There's A Hole In My Boat~ How To Apply Gelcoat

Watch this entire series from the beginning!
• Fiberglass and Gelcoat...
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boatworkstoday.com
/ boatworkstoday
@BoatworksToday

[@rickpat10]

As an old first time boat owner, your videos have been a god send to me. As an ex trade teacher your delivery style is perfect for you and us, your students. Most critism comes from jealousy or lack of understanding of delivery styles and teaching theory. Keep it up people like you who do this type of public service are my heroes.

[@boatworkstoday]

Patrick Fiddler thank you very much Patrick :-). Much appreciated!

[@GenericUserUnknown]

+Patrick Fiddler I agree totally with Patrick.

[@johnneal7832]

Yes your right there,im thinking of getting a little boat to go on the canals in the UK and videos like this give me a big help in knowing i could keep it looking good and in decent condition

[@crabbyhayes1076]

Yes, you are a true master of your craft - thank you

[@jonathanking6546]

Glad you did these videos. I really had absolutely no knowledge of how to repair my fiberglass body on my food truck. It has many little cracks and just needs to be repaired to look nice and make me money. The details you provided are so important to me. I will watch the videos again but will do my best to get it done myself because I cannot afford to hire out the repairs. I also have a semi truck with a fiberglass hood that needs repairs. I already did some repairs and it looks so much better. I really do thank you for helping those of us who are just getting starting. God bless you and your beautiful family. You said, jokingly that the information was gold, you laughed, but you were correct. It’s gold for people like me. I really do thank you.

[@Fireship1]

You are incredibly detailed and professional. Thanks for making these vids and giving people the confidence to attempt repairs to their boats. I'm learning lots of tips and tricks watching these informative videos!

[@adam56usa]

I've been using the stuff with wax and not having good results. I'm going to get the laminating gel coat and the put on the sealer. Thanks. You're a natural teacher.

[@ericson26savannah86]

All I can say is Thank You! I matched my gel coat color perfectly and applied to a larger repair via brush. The Bad news was it was at least 85 degrees. A bucket of ice did the trick I had at least 30 min working time to do what I had to do. I followed up the next week with sanding and its beautiful! I will add that I have been in color matching all my life and your method was the nuts. The color is perfect much better than the 2 part paint that was mixed using a high end color match Spectrophotometer. Again Thank you! Dave

[@boatworkstoday]

That's awesome!

[@matthewbaldwin9451]

Hi Andy. I stumbled across your youtube video while trying to find out how to deal with osmosis on a gel coat boat. I have absolutley no experience with painting or fibreglassing but just can't stop watching your videos. I am addicted. Love the way you present and I am so keen to see how your Bertram comes out. I literally stayed up until 1am the other night wathcing. I'll have to try and work out how to track your Bertram videos from start to finish, at the moment they seem to be randomly coming up anywhere in the process. Love your work. Matt from Yeppoon, Queensland,Australia

[@MRScrubNasty]

Your knowledge and experience is quite amazing but even more impressive your willing to share it (for FREE) on KZbin. I have been restoring boats and reselling them and learned SO much. With a background in working on fishing boats, we always pulled the boat out for repairs once a year and learned basic stuff but your my go to for everything I do on these restoration projects. Finally almost done with a 1977 mako 17 center console. Looks like a brand new boat. Thanks for sharing your knowledge. I know you get paid for it from ad revenue but its free for me to watch and I appreciate that. Most guys are not willing to teach especially for free.

[@SailSmileReDo]

Well, first of all, congratulations on more than 113k subscribers. And having more than 417k views on this episode is quite an achievement. What makes me a bit sad is that out of almost half a million viewers only a tiny portion (2k) hit the thumbs up button. I absolutely agree with Patrick Fiddler's comment. Your ARE our hero. Thank You from the bottom of my heart

[@GenericUserUnknown]

Hey, thanks so much for doing these videos. Very kind of you to share all your hard earned experience and information with us. I wish the panel you were working on wasn't so over-exposed. As soon as you did the first lamination (coat), it looked as done as when you actually got done. I mean, I couldn't tell a difference. I think I got the idea, though. Thanks again for doing these great videos!

[@andresaumure1400]

I was just given a boat that needs work. It is going to be a project with my son. Without your instructions we never would have been able to do this. Thank you very much.

