getting white Gelcoat for a Tiger

Just can't seem to find a white enough gelcoat for tiger hull/rudder/board repairs. The new stuff I find (even color matched, at least claimed to be) looks grey against hull. I thought it might be the effects from the sun, but a repair on a dagger board was grey. No comments about the boards being exposed to the sun cause the boat is upside down too much... I tried the Hobie gelcoat repair and that seemed to be grey too. I like to keep the hulls looking good but I afraid they might begin to look like a dalmation.

According to my data, the part number for Tiger Gelcoat is F99056120. Is that what you're using?

Brian C

thanks, I'll check it out...

The Dog is on to something...
Definitely get the Euro Gel from Hobie. It is ultra white. There is no Gel that I've found in the states that is white enough. I've tried about 10 different colors (whites) so far. Base white simply isn't white enough. I've had it look a little yellow, a little red, a little gray... you name it. White is a very hard color to match.
Other boats I sell (Can I say that here?) will laminate the recipe onto the inside of the the hull. I don't know how you make a white, whiter than base white. It's a mystery to me.

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Add blue.

Tried it Never got the ratios right. This is tricky stuff.

I wonder if some place like http://www.houseofkolor.com/hok/index.jsp
could help?

I am sure someone could match if some where but why go through all that work when Hobie has it sitting on the shelf waiting for you. I know if your in a pinch it would be nice to buy it locally and quick. Our local fleet bought a small supply of the gelcoat on time and each one used it as needed, remember it only have a 1 year shelf life, I think it is shorter once opened.

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Brad Stephens
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West Marine Gelcoat in color "Arctic White" will be a match. I have seen it on an '05 Tiger and you couln't tell where the repair was. I have also used it on several other late model Hobies.

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Trey Brown
www.velocitysailing.com
2006 N20 1017
1998 H16 102698
www.sunjammers.com ftw!

I have a few scratch and chip repairs as well as a thinning gelcoat area that I want to take care of. What's the difference between waxed and unwaxed gelcoat? Which should I use for these type of repairs.

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1982 Hobie 18

"Waxed" gel coat will cure hard when exposed to air (the wax comes to the surface and forms a barrier).

"Unwaxed" gel coat will stay tacky. Its primary use is to spray in molds - the back side stays tacky, ready for the next layer of fiberglass.

I've always used straight unwaxed gel and just sprayed PVA (polyvinyl alcohol - mold release wax) on it after it sets up. When it's fully cured, just wash the PVA off.

I've also just learned that the best thinner for spraying gel is Duratec Clear Hi-Gloss Gel Coat Additive. Wicked expensive at $100+ per gallon, but produces a much better finish than acetone.

Matt's right about the Duratec. It pretty much makes Gelcoat repair accessible to the complete novice. And for the pro, it makes the gelcoat harder and more abrasion resistant. All of the gel we sell is 60% base-white and 40% clear additive. All of our repairs are done with this mixture.

BTW... Outstanding fiberglass repair article by Buchanon in the Hotline. Thanks for putting the time in to put a great rag together Matt.

I'm almost ready to go live with my next video... Gelcoat 101.

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Just nailed it with the blue!! If you hadn't have posted that here I would have quit trying. Thanks!

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You are welcome. It is an older painter's trick. For some reason, has to do with light spectrum I suppose, a little blue makes white look whiter.

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Alan
'86 H16, Sail #89057