Gel Coat Damage Repair advice needed |
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MrMcD
Grand Poobah Joined: January-28-2014 Location: Folsom, CA Status: Offline Points: 3734 |
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Posted: August-11-2014 at 10:33pm |
4 Deer decided to run out in front of our cars headed home from the lake Friday night. I was following my wife and pulling the boat.
She had to slam on the brakes as Deer jumped out in front of her. Unfortunately I saw a huge Doe running down the left side of the road and glanced at it right as the other deer jumped in front of my wife. She barely stopped before running over 2 fawns, she waited as the fawns got out of the way. I looked back from the large doe and saw she was in a panic stop and slammed on the brakes in our BMW X5, the trailer brakes locked the tires and the X5 tires were howling trying to stop the load. My fault, I should not have glanced at the Doe, that extra 1 second could have avoided damage. If I had 5 more feet we would have not wrecked but I was still moving at 10 MPH when I hit her in our Tahoe. Not a really hard hit, the air bags did not blow. The Tahoe looks fine, just a scratch on the rear chrome bumper. The BMW X5 will need a Hood, both fenders and a grill. Minor damage to all of those parts. Now for the really bad part. Our 95 Ski Nautique purchased in December a former garage queen with 100 hours on it, now has 120 hours, and in perfect shape, no scratches, no fading, it was perfect. It came loose on the trailer and came forward 3 feet. Both rear straps snapped, the boat came up and over the twin poles that locate the boat on the trailer. The caps on the pole tops wore through and metal poles were digging into our bow on both sides. The poles pushed up the rubber bumper guard and scratched through our nice red gel coat stripe and some of the nice white gel coat hull in addition to scratching through the white and read stripes that are part of the detail on this White and red boat. The prop hit the trailer as the front lifted and bent one blade pretty good. (Acme 224 4 blade). The trailer will be a straight forward fix and I will look at adding a bar to stop the boat from coming forward should this happen again. I feel the boat should never have moved forward with a 10 MPH crash. The Trailer is a DHM, local trailer company, looks good, but not nearly as safe as a Nautique trailer I am learning. Sorry to be so windy, I am venting. Any ideas on how to best fix the factory pin stripes and Gel Coat that was damaged? I will try and post a couple pics. My wife is very upset about the X5 damage, I am upset about the Nautique, it was so clean I had to buy it in December, it kills me to have hurt it. I am trying to post pictures. |
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JPASS
Grand Poobah Joined: June-17-2013 Location: Orlando Status: Offline Points: 2283 |
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That sounds horrible. Glad to hear no one was hurt. I'd search for a reputable gel coat shop nearby and get a professional opinion and price. If it's not that bad, then Spectrum offers premixed repair kits for a very reasonable price.
Once you get some pics up, people will be able to offer some better advice. |
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'92 Correctcraft Ski Nautique
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Orlando76
Grand Poobah Joined: May-21-2013 Location: Mount Dora, FL Status: Offline Points: 3108 |
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Really sorry to hear that. I'm crying for you honestly because I hate to see that happen. My attitude is to ruin the daily driven in an accident but don't scratch the toy it's pulling. If it makes you feel any better, the day after I bought my SN, I was pulling into drive way and the drain pipe for the road right away collapsed just as my SN axle was on it. Boat sat in the road, laying on prop, shaft and rudder.
As far as fixing the gelcoat I am the last person to give advice but feel your pain. |
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MrMcD
Grand Poobah Joined: January-28-2014 Location: Folsom, CA Status: Offline Points: 3734 |
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Pics of damage, not bad but it was perfect. The trailer stop poles were straight before the crash, the bumper pads covered in black carpet were 3inches higher on the poles before the crash, too bad they did not stay in place they could have protected the boat better.
Sorry I shrank the photo's and they still will not attach. |
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gun-driver
Grand Poobah Joined: July-18-2008 Location: Pittsburgh, Pa Status: Offline Points: 4127 |
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Just find a good gel guy I'm sure there are plenty out in CA. and you won't even know it happened.
To make you feel better my wife hit some rocks by the ramp in our '95 Signature Edition... and dinged the prop it also put an ever so slight bend in the strut and shaft along with some minor scratches in the gel but now you can't even tell anything ever happened, and we're still married!!! Hope you feel better |
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MrMcD
Grand Poobah Joined: January-28-2014 Location: Folsom, CA Status: Offline Points: 3734 |
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WOW, I better shut up, yours makes mine look fine. How did you post the pictures, I have done it before but it keeps telling me there is a problem with my source?
