Gelcoat is a resin that has a high amount of pigmentation, which is what gives the boat its color. But in addition to its beauty, it plays an important role in keeping the mold from bonding with the boat’s fiberglass body.
Gelcoat is a very tough finish, but it is susceptible to cracking, chipping, and flaking due to age, wear and tear, and accidents at the dock. In addition, some boats have been manufactured using a poor quality gelcoat at the factory. The lower quality gelcoats simply won’t stand up to the harsh Fort Lauderdale sun and unique environmental factors, and that makes gel-coat repair for some boat owners something that has to be done every few years because the surface begins to fade and chalk.
A quality gelcoat repair can last for years. Rather than having to do a complete gelcoat repair every few years, when you use a quality gelcoat, you can simply buff and polish the surface to re-create that beautiful new shine. If you’re not sure whether your current gelcoat is of poor or higher quality, there’s an easy way to tell. If your boat turns dull after waxing it only a few months before, you’re likely dealing with poor quality, and in the Fort Lauderdale sun, that means you’ll have to have a gelcoat repair every few years. When you take your boat or yacht in for a gelcoat repair, it’s important to take it to an expert who understands how to best do the repair. We will first need to diagnose your boat. Every boat is different, and will require a different approach.
