What to use for Fairing and Filling Holes?

[Mulv80]

I have some surperficial gelcoat cracks on the gunwale of my V20. The previous owner used a mooring cover so the boat has snaps all the way around the gunwale I would like to remove and patch the little screw holes. After patching the holes and cracks I will be painting from the rubrail up and including the inside and floor. Whats the best product to use for the patching, and fairing?

[Franco]

you can use gelcoat if they are not too deep, tint it to match before adding hardner, apply it, let it stand a little proud ( above the surface ) and cover it with saran wrap or wax paper till it hardens ( it wont harden unless you cover it) and wet sand when it is completley dry

[Franco]

Hey Skools. how'd I do?

[shicks007]

Mulv,

I used West System epoxy with 410 Microlite filler. The stuff sands easy and holds on a vertical surface well. It's a low density filler so it's not meant for strength or holding a new screw, but it works great for filling minor stuff and fairing.

[Mulv80]

I was hoping you would chime in on this one Shicks, *I seen the handy work the previous owner left you with, and my boat has similar type patch work. *I have worked with West System before, but never their fairing compounds, I will give it a try after I sand and grind everything out. *

[Skools Out]

good one Fran *i usually use micro ballons and MAS epoxy.

[Franco]

I get a headache from blowing up micro balloons!!

[willy]

All right a little MAS epoxy and micro ballon 101 please for us fiberglass challenged please :-[

[shicks007]

Mulv,

Here's a pic from when I was doing my deck. If I could give any advice on sanding techniques, I would definatly say "Block Sand" everything you can. It will make the difference. It will also wear your a$$ out.

[brianct12]

Mulv,
I spent all last summer/fall filling holes, cracks, etc. I have used the following:
Marine-Tex
3M Marine Filler
Formula 27
Micro-filled epoxy
Bondo
For filling those little screw-holes ... you would be fine to use inexpensive bondo. It is not exposed to water continuously and you will be painting over it. I would recommend the 3M filler for crack fairing below the waterline, and the Marine-Tex anywhere you want the highest structural strength. The Formula 27 is like a bondo but supposedly good for below waterline. However, I found it difficult to work with - it would set up in like 60 seconds. I wouldnt bother with filled epoxy - just too much hassle and mess ... and not needed for what you are filling.