Chip in gelcoat

[Floridaman79]

I have a piece of gelcoat that chipped off during a some strong winds at the dock and I'd like some advice on how to approach it. Its a 2020 waverunner exr. First of all, is this something for a DIY or is this one to take to a fiberglass shop? I'm on the east coast of Florida so shouldn't have much problem finding a place. From the research I've done, it looks like these are painted, so to do it myself I'd have to buy the material to fix the gelcoat, then the base coat, top coat, and clear coat. By the time I buy all of that material for that small of an area I cant imagine it would be a lot cheaper than having a shop do it. Do any of you have a rough idea of how much something like this costs or have a recommendation for a fiberglass shop on the florida east coast?

 

[Murf'n'surf]

That's just gelcoat....nothing fancy. Probably $150-$200 in a shop. Shops are well worth the money unless you don't care how bad your first attempt will look

 

[Murf'n'surf]

Cycle Springs should be able to do that or get it repaired for you easily.

 

[mrcleanr6]

agree with the above. just take it somewhere. the savings arent going to be worth it and im pretty sure it wont be as good of a job if you do it vs a pro since its your first time. yamahas are usually painted but murf is right, that is just gel.

 

[Floridaman79]

Yeah, I called the dealership, material alone would run me about $150 between the gelcoat, base coat, top coat, and clearcoat. They have a guy that handles fiberglass work for them. The downside is that they'll need to hang into the ski for a couple of weeks! I'm planning on dropping it off tomorrow. I have a friend of mine that has an air conditioned shop with all the tools and everything and lots of composite experience, although mostly carbon fiber. I am confident we could repair it but I think the juice won't be worth the squeeze on this one. Thanks for your input!

 

[robert cabrerea]

That chip isnt that bad at all its the color thats the issue. I repair my own chips on the white side not sure how to get that color gel coat.
I would get with the dealer. My boat had a couple of cosmetic gel coat chips filled in and they were not anything to brag about.
good Luck!!!

 

[tdonoughue]

If you can get the color matched gel from Spectrum, this is the type of thing I would do myself (not to save the $150---that is actually pretty reasonable for this repair--but more for the time without the boat). There are some good writeups here on the repairs you can do. That said, you are talking about 2-3 hours over 2 days to fix it up. My experience has been pretty good getting it to look like new, but, yes, you may have a dip or bubble there if you don't get it right.

It does not look like any glass is impacted and you have a pretty clean chip out there. This one would be simple.

 

[VitaminSea]

Many references here to gel coat. I was under the understanding that late model Waverunners were SMC (sheet molded compound) then painted.

Most of what I have read is you use an epoxy, sand and then apply paint/clear. Here is a thread for reference.

How to repair Yamaha hull gouges

Guys, I am not an expert but was forced to learn this on my own. I think some of you can benefit a little from me sharing my experience. I learned everything by asking questions from some forum members on boatdesign.net and pwctoday.com...First one is a professional place of real boaters and...

greenhulk.net

 

[Floridaman79]

Many references here to gel coat. I was under the understanding that late model Waverunners were SMC (sheet molded compound) then painted.

Most of what I have read is you use an epoxy, sand and then apply paint/clear. Here is a thread for reference.

How to repair Yamaha hull gouges

Guys, I am not an expert but was forced to learn this on my own. I think some of you can benefit a little from me sharing my experience. I learned everything by asking questions from some forum members on boatdesign.net and pwctoday.com...First one is a professional place of real boaters and...

greenhulk.net

I just read thru those links and looks like you are absolutely correct. I assumed it was gelcoat because that's all I'm familiar with. I did find it odd that it would be paint over gelcoat but now its starting to make more sense. I'm taking it get an estimate today. Depending on what comes back I may tackle it myself. Its a skill I'd like to have.

 

[mrcleanr6]

The yamaha hulls are in paint over smc however in that pic showing the damage to the yellow, that yellow is absolutely gelcoat. Paint is nowhere near that thick. Now yamaha could have changed something for 2020 and newer. maybe its different for the lower models or they may even do the odd colors differently or they couldnt figure out a way to avoid the footwell blisters so they went back to gel. Who knows What their reasoning is, but it is def gel in that picture.

 

[Murf'n'surf]

The key word in the link posted above is HULL.

The chip in the OP's pic is not the hull.

 

[Floridaman79]

So i dropped it off for an estimate today. Haven't gotten the official quote but the guy there thought it would be about $500, so its starting to look like I'm about to be tackling it after all.

 

[Murf'n'surf]

So i dropped it off for an estimate today. Haven't gotten the official quote but the guy there thought it would be about $500, so its starting to look like I'm about to be tackling it after all.

Yeah...the dealer will mark up the cost 100%. Maybe find a guy to hire?

 

[mrcleanr6]

yep for sure. i do the fiberglass and paint for a local seadoo and yamaha dealer. i know they mark it up big time.

 

[Floridaman79]

ok, so I got the estimate today. It was somewhere between $650 and $750. I'm not exactly sure because I started to pass out on the phone when she was going thru the itemized list. Going to go the DIY route with west system #105 resin followed with base coat, top coat, and clear. Decided on the #105 epoxy because it bonds to polyester, vinylester, and epoxy resins and its not clear what I'm actually dealing with. Overall material cost will be about $100. Will keep you posted on the outcome!

 

[Danielmailin]

Please post pictures of the step by step and product info if possible.
I'm have to do the same on my boat.

 

[Floridaman79]

I'll definitely do a writeup on it. I would caution that it seems like the boats may be different than the skis in that the boat is colored gelcoat and the ski is 3 coat paint system. I'm by no means a professional here but I figure there will be value in my experience regardless. I havent really had a lot of luck finding good info in waverunner repair.

 

[Dixemon]

Thats such and easy repair, all you need is polyester gel paste with the right dye to match the color. spectrum sells the color kits, it would be about 50$ in material from them, then sandpaper and some cutting compound. all together maybe 100$. Plus you'll have enough cutting compound for life. good luck.

 

[mrcleanr6]

Yes i cannot figure out why they are selling you paint and clear coat when that is not paint. That yellow is gel. Dont buy the wrong thing

 

[Murf'n'surf]

The hull (below the rub rail) is painted fancy crap. That yellow is basic gelcoat.