[@michaelmcclure8673]

It's been a while since doing any repairs. This was a good refreshing course. 😊

[@azcharlie2009]

Thank you so much for the videos! I have learned so much from you. Thanks to you and Totalboat, doing fiberglass work is not so intimidating.

[@drakep9512]

You have said to wait a hour in between coats of gelcoat. Do you make a new batch every with every coat adding mekP every time ? Thanks! You are really great and helpful.

[@LCJDNY]

Your the first person i turn to for all my fiberglass repair needs. Thank you for sharing your pearls of wisdom with us.. Much appreciated..

[@peteryeung111]

There's many boat repair tutorial videos on KZbin, but it takes a certain personality to make it right. This channel certainly feels and looks right. Good job and thank you! I subbed.

[@BoundForNowhere]

What kind of Gelcoat do you like to use? Thank you so much, your videos have saved me on so many occasions!

[@Boatyarddog]

Bugs love it because it has styrene in it, smells sweet, they also want to walk around in your work!!

[@williampower6358]

Thanks so much for your kindness and wisdom. Much appreciated. Might see you in Dublin someday for a beer. I'm buying

[@albertclark4761]

as a first timer i have found that seeing these videos have inspired me to have a go as i just put a hole in my boat so thank you

[@boatworkstoday]

That's awesome! Not so much the hole, but that you're giving it a go! Good luck ;-)

[@brianapplessportfishingboa599]

Thanks for the tip on brushing in both directions. Im in the boat repair business and I didn't know that one. Good stuff. thanks

[@uscgdaisey]

from a fellow boat builder/repair guy you do a great job explaining everything would love to have a beer sometime!!!

[@boatworkstoday]

Hunter Daisey Thanks Hunter ;-) Beer is good!

[@jasoncolley4509]

Excellent videos, really like this guys presenting, please keep making them, wish you could pop over to the UK and help me with a few repairs

[@howlinbeagle]

9:30 "I don't want to talk to much" I listen to you while I'm working on my boat , hoping to absorb info and keep me motivated!!!!

[@josedasilva7372]

Great video with well explained and very educated, I really like it

[@kevingosselin5991]

In case anyone is wondering, bugs love the gelcoat because the catalyst conatins ethyl. (scent that fruits give off when ripening) nobody quote me on this.

[@daniellawless2246]

18:48 Why do you want to see the ripples forming? My initial thought when I saw that was the gel coat was starting to kick, which makes it hard to smooth out. Thanks!! Awesome video.

[@AusMarineRobotics]

Thank you fella - very informative in a good humored kind of way.

[@paulwhited117]

Awesome videos. And love the opening music. Same as Midway USA videos. Which are also awesome. Thanks for your time.

[@montanabadlands7091]

Thank you for all the videos you have made they have helped a bunch

[@kelvenguard]

I have 39 years Auto body "AWESOME VIDEO".... I was fixing some very small rock chips on a customers ski boat and I filled them with LORD FUSOR T21 Slow COMPOSITE ADHESIVE.... I let the T21 dry 24 hours sanded cleaned and brushed on Gel Coat, only the 2nd time ever using Gel Coat.... Where the T21 was thicker (All was super thin) the Gel Coat didn't Harden... Not sure if I had a Bad Chemical Reaction between the T21 and Gel Coat but thats what it looked like to me when sanding to re-repair....

[@moriver3857]

I've watched a couple of your great videos and love the format and humor. And also since I'm currently doing a refit on my boat, I have a few small dings on the hull and deck I need to repair, but never done it before, though I can learn. So I'll subscribe to your channel and will checkout the website too. Only if I could put my boat inside like yours. Thanks.

[@auswidemarine8980]

Andy can you let us know how you move these boats in and out like the yacht behind you. Good to see you back.

[@boatworkstoday]

Have a video on that :-) kzbin.info/www/bejne/a4KpdnmJm66Br5Y

[@carlsails58]

Brilliant. Probably the best I have seen and I have been watching them lately. Thanks a lot. I cannon believe over 200 K have viewed and only a handful of likes. Shaemful of people who watch, get information for free and cannot even take a moment to leave a like. Not shameful...actually disgusting.

[@croskey20101]

So at the end you said that you need to have a PBA? to seal the paint? Would it be better to just buy a gel coat that already had wax in it? Sorry and thanks for the help

[@DJ-hy4ys]

Andy.. mabey someone else alreaady asked. but.. Just like others kinda asked If you use a gelcoat WITH wax would that be enough to seal without using PVA ?

