FISHING FOCUSED. FAMILY FRIENDLY.™ | www.SailfishBoats.com
03/04/2019
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Gel Coat
Discolored areas are very shallow in
depth, literally right on the surface. The
discoloration may be removed by gently
wet-sanding the affected areas only by
using 600 grit, wet or dry specially treated
waterproof sandpaper. It’s important to
always sand in one direction, this includes
the curves too. Use plenty of water to cool
and clean the sandpaper and cut back on
dust. After you are finished sanding, dry
the areas and verify all the discoloration
has been removed. If not, repeat the
process.
After all the discoloration has been
removed, the area will need to be buffed.
Using an electrical or pneumatic buffer,
buff at low speed (1750 rpm – 2250 rpm),
this will restore the luster to the sanded
surface. Using a generous amount of
rubbing compound, apply it in a circular
motion with a soft wool pad. When buffing
has been completed, wash off the rubbing
compound with clean water, and dry the
surface.
To restore the gloss to the affected area,
use a high-grade marine or automotive
wax.
Repairs
During the life of your boat, some damage
to the gel coat surface is unavoidable.
We recommend repairs done by trained,
experienced professionals at your local
marine dealer.
Scratches
If the scratch is in the gel coat surface,
not penetrating the fiberglass, use an
automotive polishing compound and rub it
out. Apply the compound by hand using a
damp rag or by using a power buffer. The
scratch may not entirely disappear, but it
should be noticeably better.
Gouges and Chips
Our recommended patching procedure is
to first clean the area needing repair with
an acetone solvent to remove all traces
of wax and oil. Next, thoroughly mix one
tablespoon of “Patch Paste” with two or
three drops of catalyst on a scrap piece of
cardboard.
Apply the mixture to the pit, chip or gouge
with a single-edge razor blade, matching
the surface and contour of the area being
repaired. Apply slightly more mixture to
avoid having to fill the damaged section
a second time. Allow the patch to harden
thoroughly for a minimum of two to three
hours.
Using a fine grit “wet or dry” sandpaper on
a sanding block, wet-sand the patch until
it is level with the surrounding surface.
Finish with a marine or automotive rubbing
compound using the same approach as
used for the scratches.
Refinishing
For a severely scratched or weathered
fiberglass boat that is no longer restorable
by using the previous methods, it may then
be necessary to refinish it with two-pack-
age or two-part aliphatic urethane enamel.
This can be done very effectively, but it is
recommended refinishing should only be
done by experienced professionals.
