Hey all,

Does anyone know of a reputable shop in the central FL area that does gel coat repairs? I somehow managed to put a HUGE gouge on my boats paint today! I don't even know how it happened but it is deep and looks NASTY!! It is driving me nuts looking at it already! so if anyone can help i would appreciate it greatly.

The trick to gel coat repair is to get a good color match. If it's a metalflake finish it will be very tough to get an exact match.  You cannot do much sanding or buffing on or around the repair. 

If you get into the flake, you'll end up with silver flakes.

If you can do that, chances are you can fix it yourself.  It depends on how badly it is damaged, and its location.

If you can, post a photo of the gouge, and perhaps I can walk you through the process.

It is imperative to get it repaired, even if you don't get a perfect job.  The gel coat is waterproof, and protects against water intrusion to the composite of the hull.

Most boats are made of polyester resin which will absorb water.  In Florida, it's not a big deal, but in areas where the winters get cold, and the moisture that penetrates the resin can freeze, you may end up with big problems.

The protection of a good layer of gel coat is as important as its cosmetic value.

Check around at local boat yards and places that do fiberglass repair.  Get some estimates, and ask to see some of their repairs.

Good post, Fishing Rhino.

Dink Whisperer, have you looked into Marine-Tex Epoxy Putty? I made a repair the size of a dime under my wheelwell bunk. It's not as pretty as a professional repair, but you can't see it while the boat is on the trailer. The only time I ever see it is when I swim, and but it is cheap and effective option. Had the damage been more visible, I would have gone with the professionals.

It comes in white, which you can mix with dye, and a dark gray.  You can also fill and retap a screwhole with this stuff if it is stripped.

http://www.marinetex.com/marinetexepoxyputty.html

It is pretty big guys, i will post a pic tomorrow. It is close to the bow eye and goes from bumper guard on one side to the other side.