Detailers please help, gelcoat issues

[DooGuy]

Two part topic. First, Was working on wet sanding with 2000 grit on some light dock marks, could barely feel with fingernail etc. didn’t do a whole lot but noticed after just a little that started to go thru the blue as it looks like light snow( sorry can’t think of better description etc) can I fix without major repair? if so how? Didn’t even get all the scratches out. First picture tries to show. I’ll take another when not as bright to see if it’ll show.

Part two. Wind blew me sideways into the one bolt on the dock and between bumpers. Is this something can just get a gel repair kit or think fiberglass? I’m good with car buffing etc but boats I’m novice..

Thanks in advance, Rick

 

[DooGuy]

Here’s a better pic...

 

[JPass]

They look like something called pinholes or micropores. The only way to fix is to re-gelcoat the area.

Our boat has the same is various spots. Looks almost like dust or pollen.

Some good info on Gelcoat defects. Pinholes are about a third the way down.

 

[DooGuy]

Thanks JPass, I think I can live with the pinholes they’re not too noticeable from a foot or more away. Will still have to fix the scratch a little better. Thinking I may just have to get a gel kit , one to fix the larger but two to fix the areas. Guessing I’m gonna have more. Have only done about 1/4 of the boat.

Did you fix the pinholes on yours or leave it? Figured with the wax’s and sealers I’m using should be protected.

 

[JPass]

I've left them alone. I have some in the bow and in various locations on the sides. The darker the boat, the easier they are to see as they hold the wax in the holes and makes them more visible.

The more you try to buff them out, the more they disappear and new ones appear. When my gelcoat guy showed them to me after repairing a small scratch he explained it to me like this:

The pinholes are a product of many things, but they are mainly micro air bubbles that got caught in the gel as it hardened as they made their way to the surface. As you cut through the layers, it's like cutting through swiss cheese. The bubbles are scattered throughout within the thickness of the gel.

When my boat is nice and clean they're nearly impossible to see unless you're right up on the gelcoat.

This is why our next boat will be white............scratches, fading, and micropores are much harder to see in white.