toddaltpeter
Jet Boat Addict
- Messages
- 108
- Reaction score
- 209
- Points
- 107
- Location
- Ilinois
- Boat Make
- Yamaha
- Year
- 2021
- Boat Model
- AR
- Boat Length
- 19
I should start out by saying I have ZERO experience with body work, so this was a first for me. Special thanks to @tdonoughue, @YamaHog, and @mrcleanr6. Your posts about how to do this gave me the confidence to give it a try!!!
Had my first dock encounter. Long story which I will skip to avoid marital counseling.
![1.jpg 1.jpg](https://jetboaters.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com/data/attachments/153/153636-5b4546bb33c47355acad773cfc8e559f.jpg?hash=W0VGuzPEc1)
Decided to give it a try to fix it myself.
#1 goal - Protect the boat
#2 goal - Look Pretty
ordered the Suede Grey Gel coat repair kit from Spectrum via their distributor iBoat . ($35)
Taped off the big spot and mixed applied the gel. I did not tape the scratch I jut applied the gel.
![5.jpg 5.jpg](https://jetboaters.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com/data/attachments/153/153638-58ad4730c2b2f42c6ebb53f1d7f876bc.jpg?hash=WK1HMMKy9C)
I did not tape the scratch I jut applied the gel.
![7.jpg 7.jpg](https://jetboaters.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com/data/attachments/153/153639-e3582915df2b243f68e73c835877667e.jpg?hash=41gpFd8rJD)
I let it dry 4 hours. I then stated wet sanding. (Take your time here. Sand a little and check, then sand a little more)
I bought 3m wet sand paper and a sanding block at Walmart (Automotive section). 400, 800, 1000, 1500, and 2000 grit About ($20) in total
![11.jpg 11.jpg](https://jetboaters.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com/data/attachments/153/153640-d072fcb7d656b662986fda8a23d08718.jpg?hash=0HL8t9ZWtm)
After sanding with 400 and 800, I was pretty sure I ruined my boat, but I was committed at this point. Use the 400 and 800 to sand the repair down to almost flush with the existing gelcoat.
Caution, I did get a little to aggressive with the 800 and removed a little too much. If this is your first try, spend more time with the 1000 and less with the 400 and 800.
![12 (2).jpg 12 (2).jpg](https://jetboaters.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com/data/attachments/153/153641-e89eb02266a5292f329a383604d98147.jpg?hash=6J6wImalKS)
As I moved up to the 1000, 1500, and 2000 paper, I began to have hope again. I found the 1000 grit was my favorite paper to work with. When I was finished with the 1000 grit, the surface was smooth to the touch, Even thought I could still see where the filler was, I couldn't feel it with my fingers if I ran it across the surface. I then went on to the 1500 and finally the 2000.
![14.jpg 14.jpg](https://jetboaters.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com/data/attachments/153/153644-954823145173700b1efd716f6eba9e7b.jpg?hash=lUgjFFFzcA)
After that It was time to polish. I purchased a $100 7in Rotary polisher from Harbor freight( Probably could have gotten away with the $30 one) and a Lake Country 100% wool Pad off amazon ($12). I first polished with Meguiar's 105 on the rotary. I followed up with the Meguiar's 205 polish. For this step I borrowed a friends 6In Dual Action Polisher and used a Black Polishing foam pad. I could have used the rotary, but the DA is easier to use for the finishing stage. Like magic, the sanding scratches disappeared and the gel looked perfect. Watch some YouTube videos. It's very easy to do the polishing if you have the right setup. The polish was expensive $30 per bottle, but I hew have enough to last me years!)
In the end. I'm happy with this first attempt. I need to go back and fix where I over sanded, but it was starting to rain and I had to call it a day.
![15.jpg 15.jpg](https://jetboaters.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com/data/attachments/153/153645-828c6a1bac354eb1b0ed2399613bd4ff.jpg?hash=goxqG6w1Tr)
![16.jpg 16.jpg](https://jetboaters.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com/data/attachments/153/153646-8007da5335b408c7d130dcaa48839e2e.jpg?hash=gAfaUzW0CM)
Had my first dock encounter. Long story which I will skip to avoid marital counseling.
![1.jpg 1.jpg](https://jetboaters.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com/data/attachments/153/153636-5b4546bb33c47355acad773cfc8e559f.jpg?hash=W0VGuzPEc1)
Decided to give it a try to fix it myself.
#1 goal - Protect the boat
#2 goal - Look Pretty
ordered the Suede Grey Gel coat repair kit from Spectrum via their distributor iBoat . ($35)
Taped off the big spot and mixed applied the gel. I did not tape the scratch I jut applied the gel.
![5.jpg 5.jpg](https://jetboaters.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com/data/attachments/153/153638-58ad4730c2b2f42c6ebb53f1d7f876bc.jpg?hash=WK1HMMKy9C)
I did not tape the scratch I jut applied the gel.
![7.jpg 7.jpg](https://jetboaters.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com/data/attachments/153/153639-e3582915df2b243f68e73c835877667e.jpg?hash=41gpFd8rJD)
I let it dry 4 hours. I then stated wet sanding. (Take your time here. Sand a little and check, then sand a little more)
I bought 3m wet sand paper and a sanding block at Walmart (Automotive section). 400, 800, 1000, 1500, and 2000 grit About ($20) in total
![11.jpg 11.jpg](https://jetboaters.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com/data/attachments/153/153640-d072fcb7d656b662986fda8a23d08718.jpg?hash=0HL8t9ZWtm)
After sanding with 400 and 800, I was pretty sure I ruined my boat, but I was committed at this point. Use the 400 and 800 to sand the repair down to almost flush with the existing gelcoat.
Caution, I did get a little to aggressive with the 800 and removed a little too much. If this is your first try, spend more time with the 1000 and less with the 400 and 800.
![12 (2).jpg 12 (2).jpg](https://jetboaters.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com/data/attachments/153/153641-e89eb02266a5292f329a383604d98147.jpg?hash=6J6wImalKS)
As I moved up to the 1000, 1500, and 2000 paper, I began to have hope again. I found the 1000 grit was my favorite paper to work with. When I was finished with the 1000 grit, the surface was smooth to the touch, Even thought I could still see where the filler was, I couldn't feel it with my fingers if I ran it across the surface. I then went on to the 1500 and finally the 2000.
![14.jpg 14.jpg](https://jetboaters.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com/data/attachments/153/153644-954823145173700b1efd716f6eba9e7b.jpg?hash=lUgjFFFzcA)
After that It was time to polish. I purchased a $100 7in Rotary polisher from Harbor freight( Probably could have gotten away with the $30 one) and a Lake Country 100% wool Pad off amazon ($12). I first polished with Meguiar's 105 on the rotary. I followed up with the Meguiar's 205 polish. For this step I borrowed a friends 6In Dual Action Polisher and used a Black Polishing foam pad. I could have used the rotary, but the DA is easier to use for the finishing stage. Like magic, the sanding scratches disappeared and the gel looked perfect. Watch some YouTube videos. It's very easy to do the polishing if you have the right setup. The polish was expensive $30 per bottle, but I hew have enough to last me years!)
In the end. I'm happy with this first attempt. I need to go back and fix where I over sanded, but it was starting to rain and I had to call it a day.
![15.jpg 15.jpg](https://jetboaters.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com/data/attachments/153/153645-828c6a1bac354eb1b0ed2399613bd4ff.jpg?hash=goxqG6w1Tr)
![16.jpg 16.jpg](https://jetboaters.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com/data/attachments/153/153646-8007da5335b408c7d130dcaa48839e2e.jpg?hash=gAfaUzW0CM)