Scratches in fiberglass boat

[IT Guy]

I had the boat out last weekend and it "kissed" the dock causing some scratches in the fiberglass. What is the best way to remove them? They are not very long or deep but you can feel them when you run your fingernail over them.

Thanks!

[sparkyaber]

I just got my first glass boat last fall and what I have found is that if you can feel it, you have to just deal with it or take it into a repair shop. This can get really expensive in a hurry. I looked at getting some scratches fixed on the side of my boat, and it was more than I was ready to spend. I just don't look at that side of the boat.

[delmuts]

a scratch? depends on if it is just a minor thing or if it is deep enought that goes thru the gel coat, and into the glass. the minor ones you can get by with, but they do look ugly. if it is thru the gel coat then you should get it fixed. if it is a straight color, it is not as exspensive, but if you have a poly flake then it will cost more, as not all repair guys will fix them.i would talk to a repair guy and see what he tells you.

[Steve Bakken]

There's no reason that a minor scratch should cost that much to repair. We do dozens of them every year at the boat shop and as long as it's not through the gelcoat into the fiberglass, it shouldn't take more than about an hour or so to take out. even ones into the 'glass we've been able to have in and out in a day or two as long as the rest of the gelcoat isn't stress cracked.

[knoppers]

Steve Bakken

I have a 97 skeeter all metal flake, I have numerous scratches through the years, and a few deep ones. what would it cost to redoo this boat?

you can contact me at [email protected]

[Steve Bakken]

Knoppers,

You have mail

[IT Guy]

This scratch is about 6 inches long and through the gel coat. Nothing around it looks like it is stressed though.

Any ideas if this is a $100 fix or a $500 fix?

[CASTnBLAST]

What color is it?

[Steve Bakken]

To get it done right with gelcoat so that it will last the lifetime of the boat, you'd probably be looking at somewhere between $250 and $350.

[Lost]

How much for a total gelcoat job on a 14ft runabout? I've got some nasty looking stuff on the bottom of my boat.

[Steve Bakken]

When it's just a matter of repairing some isolated areas, it works out really great, however, gelcoating is much more expensive than painting and in a situation where the entire hull of the boat is damaged into the actual fiberglass, a paint job instead of gelcoating will save you literally thousands of dollars. How bad is it? If the damage isn't through the gelcoat, sanding and buffing will do wonders.

[knoppers]

thanks for the reply steve.

one more thing, I have a keel guard that has worn through, do you also remove these? since I would like to put a new one on.

[Steve Bakken]

Yes, we do.