[@1954BJohn]

Thanks for all the advice,tips and videos Andy.

[@peterrivney552]

Andy have you heard about an automotive primer that is made for stress cracks it give you about a 13 hour time frame to sand it in before it hardens like concrete I can't remember the name of it but we used it on Corvettes and it worked great getting into them and coverage we hade one vet come in that was burnt front end cleaned it all up as and sand blasted some areas to get the heavy damage out than did repairs and followed up with this primer it was a white in color the painter that was working at the shop at the time applied it I can't remember the name of it that's why I was wondering if you have used it or not...

[@shft2246]

Great videos, very educational and detailed...Thank you very much for doing this, I and I am sure many other people appreciate it.

[@robertnortan87]

I enjoy listening to you sharing knowledge, I really do 👍

[@skifaster87]

You re awesome thank you. For all the lessons. Really appreciate these videos

[@scottedwards6117]

Fantastic video, so informative on how what and why, thank you!

[@turner593]

great video thanks , a question on the PVA though, if I go that route to gelcoat with unwaxed gelcoat to the stern of a boat we just repaired do you apply the PVA right away like you did at the end of the video or can you add the PVA say 24 hours later ?, and does the PVA just cure the surface of the gelcoat or does it permeate the whole thickness of the gelcoat?

[@truckerdaddy-akajohninqueb4793]

Why did you put PVA over the top of the gel coat patch you made? To seal the gel coat so it will harden better? I've heard you talk about using gel coat to help the fiberglass resin to set up.

[@rrf5336]

Very enjoyable to watch and informative. Thank you.

[@tronicit]

I've watched a few of your videos and they were all great. Keep your up the good work and thankyou.

[@timothyarmstrong5987]

This info is Golden, Thanks for the Apprenticeship.

[@oscarpalm8142]

Really good videos! But for us outside america it would be nice if you could be saying booth European and American measurements if you feel for it! :) besides that, really good videos! :)

[@daniellemulder6418]

I'm American and I do all this work on metric. It makes things easier in so many ways, especially scaling up... and weight to volume calculations.

[@bandalocomposites503]

Hi! I'm Franco from Argentina and I'm amazed on the detail and cool way of teaching us everything about boat construction and repair. I wanted to ask you a question. At minute 19:20 you mention that after gelcoat you use some additive or wax. What do you use? And what is it for? Thanks a lot! PS: If any other user can answer me I'd appreciate it a lot! Thanks a take care!!

[@snappkiller0505]

i was wondering if you did all three coats with the first mixed cup off gel coat, or you mixed a new bash per coat? Thank you for your time videos are great.

[@boatworkstoday]

+snappkiller0505 I did do it all with the same mix. It was a little cool in the shop which helped to keep the gel from setting up in the cup. During the Summer I would not have been able to get away with it ;-)

[@familykeepersca]

Thank you very much for your teachings!

[@josephs4212]

This is very thorough, but I am really just working on my boat, I need something quicker just to get it done.

[@Randomrayray666]

Wish I could like this video every time I refer to it, thank you!

[@travelcampingblacksmithing786]

I was waiting for you to turn and walk into the boat in the beginning of the vid

[@wilhaines7516]

Great videos. Thank you. Question. Where do I find the references you mention, i.e., products you use and recommend. I've failed to find those. Thanks.

[@TonyGingrich]

Thank you for making these informative videos! I know I'm about 6 years late on this one. But I am just now getting around to learning fiberglass for boats, and have a question. For small fiberglass repairs on cars, I always use laminating resin and then cover it with wax paper (for baking). I've always had very good results with the cure, even though it increases the required amount of sanding over some contours. Do you have an opinion or experienced advice using wax paper for gelcoat? (PVA is a bit expensive, on top of other expensive materials, lol.)

[@masterlup]

I have subscribed to you and im not even into boats :D. Planning on doing a fiberglass project soon.

[@gerrypearce2741]

Great video Andy! Can I use the perpendicular brushing and wait times with waxed gelcoat? I have bought the waxed before watching your video.

[@outdoortherapy6596]

Great video and an oldie by the looks. You spoke about gelcoat that doesn't flash off due to unmixed catalyst. What is the solution for this? must be sanded back? can another coat be added on top so it flashes off?

