Sailfish 1900 BB - Gel Coat Repairs and Refinishing; Repairing Gel Coat Damage

05/31/2017 Sailsh1900BBOwner’sManual|sailshboats.com 26
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
nished 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 bufng 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 pene-
trating the berglass, 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 rst
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 ll the damaged
section a second time. Allow the patch to harden
thoroughly for a minimum of two to three hours.
Using a ne 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.
Renishing
For a severely scratched or weathered berglass
boat that is no longer restorable by using the
previous methods, it may then be necessary to
renish it with two-package or two-part aliphatic
urethane enamel. This can be done very effectively,
but it is recommended renishing should only be
done by experienced professionals.