Gel Coat Repair....

For small repairs, I've always used one of the kits that come with the color tints. Brand doesn't matter. They are all the same. Use the color tints very sparingly. I will use the tip of a tooth pick to mix it in. A small amount goes a long way. Getting the color match is the trick. What have you been looking at?

I've used the Evercoat kits that include the colorants. I believe they make two sizes depending on how much you need to fill. Don't forget the cracks need to be routed out.

Justin,
Yes, you may think they are pricey but unless you have lots of patching, a pint of gel will be too much. There also is a shelf lifr to gel so most of that pint may go to waste. The other thing is the tints. To match you get, you may need two or even 3 different colors so you need to factor in that cost too. Don't forget the wax. Some gels will need it added for the cure.

Yes, the gel that comes in the kits is thicker that normal so that's a plus too when doing open repairs.

Justin,
Once mixed, put the gel in a syringe (glue injector). Then tape off the repair on on side. Inject the gel under the tape on the open side and close the tape off as you fill. Overfill. Once the tape is over the repair, you can move the gel around filling in any low spots from the high spots. 3M fine line is a poly tape that you will be able to get off once the gel cures. I even used this method way back (late 60's early 70's) before we had any wax to add. We would just get a pint of left over gel along with a new boat.

Once you are ready to sand the repair flush, tape (same 3M fine line) off all around the filled area. This will prevent you from sanding the original gel. When you are flush with the tape, remove it are sand the repair totally flush with the old gel.

I'm on my 3rd year with the 3 quarts I bought. Maybe it's the way you store it? Justin don't be intimidated,the hardest part by far is the color matching.I don't know if this is the right way,Pete will set us straight if it's not, but I take my dremel and grind out any loose gel and then taper the "wound" so your new gel can sit in there nice. I sand with a wood block, but some I have fixxed have concaved a little.Don't know if I sanded too soon and it shrunk or what but next time I'm going to wait longer and maybe let set up longer. Some hints to gel repairs say to brush styrene on first to help make it stick,but I have not seen any difference. I just wish there was an easier way to match the colors.