Gelcoat

[makomike1]

Need help gelcoating a few scratches on a 1973 28 bert original gelcoat. Can someone direct me as to where I can get gelcoat of the same color or as close as possible to the color I have. The scracthes are down to just about down to the glass, not real big but they are scratches, one scratch is tomany.
Thanks for any help
Michael

[CaptPatrick]

Mike,

Try Butler Marine... The make swim platforms, pulpits, and other items specifically designed for B31s and so have gelcoats to match. Not sure how receptive they will be, but worth a try. I know they've sold gelcoat to folks that have bought one of their other items.

http://butlermarine.com/

Br,

Patrick

[waggles02673]

A couple of years ago I was able to get some from Richard Kidd at Bertram for my old B28. You might want to try them as well.

Jon

[capy]

Our B31 was regelcoated with Cook's armour all gelcoat, and after 10 years still looks like new.

[Chiles]

I was able to buy a quart of pre-mixed gel-coat from Butler. They are really not set up to do this kind of thing and here is the kicker, Bertram used 4 different colors in the 70's. Butler sent me a set of paint chips to match the color on when I got my swim platform. After I bought the platform I also asked them to send me a quart of gel-coat. They charged me (can't remember what the cost was) but the match was great.

-Chiles

[BillinFI]

Try http://www.minicraft.com/aboutus.htm. These folks are the real deal and have a very helpful staff able and willing to answer questions. I used Cooks Composites gel coat with Dura Tec in it I bought from Composites One in RI, but there are lots of ways to use gel coat to fill dings and scratches. In fact, that is why I put new gelcoat on my 25 hull topsides rather than Awl Grip paint. I used paint on the deck and the cockpit because I needed non-skid and had lots of corners - hard to do in a gel coat rehab job. But over time, you can do spot repairs with gel ocat - no problem and polish out minor belmishes.

[makomike1]

Thanks for all your help. I was able to get some from minicraft.
Thanks

[Dave Kosh R.I.P.]

I mix my own but it may take 3-4 times to get the right tint. So the best method is to buy it premixed if you can as refered here. Dave K

[makomike1]

Thanks Capt. dave. By the way how did everything work out for you? The filter and all.
Mike