Gel coat Question

Discussion in 'Fiberglass/Wood/Gelcoat Repair' started by Jeff Intermesoli, Jan 18, 2023.

  1. Jeff Intermesoli

    Jeff Intermesoli New Member

    13
    Mar 29, 2021
    2003 320 Sun Dancer
    350 Horizons
    I’m guessing I need a quart of Gel Coat to spray the repair I have in the works.

    Called local Marine max and they have my spectrum color in stock. $244 quart.

    I see online Total Boat sells a white quart for $40.

    Anyone have any luck mixes to color match the artic White Sea ray color ? Seems like a huge cost difference just for the color.

    Thanks.
     
  2. SKybolt

    SKybolt Well-Known Member SILVER Sponsor

    Nov 11, 2014
    Kent Narrows, MD
    Reel Nauti
    460 EC
    Detroit 6v92TA
    (Low profile's)
    Alison Gears
    Westerbeke
    12.5kw Genset
    You get what you pay for. Mixing gelcoat color is not for the faint of heart and will cost you more then that to get all of the pigment needed to get there.

    If you don't want to use gelcoat, look at Awlgrip. Thats easy to match, but with all that is needed may end up costing more.
     
    Chris-380 and TheWolfTC like this.
  3. Golfman25

    Golfman25 Well-Known Member

    Sep 12, 2009
    IL
    1998 370 Sundancer
    7.4 MPI
    Spend the extra $200. It’s a boat. :)
     
    Chris-380 and SKybolt like this.
  4. jmcdboater

    jmcdboater Well-Known Member

    340
    May 28, 2022
    Stockton, CA
    1988 300 DA Sundancer
    Vessel JIM’N’I IV
    Twin 5.7L Mercs w/Alpha One Drives
    Koehler KVA 4 Genset
    +1 here…..You have some extra bucks for entertainment (boat love) or you wouldn’t be here.

    Now, imagine the repair is done, you’ve sprayed the $40 junk….it looks awful, really awful ‘cause it doesn’t match. You see it every time you look around your baby, you see it in your dreams at night, you see it in your mind’s eye every spare moment of your day……..you’ll end up doing it right the second time anyway, so why not save yourself all that that other stress?!?
     
  5. Bill Curtis

    Bill Curtis Well-Known Member

    630
    Mar 24, 2022
    Eastern NC
    '95 220 Overnighter
    454 Mag. Bravo3 w/ 2.0:1 ratio gears and 28 pitch props
    454 Mag Bravo3. 2.0:1 ratio gears w/ 28 pitch props
    I guess I had different luck than others. I used the gelcoat kit on my Chaparral 2550 about 10 years ago on a big chip someone put in my boat when they backed into it while she was tied up.

    I guess the secret is proper preparation / repair of ding and using very little tint at a time, until it is a match.

    After patch was done (properly), it was only visible if you knew exactly where to look and only in the right light.
     
    jmcdboater and Nater Potater like this.
  6. BillK2632

    BillK2632 Well-Known Member SILVER Sponsor

    Jun 25, 2009
    Lake Norman, NC
    2014 Cobalt R5
    Volvo Penta V8-300 DP
    duckhead69 likes this.
  7. Wanderer 290

    Wanderer 290 Well-Known Member

    766
    Jul 1, 2019
    Traverse City
    01 sea ray 290 sundancer
    Twin 5.7 b3’s
    I bought a 2oz container of paste from spectrum that perfectly matched the gel coat on my sea Ray.
     
    Nater Potater likes this.
  8. Harmon

    Harmon Member

    333
    Jun 28, 2011
    Jackson NJ/Beach Haven LBI
    Current: 2006 320DA as of 6/7/19
    Previous 1997 Sundancer 250
    1989 Basstracker 40HP
    Twin 350 Horizon with Vdrives

    Single 7.4 Ltr carbed
    Bravo 3 outdrive
    I have a 2006 with the blue hull, does spectrum have the repair paste for the color? If so does anyone know the pat number.
     
  9. Jeff Intermesoli

    Jeff Intermesoli New Member

    13
    Mar 29, 2021
    2003 320 Sun Dancer
    350 Horizons
    If you call marine max with the hull I’d they can look it up.
     
  10. techmitch

    techmitch Well-Known Member PLATINUM Sponsor

    May 1, 2008
    Chesapeake Bay, Middle River/Frog Mortar Creek MD.
    1999 270 DA
    Twin 4.3s W/Alpa I Gen II's
    @Harmon
     
  11. The Bill Collector

    The Bill Collector Well-Known Member GOLD Sponsor

    Jun 2, 2008
    Tacoma, WA
    1998 450 Sundancer, Achilles dinghy w/15hp
    3126 Cat's
    Spectrum used to have a local outlet 10 minutes from my house... The good old days
     
  12. ttmott

    ttmott PhD in OCD TECHNICAL Contributor

    Apr 3, 2012
    Space Coast Florida
    2006 52 Sedan Bridge
    Cummins QSM11
    The products from Total Boat are some of the best. You would need to do a color match which is a bit of a talent in it's own right plus having to purchase all of the pigments. Gelcoat has a shelf life and the reason Spectrum costs so much due to the quantity of color selections. Spectrum pretty much corners the market on color match for many boats and many model years. The ladies that work on my boat have been doing gelcoat for a thousand years it seems - they color match perfectly all of the work I've had them do. For the things I've done it is Spectrum.... The good thing about gelcoat is is doesn't fade or change color so the match is usually spot on.
     
    Nater Potater and TheWolfTC like this.
  13. flyboycj84

    flyboycj84 Active Member

    189
    Feb 20, 2014
    Merritt Island FL
    2008 Meridian 391
    QSB 5.9
    SeaRay arctic white is very similar to my Meridian arctic white I believe, if not the same thing. I learned from a long time SR fiberglass guy here in Merritt Island (actually goes around the world repairing L-class warranty’s) that yellow oxide is the only color needed to mix with white to achieve the desired match. I’ve done it multiple times now with good luck, and actually enjoy the process.

    Our local fiberglass place, Fiberglass Florida, will color match gelcoat as well, and it’s much less $$ than spectrum. I’d be worried about the Spectrum color not matching an older boat.
     
  14. Wanderer 290

    Wanderer 290 Well-Known Member

    766
    Jul 1, 2019
    Traverse City
    01 sea ray 290 sundancer
    Twin 5.7 b3’s
    Where are you located on Merritt Island? I slip a boat at Harbortown.
     
  15. flyboycj84

    flyboycj84 Active Member

    189
    Feb 20, 2014
    Merritt Island FL
    2008 Meridian 391
    QSB 5.9
    Down the way a little bit. South end of Sykes Creek. Hi!
     
  16. duckhead69

    duckhead69 Member

    137
    Jun 11, 2010
    michigan lake Erie
    1980 Bertram
    1986 Rinker2100
    2006 Nova
    1989 215 sundowner
    1986 300 weekender lowrance HD-5
    350 chevy inboards velvet drives
    mixing pigment not that bad very small amounts pea size is usually to much be very sparing with color added. then when right add hardener
     

Share This Page

Show Sidebar