Damaged Gelcoat

[drbarbara]

I am new to this fiberglass repair thing. The gelcoat on my boat has a lot of areas where it is cracked. I started by sanding those areas with a wirebrush and as I grind the area small "puck marks" start appearing. I was wondering if I have to grind all of it down untill the puck marks disappear or can I gelcoat with those puck marks in there.

Thanks

http://www.docathome.us/BoatPictures/IMG_4799-web.JPG

[tsubaki]

http://i175.photobucket.com/albums/w159/tsubaki3/001-20.jpg

[drbarbara]

Anybody?

[THEFERMANATOR]

It looks like your old gelcoat is pretty brittle. You need to sand it down and get it to solid gelcoat, then take some fiberglass filler and fill the pits in. Unfortunately it looks like your beyond the point of saving the gel-coat, so painting will probably be in your future.

[drbarbara]

my newbiness is again getting in the way. I am undertstanding that because the old gelcoat is so damaged, eventually I will need to sand it down to fiberglass and apply marine paint again??

[tsubaki]

Is this throughout or just in some places?
Looks more like fiberglass blisters from past pours.