it with bondo and put a vinyl sticker over the repair. The gouge is well above the water line and the boat is too old to drive 4 hours and spend big bucks fixing it. All that being said, I like my boats to look nice and living with it is not an option.

Anyone have suggestions on where to go next? Will automotive bondo stick to fiberglass? Other suggestions???
 
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