Sea-doo 2003 GTI LE RFI, Shop Manual

Page: 727 / 779

Section 16 HULL/BODY
Subsection 02 (ADJUSTMENT AND REPAIR)
16-02-42
SMR2003-046_16_02A.FM
HULL AND BODY REPAIR
General
Gelcoat is the smooth and durable cosmetic finish
which coats the fiberglass hull and body of a Sea-
Doo watercraft. It also provides a protective barri-
er against water and sun. It consists of a mixture
of resin, pigment (coloring), fillers, monomers and
catalyst which is sprayed into the mold.
The body and hull of the Sea-Doo are constructed
of chopped fiberglass, saturated with resin. It is
sprayed on the layer of gelcoat along with pieces
of fiberglass mat, cloth and woven roving which
are added at required areas. This type of construc-
tion is very accommodating for high quality re-
pairs. With patience, the proper techniques and
materials, a damaged area can be restored to an
original finish.
NOTE: Fiberglass repair kit is available through au-
tomotive or marine suppliers. Gelcoat repair kits
are available directly from GELCOTE INTERNA-
TIONAL LTD.
Air Bubbles
Possible cause:
– Air pocket trapped between layers of laminate
and gelcoat.
PREPARATION OF SURFACE
Remove all of the damaged gelcoat surrounding
the air bubble with a putty knife or preferably a
carbide grinding tip. Make sure all loose and weak
areas are completely removed. Sand a small area
of the gelcoat surface with 220-grit sandpaper. If
needed, sand the cavity itself. These areas must
have a rough surface to allow the gelcoat putty to
bond properly.
FILLING THE CAVITY
The prepared surface must be cleaned with ace-
tone on a cloth. Use a gelcoat repair kit. Follow the
mixing instructions in the kit when preparing the
gelcoat putty.
Carefully mix the required amount while making
sure there are no air bubbles in the mixture. With
a putty knife, fill the repair area and cover with
plastic film. Curing time may depend on tempera-
ture, amount of putty and percentage of catalyst.
After 2 hours, press lightly on the surface with fin-
gers to test the hardness. When the area becomes
hard, remove the plastic film.
SANDING
Begin block sanding the patch with 320-grit sand-
paper until you come close to the original surface.
Remove dust with a water soaked cloth and con-
tinue sanding with a 400-grit wet paper. Finish wet
sanding with a 600-grit to remove deeper scratch-
es. If needed you can wet sand with finer grit pa-
per such as 1000-grit.
BUFFING AND WAXING
Buff the surface using a heavy duty polisher with
a buffing pad. Make sure the pad is free of dirt or
you may damage the gelcoat. Carefully begin buff-
ing with a white medium compound. Finish off us-
ing a fine compound. While buffing, pay close at-
tention to avoid overheating the surface.
Blisters
Possible causes:
– Insert catalyst.
– Improper catalyst/gelcoat ratio.
A blister is a visible bump on the watercraft surface
that may not necessarily come right through the
gelcoat layer. In the case of only a few blisters, follow
the same repair procedure as for air bubbles. If they
are numerous and in close concentration, spray liquid
gelcoat to achieve proper repair. This procedure is
covered in
Minor Gelcoat Fractures .
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WARNING
Protect skin, wear gloves when in contact with
resin, hardeners and gelcoat. A barrier skin
cream may also be used. Do not expose area
to open flame or lit cigarette. Some of the ma-
terials are flammable. Protect eyes, wear safety
glasses when grinding, sanding or spraying.
Use a dust mask when sanding or grinding.
When spraying wear a respirator or paint
mask. Always read warning labels on products.
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