My insurance is $1,000 deductible so I am deciding to use it of fix it myself. Yours turned out great. |
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gun-driver
Grand Poobah Joined: July-18-2008 Location: Pittsburgh, Pa Status: Offline Points: 4127 |
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Posted through photo bucket.
Since the prop took a hit check the shaft its probably bent on the end after the strut. |
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SNobsessed
Grand Poobah Joined: October-21-2007 Location: IA Status: Offline Points: 7102 |
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Glad no one was hurt. Use it the rest of summer & fix it in the fall. I personally could never get gel to color match, but maybe you can get a premix to work OK, since your boat was well cared for (not faded).
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“Beer is proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy.”
Ben Franklin |
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Gary S
Grand Poobah Joined: November-30-2006 Location: Illinois Status: Offline Points: 14096 |
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Sorry to hear of your troubles but echo Chris's sediments.Find
a good shop and take it in. You and I have the same color.My lift dropped chipping the chine. Was going to take it in to get repaired but the shop was too busy.Decided to repair myself figuring if it didnt turn out I could then take it in when they weren't as busy. Got my color from Spectrum who I was told by them they get it from the company who supplies Correct Craft. Turns out it's a little too dark but being where it is,is hardly noticeable.Yours being so nice and if in a more noticeable spot you would not be happy with the match. |
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MrMcD
Grand Poobah Joined: January-28-2014 Location: Folsom, CA Status: Offline Points: 3734 |
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I pulled the bad prop, put a dial indicator on the shaft, run out was still at .0015, same as on install last January and will still turn with one finger so it is pretty straight.
The Guide poles used to be straight up and no curve in them prior to the crash. These photo's are before we floated the boat and returned it to the right place on the trailer. |
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gun-driver
Grand Poobah Joined: July-18-2008 Location: Pittsburgh, Pa Status: Offline Points: 4127 |
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Well see that's already good news. |
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MrMcD
Grand Poobah Joined: January-28-2014 Location: Folsom, CA Status: Offline Points: 3734 |
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Photo bucket worked thanks for the tip.
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Dreaming
Platinum Member Joined: May-21-2010 Location: Tacoma, WA Status: Offline Points: 1870 |
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McD - We have the same trailer, I am interested in what you come up with for a fix on the front. Glad you had straps on the back, that could have been really ugly
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KRoundy
Platinum Member Joined: August-23-2010 Location: Lake Stevens Status: Offline Points: 1702 |
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Since I'm assuming that insurance would pay for this I'd say you should take it to a good shop. Or, if you are not wanting to go with insurance, you could easily fix that yourself. Unlike Gary S I've had very good luck with color matching from Spectrum Color. They are a pretty penny, but worth it in my opinion. From those photos above it looks like you got through the first layer of gel down to the white, but no further. That's good news. Put on the new gel then sand, buff, wax and it will look good. Those stripes will have to be entirely replaced.
You may have some bent screws in the rub rail. My first attempt would be to remove inner rub rail (you have to start this from the back) to get access to the screws in the area. Remove the bent screws and replace with straight ones. I bet the rail would move back to the original flat look. Those marks will stay there on the rail, but besides you I would imagine nobody would ever notice. Glad nobody was hurt and the damage is minimal. |
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Previous: 1993 Electric Blue/Charcoal Ski Nautique
Current: 2016 Ski Nautique 200 Open Bow |
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Mojo
Grand Poobah Joined: December-06-2006 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 3106 |
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Mark,
Are you sure avbout that 10mph crash speed??? Snapping hold downs and bending those bow stops like that???? Id so, I'd share these photos with DHM and tell them their trailer is made like S**t !!! looks like the pads are designed way to wide for the bow. To much stress wanting to flaten them being on the side that much.... This is horrible to see let alone happen to anyone of us. I'm sure she'll get put back to original condition. Glad no one was hurt.. Curious, what does the front of the truck look like if 10mph did this much damage to the boat??? |
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05' SV211 TE
73' Martinique had:96' SNOB had:76' Nautique had 77 Tique |
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IAughtNaut
Grand Poobah Joined: August-22-2010 Location: TN Status: Offline Points: 2568 |
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how do you care for your trailer bunks? One member on here (name omitted) treated his with a silicone spray years ago and that slid his boat right off the back of the trailer and on to the dry part of the ramp. You have any kind of slick-maker that you put on your bunks to facilitate loading?
