Gel Coat Repair-Spider Crack

Post by **Sir reel** » August 5th, 2003, 10:33 am

I have a small area (aprox 6 or 7 inch dia) on the side of my carolina skiff where a spider crack has appeared. You can not feel anything when you run your fingers across it, but it has suddenly become visible. I wash my boat both inside and out everytime I return so it hasn't been visible more than a couple of weeks. I have had very little experience working with gel coat and fibre glass. I have NO experience where matching of color would be involved. My skiff is a 198 (beige) and I would like to know if there are recommendations for the Tallahassee area (or ??) for a repair of this nature. This does not look like a big job to me but I would like the match on color to be as close as possible. If anyone has some experience and can recommend someone, let me know. OR, if someone knows of special matching products or believes this is something I can do myself let me know as well. Thanks.

Post by **fishsticks** » August 5th, 2003, 1:05 pm

Sir, I know somebody who does excellent work. He worked for the Bayliner plant in Tallahassee for 10 years b4 they closed down. He now works at Flightline at the airport working on planes. I have a 20 foot off white Wellcraft and was at the Moors last year and banged up starboard side pretty bad when putting back on the trailor. The current can be hell there, was slammed into a wood pilon(SP?) next to the ramp. It was pretty bad, I had 10 to 12 inch cracks with the main spot looking like chewed wood. I took it to him and 2 days later and today, cannot tell where it was. He does awesome work, its a hobby for him. His wife and mine used to work together. I only paid 50 bucks, plus a tip. It was that good and cheap. I figured I saved about 100 to 200 bucks. He has done other work for me as well. If he does not have what you need, he will tell you what to go and get, then he will do the work. I strongly suggest to use him. Let me know.

Post by **pops** » August 6th, 2003, 8:44 am

fishsticks
Please give me his phone number, I need some fiberglas work done on my boat.
thanks
virgil davis
virgildavis@earthlink.net

Post by **Sir reel** » September 8th, 2003, 11:07 am

Have been meaning to post a follow-up to this thread before now but never got to it.

I connected up with the fellow that fishsticks recommended, had the work done and it was very good. After I contacted him, he came right out and looked at the job, gave me a price I couldn't refuse, showed up when he said he would and took care of it right in my back yard!! Didn't have to carry the rig to him and leave it!

He did have some trouble matching the beige color on my carolina skiff and after 3 or 4 attempts he told me if I wasn't satisfied he would try again. I ended up calling the factory and obtaining some ready mixed material with the secrect color formula and he came back out and matched the color just fine (no extra charge!!)

He was a pleasure to work with, very reasonable price, and said he'd be happy to consider any type of glass repair, live wells, etc. Wouldn't hesitate to use him again. He has told me if the cracks reapear he'll come back at no charge. Based on my experience, I believe you can rely on his word!

If anyone wants his # feel free to contact me.

Post by **fishsticks** » September 9th, 2003, 2:29 pm

SR....I'm glad everything worked out in the end!