Fiberglass Kayak Repair and Gel Coat

This video demonstrates how to repair a fiberglass kayak including how to spray white gel coat. This boat was damaged at the bow, so internal and external fiberglass was applied. The surface was gel coated and polished.
All of the products used are available at our website.
#tutorial #fiberglass #gelcoat #boat #refinish #repair #kayak

[@soihavetoplay]

Awesome job and very helpful, I have exactly the same repair to be done!

[@abdelkrimfadel9394]

Professional❤

[@tayloradamski6009]

Any chance you can leave a list of the products you used?

[@timberboatworks]

West Systems Epoxy. 1708 Biaxial Fiberglass. White Gel Coat.

[@michaeltowler2632]

Nice. The patch you put inside, is that with epoxy too or polyester resin?

[@timberboatworks]

Epoxy through 1708 biaxial fiberglass.

[@davejoseph5615]

So does the final layer of gelcoat need the wax additive or can you simply put paste wax on top of non-wax gelcoat?

[@timberboatworks]

If you are looking for a smoother application of gelcoat with less refinishing then air dry is added to the gelcoat mixture during application. If you are creating a air tight barrier other materials like wax, plastic, tape, acetate, pva or wax paper can be placed on the surface after application. This will leave far more texture and will require more sanding instead of just polishing the surface.

[@davejoseph5615]

@@timberboatworks I am looking to refinish/refurbish a kayak which has scratches down to the fiberglass but I don't know if I need to buy both gelcoats (with and without wax).

[@timberboatworks]

Waxed Gelcoat will cure hard every time you add the catalyst. This means that every layer that is applied must be scuff sanded and sovent wiped to remove the wax on the surface. Unwaxed Gelcoat can be applied in multiple coats and on larger surface areas because each layer remains tacky until the final air tight barrier (as mentioned in the previous comment) is added to force all the lower layers to cure (this is called "kicking down.") If you are new to applying gel coat purchasing a waxed gelcoat will generally be easier to use but will require the sanding and de-waxing step every coat.

[@davejoseph5615]

​@@timberboatworks Okay, thanks!

[@michaeltowler2632]

Firstly I know virtually nothing about fiberglassing. A boatbuilder who builds kayaks as well, was complaining to me when I asked about that sort of thing, about people coming in for him to refurbish their skis who have done DIY repairs on their skis hull outside who used the flowcoats that have the wax. He said they go yellow over time and it gives more work to fix.

[@JCSfaceless]

Sterling