That's my only guess Moj. |
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Mojo
Grand Poobah Joined: December-06-2006 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 3106 |
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Good point +1. Either that of the bow stop is made with paper towel rolls |
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05' SV211 TE
73' Martinique had:96' SNOB had:76' Nautique had 77 Tique |
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Dreaming
Platinum Member Joined: May-21-2010 Location: Tacoma, WA Status: Offline Points: 1870 |
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I think the boat went way forward and then settled back down on the bunks... that's the only way that I can figure he scratched the bottom side of the boot stripe aft of the final resting place... that boat traveled a long way, then slammed down onto the guide posts on the rebound. keeping the boat in place would have required some down force at the front during a crash, so I imagine that some sort of turnbuckle or more solid strapping is needed? Didn't Hollywood have a post a while back about running the front winch strap under the bow stops to give some down force when trailering?
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Gary S
Grand Poobah Joined: November-30-2006 Location: Illinois Status: Offline Points: 14096 |
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Look at the picture of my boat above,the trailer came with a strap that holds the front down and back. That and higher guide poles maybe like the older trailers would help.
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Orlando76
Grand Poobah Joined: May-21-2013 Location: Mount Dora, FL Status: Offline Points: 3108 |
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The poles and what not, there's no internal rust is there? Because obviously that'll make them bend easily.
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JPASS
Grand Poobah Joined: June-17-2013 Location: Orlando Status: Offline Points: 2283 |
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My trailer has a rigid turnbuckle that hooks to the bow hook. I hook it up with the winch strap when I put the boat on the trailer. Not sure how much it would have helped in your type of accident, but it seems better than just the winch strap alone.
I'd post a pic of it, but I can't. Keep getting an error message. |
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'92 Correctcraft Ski Nautique
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MrMcD
Grand Poobah Joined: January-28-2014 Location: Folsom, CA Status: Offline Points: 3734 |
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I worked out of town all week and I was not able to log on, left the password home, my mistake.
First, the actual crash was at 10 MPH + - 2 MPH in my estimate. I know in less than 5 feet more I would have been at a dead stop with no contact. Second, the brakes on the X5 are huge as are the tires and I was pushing the brake as hard as I could, the X5 tires were howling even with anti lock functioning and so were the trailer tires so it was stopping fast from 45 mph. I think the car and truck brakes were enough to start moving the boat on the trailer. The bunks were wet but never waxed or any other procedure to make them slick but I have only owned this boat since December this year. Previous boats, put 1,500 hours on our first Nautique, 800 Hours on our Malibu then bought this one in December with 100 hours on the meter. The X5 has a full plastic front end, the Tahoe had a receiver in the hitch at the time of the accident and the receiver punched a hole through the plastic but hit no metal. The headlights were not touched, the bumper, hood and fenders look great from 5 feet but close inspection shows the hit. No airbags blew. It was a minor hit. This trailer is slick, the first time pulling it out of the water I noticed the boat slipping back and had to back in and strap it firm to keep it on the trailer while pulling out. My old Nautique on a Nautique trailer never did this, My wife would idle onto the trailer and I would drive up the ramp never leaving the truck. We must have launched that boat 5-600 times in 1,500 hours use. We would hook it to the trailer when we parked to dry the boat off and unload. It did this with the OEM bunks and the new bunks and carpet I installed after 8 years abuse. The poles on this new nautique are not rusted at all but are bent now, this boat was a garage queen, no rust, no fade. The poles on the front had a quick release set up so they could tilt forward to install a boat cover while on the trailer. This system rattled while trailering and I had pulled the lock pin and replaced it with a 5/8 x 5 inch grade 5 bolt which held and did not bend. This bolt eliminated some trailer noise while moving. The carpeted boards on the poles slipped down as the boat slid back down onto the trailer, you can see the paint scratches on the poles, it looks like the boards slipped down 3-4 inches from the stock height. I patched a small gel coat chip in my old Nautique but this one involves 2 colors and I am afraid to mess up a nice boat. I am leaning towards a shop for this repair and I do most repairs at home normally. |
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cbr1000dude
Senior Member Joined: August-23-2011 Status: Offline Points: 330 |
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That trailer failed the test!
Sorry for your loss, but a good shop should put it all back to new condition. Get some estimates, you'll be surprised how much it will add up to! Might even get one to cover or split the deductible with you, never hurts to ask. Could have been lots worse. Years ago, my wife and I went out on a CHP tow with a flatbed to retrieve a boat. Curious as to what happened, the owner told us he'd put in a new engine plus lots of other stuff, greased his bearings, and tightened them up, forgot to back off the axle nuts 1/2 a turn. Going 60 mph, the wheels locked up, trailer slid sideways, and hit an exit guard rail. He looked into his rearview mirror, and saw the trailer bend in a "U" shape. The boat launched! It passed the truck upside down (said it looked like a flying saucer), and ended up down in the median 100 feet. It was a crunchy critter. |
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MrMcD
Grand Poobah Joined: January-28-2014 Location: Folsom, CA Status: Offline Points: 3734 |
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When I started this thread I was really upset to have hurt this boat. I looked for a year to find the right one to buy, while still suffering in our Malibu. It was actually a very impressive ski boat but drove terrible, glad to have a Nautique again.