[@LandonChristian]

a guy was blasting paint off my boat, and he went all the way down to the fiberglass in one small 3 by 4 inch spot. I plan to just ad primer over the whole boat now and then paint it again, but what should I do about the spot. Because it's so small, does it require really nice gel coat fix up now. Thanks for helping a beginner at this if possible. Thanks. (any specific products you know of would be great) (also, this is a 40 ft sailboat intended to sail in salt water)

[@scottwilson4079]

I have a quick question….is that the same batch of gel coat in the container? Did it flash off too? Did you have to remake more gelcoat for every time you did a different direction?

[@bradkw4295]

Hilarious and educational at the same time! Just sent ya a beer to say thanks ;)

[@boatworkstoday]

Enjoying it now ;-) Thank you!

[@roishki]

thankyou from australia ... i am a diy .. er and you helped me

[@jordangerolemou4584]

Hey bro.. Your videos are great thank you.. I'm restoring the inside of my fibreglass esky.. I'v sanded the original gel coat exposing the fibreglass then layed a sheet of fibreglass cloth on top which has come up really nice being my first time working with fiberglass...SO ITCHY HEY lol Once I apply the first coat of flow coat am I able to apply a second coat of flow coat once its dried or semi dried over night because it remains tacky for some time.. If its dried completely do I need to sand it then clean it with Acetone to apply the second coat?

[@doctorpc4x4]

dam that colour match is perfect

[@TheShannon60]

Will poly stick to epoxy? I have a hole that I was going to use epoxy on the inside and also use it for redoing the floor of the boat, which would be painted. Would I have to do the bottom in poly first which I plan on using gel coat? Love your videos! And I’m in Wisconsin too! Boating on bago

[@andrewdavies5514]

Great Videos ..learning a lot thanks ,Im thinking of changing the Gelcoat colour from white to a grey ,whats the best process for that ? ...Andrew (UK)

[@egilherforth]

Hi Thanks for all your helpful videos tips and tricks. On this video, do you mix a new cup of gel coat to every layer or is it the same mix for all 4 layers?

[@starsaligninthesky]

THANK YOU! you make it look easy

[@michaelchapin5998]

Hello, and thx for your awesome videos....I have my boat stored inside for the winter and wanted to do some small gel coat repairs...the building is kept at about 45 degrees, I know that is not optimal for doing gelcoat, is it possible? Could I do small areas if I used a heat lamp or a small electric heater? Is it the air temp or the surface temp that is most important or both? Thanks in advance for any help! Mike

[@FarmerPierce]

New follower, been watching a lot of the glassing videos but was wondering if you only deal with white gel coat or do you also deal with clear gel? I have a bass boat project I’ve taken on and need to do clear gel and flake. Any possibility you could throw up a video?

[@cobblewright]

Excellent video. Thanks!

[@dodgeguyz]

Ok, I know this is an old video. What kind of Gelcoat do you put over existing gel coat? I’ve got an old golf cart and the front body needs to be repaired. There are 2 kinds of gel coats, with and without wax. I’m assuming for this kind of application it would be without wax? And since I will never gelcoat again, I’ve heard you can roll it with a sponge roller. It’s going to be painted when I’m done, but I can wetsand any marks down.

[@lunkerjunkiestv186]

You ever forget to duck walking under the bow of that big boat?

[@PCarew]

Did you have to mix/catalyze new batches between coats or was there enough working time to just have one batch and waiting between coats?

[@fishernick2447]

Learned a heap again, thanks 👍

[@conch1811]

Hey thanks for the videos as a jack of all trades an master of none I can lay down fiberglass and Bondo. Now my question after watching multiple videos I come to realized that everyone has their own style and preference of materials. I'm restoring a sailboat, probably the only one I'll ever restore so when it comes to gelcoat cracks since I'm going to be painting the boat instead of using gelcoat would it be ok to use Cabosil with regular Resin. I have used it before on other projects with great results bonds well is very hard and Cheap what advise can you give me Thanks

[@mrsilverblade11]

Do you recommend Evercoat Gel Coat Products? I'm finishing the glass work on the deck of my boat, and I'm about to purchase a good unwaxed gel coat. Thanks for your informative videos!

[@cepuras]

What are Your thoughts of rolling and brushing an entire boat hull?

