chapp-sx

I was out scuba diving last weekend and had a little air left, so I decided to take a peak at the bottom just to check for anything unusual. I noticed towards the stern that my bunks are starting to wear through my gel coat. In one spot I can see the glass weave. What can I do to fix this, and what would I use for materials. The guy I was diving with said to use an epoxy paint and also said I could put a graphite additive in to make it more slippery. Any thoughts on that? Any advise would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
Chris

Bottoms Up

you should think about having gel coat applied.

Bill

chapp-sx

What product do you recomend and is this something I can do? It is an older boat, and the damage is all under the boat, it doesn't need to look pretty, I just don't want a slow leak to start.

MOBILEMERCMAN

You need to get it out of the water, let it dry, sound the area around it. If it is sound and dry the object is to seal it. Gelcoat is good, but I think epoxy is easier to work with. Get some West System info and read up.

http://www.westsystem.com/

chapp-sx

Thanks for the reply. This might be a dumb question, but is sounding the same thing as a surveyor x-raying the hull?

MOBILEMERCMAN

No , to sound it you use something like the handle of a screw driver or hammer. Tap the area around the damage and listen for different tones. If its soft or loose it is an obviously different sound than the solid or sound parts. If you can get someone familiar with glass repairs to look with you.

chapp-sx

Whew!!!! I was starting to see alot of dollar signs. Worst case senerio, if it is soft inside, do I start cutting, drilling to let it dry. I'm hoping it isn't wet, the boat isn't in the water for more than 8 hours at a time, and then it sits on the trailer in the driveway all week. We don't get out every weekend neither. I suppose if it is wet, then I'll see the dollar signs.

Bottoms Up

This will tell you something? To re gel the area is best even if you brush it on. I hate when epoxy is in my way when people finally able to afford the repair.

Bill