We did get off very easy, it could have been worse. The trailer did fail but the boat shop I visited yesterday to look at the damage told me he has seen accidents with wet bunks where the boat went right over the trailer and into the car in front so we did get off easy. I will find a way to add a stop on the front of this trailer for added protection and the new rear tie down straps will be stronger for sure. I think if I keep it from starting to move it will not have the momentum to bend the poles and come over the top again. I am also thinking of heavier wall poles for the front boat stop, since the original poles are no where near strong enough. The trailer is a DHM and of course they are out of business. |
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SNobsessed
Grand Poobah Joined: October-21-2007 Location: IA Status: Offline Points: 7102 |
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If you can gusset the poles forward to the winch mount, that should do it.
I had same emotions when my boat was run over 4 years ago. No one can pick out the damaged area but me. |
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“Beer is proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy.”
Ben Franklin |
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MrMcD
Grand Poobah Joined: January-28-2014 Location: Folsom, CA Status: Offline Points: 3734 |
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On this trailer the winch comes off when I pull the removable hitch off the front. I have a couple idea's but have taken no action yet.
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NAUTIQUEjunky
Senior Member Joined: July-17-2010 Location: Henderson NC Status: Offline Points: 210 |
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Hate to see that man.. I can tell you that u are looking at some $$ to fix it those rubrails alone are just under $600! And then the trailer bow stop gouged through the colored gelcoat on your stripes.. that will be another costly fix and if your prop is trashed its prob a $2000 total repair.
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1977 MasterCraft Stars&Stripes
1994 Ski Nautique 2000 Super Air Nautique 1986 Ski Nautique 2001 1999 Sport Nautique gt40 current |
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MrMcD
Grand Poobah Joined: January-28-2014 Location: Folsom, CA Status: Offline Points: 3734 |
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Estimate came in at 3,600 not counting the trailer repair. The good news it still drives great, I put the 4 blade OJ back on for the boat test. I liked the now bent Acme 224 much better, it was smoother with less noise and pulled harder than the 4 blade OJ 14 x 16.
PS: maybe overkill but I added tie downs from my car hauler for this boat trip. Strapped the back and front with the heavy tie downs. I think they are rated at 10-15,000 pounds each. Not permanent but at least I knew it would stay put on this trip and until I fix the trailer. If I had something similar before the wreck the boat would have had zero damage. |
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MrMcD
Grand Poobah Joined: January-28-2014 Location: Folsom, CA Status: Offline Points: 3734 |
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I have looked at a variety of solutions to the Trailer Stop failure. I spoke to California Trailer Works in Sacramento, they took over the former DHM trailers that built my trailer in 95. CTW says I should add new bar in the front with a roller that works as stop just above the front tie ring on the boat. I was almost sold on going this way until I looked around the yard and they had one boat with this same described set up that had bent and the boat came forward on that trailer also. Classic Boat Works, who is fixing the fiberglass for me says the only sure way to lock it down is to put a chain connection that ties in a V, the chain would attach to the trailer 2 feet behind the bow eye and 2 feet in front of the bow eye. They say to have the chains set so they have the least amount of play possible so the boat can't go forward or back. Classic Boat Works does work on some of the old Wood classic boats from the Lake Tahoe Boat Show, some of these are worth huge money. They claim a boat with wet bunks will launch forward in an accident and once it starts moving forward it is very hard to stop. Rear straps allow forward movement before they become tight, I searched and the strongest 1 inch straps I could find are rated at 1,000 pounds most are only 400-800 pounds and this is not enough to stop a sliding boat on wet bunks. Both my rear straps were 800 pound rated and both snapped in this 10 mph impact. I have ordered the heavier rear straps but I am going to add the safety chains to the nose of the trailer. I would have no boat damage if I had a better tie down. The Chain will be ugly but I think it will be secure. Hope this helps some of you. |
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Hollywood
Moderator Group Joined: February-04-2004 Location: Twin Lakes, WI Status: Offline Points: 13513 |
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Turnbuckle or winch strap to the front, and a chain or flat bar to the back (or even another turnbuckle). All that "v chain" concept sounds loud and sloppy. The keel pad on your trailer also hurt you, pushing the boat up instead of just dead forward.
Older MC trailers and Sanger trailers I have seen have the flat bar. It is usually laying down not in use! |
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