[@AM2PMReviews]

I have a few cracks and chips in my fiberglass pool slide. How do I fix that? Gel coat?

[@jamesralphT]

Hey, love your detailed videos, thanks. I've been doing pretty much exactly as you demonstrate, but after I've applied the pva (I'm using water soluble release agent) the gelcoat still isn't hardening. I left the pva on overnight, but when I wiped it off it was still tacky. the only difference to your method is that I applied a final layer of gelcoat with a filling blade to push it into the pits left by the brush, just to try to reduce the sanding time a little... do you know where I'm going wrong?

[@IgnatFi]

hi. It is the same batch of gelcoat+catalyst that you use for every layer, isnt it? How it happens that it doesn 'flash off' in the pot?

[@jthorn9477]

Great vid, I have a question: I bought a repair kit with wax for a small repair, but the repair is pretty deep. Will I be able to “flash” the gelcoat for a few minutes and lay some more in or will I have to let it completely cure and sand it before adding more (since it has the wax)? Thanks for any advice!

[@JamesWhite-tg4kw]

How did it turn out I have a small repair myself

[@Jackel3226]

OK I've been having hell with fixing a hole in my boat now I can't get to the backside of the repair I need to do what do I do ?

[@johnnydeutschemark3620]

How did you mix the gel coat? is it straight from the can? then you added a few drops of catalyst? not clear on this... also what is the last stage? PvA? Looks purplish... what does that do & who makes it?

[@CncTbo]

Hi, Please give me some more information about PVA to get gelcoat cure. What is PVA ? Need this answer asap :0)

[@thordurreyrarnarson1115]

Enjoyed watching this. I have question though, is it possible to give boat new colour with Gelcoat and if you can what would the steps be ?

[@boatworkstoday]

+Thordur Reyr Arnarson It is, but I generally recommend going with paint as it's a lot easier and can be done with minimal tools. Doing gelcoat over large areas requires spraying and aTON of wetsanding / buffing.

[@olegrasevic184]

Thanks for videos and hard work u do, i have question can u paint 1977 del-magic without taking paint or gelcoat off , i have rust-oleum bottom antifouling paint and how good will be to do it without sanding all boat .

[@markhamze154]

You always know a good spray painter by his compressor. The compressor has to be a minimum of 15 cubic feet a minute! Then the water trap has to be a minimum of 10m from the compressor. I even run 10m of calvanised pipe along a cold wall. It is a water trap and not a vapour trap. Vapour has to be given a chance to turn to water before the water trap can catch it. It's the water that takes away the shine in your paint job! I some times see compressors with water traps that a less then a foot away from the compressor. Then the people complain that they can't get a shine!

[@paulgreene1277]

Skipped the cleaning stage after sanding. What did you use to clean it?

[@douglehman6388]

Watched a lot of your videos and they are great info and feel that I can tackle some work on my 19 foot catamaran. I just need to know what brand of gel coat is good to use and where do you get the PVA?

[@crissaguilar8524]

What's the work time to apply ? & how long takes to fully cure?

[@johngibson4077]

Hiya there I have watched most of your videos great help in trying my first repair, I was wondering after watching your test videos on west epoxy if you think gel coat would stick well to this? Thanks

[@christinefuss9585]

I do this kind of work. I imagine he has sponsors so I’ll say it, although they say gelcoat will stick to it, I have found that it does not.

[@jim-jf5rn]

Would that work better if you roll it on with a paint roller or would that cause clumping in the gel coat?

[@-rstasiuk7381]

The Bob Ross of Gel Coats. ;)

[@mauriciobarrios6685]

What's PVA?

[@johncasor9698]

How did you get that giant Sail boat in the shop behind you??? and what are you doing to it???

[@day-cinvacuums5909]

Dear Boat Works., How can I change the standard White Gelcoat in the Can, into Mission White or Artic White ? I have a few small repairs on the bottom of my haul, but would like the color to match.

[@jonathanrighetti5897]

look into California air tools for a compressor, I spray with mine and run an air sander no problem, im mobile

[@Chevysrule454]

How do u do gelcoat repairs on boats that have the huge silver flex from the 70s?

[@badjeremiah5]

I do bright work,gel coat and awl grip in eastern CT. I'm looking to go to school and get certified, if you know a good school please let me know. My boss will pay for the classes