[Kevin Leclair]

Originally Posted on Jun 23,2003 9:46:19 PM GMT:
Well I completed my repair on the scratch that I recieved in my gelcote over Memorial Day weekend. Overall I was very happy with the results. Attached are some pics of the product I used ( sells for $57.00 at http://www.gelcote.com ) and the process done to complete it. The last pic is right after I sanded it down. Next I used some of 3M's Marine Super Duty Rubbing Compound to smooth out the fine scratches from the sand paper, then I followed up with 3M's Marine Finesse-It II Finishing Material to bring back the shine to the gelcote and then lastly I finished up with 3M's Marine Fiberglass Cleaner and Wax to seal it up and protect it. It is kind of a long process but it you want a more quality result that just a quick half tailed touch up then I would recommend it.

Gelcote Repair Kit


Before


After (Before Cleaning, Waxing, etc.)


Products used to Clean, Wax, etc. (Used them in the order that they are pictured)

[tiggerman]

Dude, where's my pics??

[Kevin Leclair]

Ok the pics are back up now. They are on my server now so I don't have to worry about someone just deleting them! Sorry about that inconvenience but that was something that I totally didn't expect would happen.

[tiggerman]

Bastards...... I can see them now man...

[Kevin Leclair]

tiggerman, on Apr 4 2004, 04:03 PM, said:

Bastards...... I can see them now man...

Oh well all I can do is let it go, at least I got the review up now how I intended it to be.

[tiggerman]

Thanks for this info. There are a couple of spots I'd like to do on my Speedster.
I wonder what ya have to do to get rid of spider cracks...

[Kevin Leclair]

You're welcome! As far as spider cracks I believe the best way to go about these is letting the fiberglass guys at your local dealer do this. I had a few of these on my boat and SeaDoo covered them under the 5 year hull warranty. You might have to debate it will them a bit to get it covered but they might cover yours depending on how bad they are and where they are. There is a guy at my local dealer that really helped me out a lot on getting this taken care of. He sent some pics to SeaDoo of the problem areas and then SeaDoo got back with him on what the procedure was to cover them under warranty and then they fixed them.

[tiggerman]

My cracks aren't in the hull, they are on the engine/ storage cover around the edges. It's likely they weren't caused by structural defects, but by people walking there, where they shouldn't. The cracks arent really noticeable unless you are looking for them.

[Kevin Leclair]

tiggerman, on Apr 5 2004, 10:11 AM, said:

My cracks aren't in the hull, they are on the engine/ storage cover around the edges. It's likely they weren't caused by structural defects, but by people walking there, where they shouldn't. The cracks arent really noticeable unless you are looking for them.

Mine weren't really on the actually "hull" either but they were covered under the "hull" warranty. My cracks were around one of the cleats from where the rope was tied the dock and the pressure just from pulling on the boat over time there caused some minor cracks. Also I had some minor cracks around the pull handle in front of the passenger seat where people were holding and the pressure of just pulling too much there caused a few minor cracks.

[tiggerman]

Was that on your current DOO or a different one? I'm assuming that my 5 year hull warranty has lapsed, considering I have a '97...... unless they make special considerations for known weaknesses of their hulls......

[Kevin Leclair]

Yeah it is my current DOO. Mine is a 2000 so I actually still have one more year left for hull warranty.

[secord]

Kevin, on Apr 5 2004, 02:23 PM, said:

Yeah it is my current DOO. Mine is a 2000 so I actually still have one more year left for hull warranty.

I have a 99 with spider cracks on the sides, near the rear seats, on both sides. I was going to just live with it, but if there is hope to have them covered under warranty, perhaps I will look into it.

Thanks for the pics and the procedure, as I have a spot where it hit the dock when it was tied up. It is about the size of a dime. A chunk. Will try to repair it myself when the weather here in Michigan warms up a bit.

[tiggerman]

As I recall, the 99 models had alot of hull problems, with where you describe around the seats. Check with a dealer for more accurate info....

[secord]

Called Sea Doo on the 5 year warranty. Was told to take it to an authorized dealer to get it repaired. Unbelievable.

Took it to a dealer here in Michigan to get it "inspected." The service tech marked every spot in the hull with tape, wherever it looked to have a problem. Even the chunks in the hull. Stated that I would have it back in two weeks or less.

All of this seems too good to be true. I got a great deal on the boat last year, due to "cosmetic damage." Never gave it a thought that it may be covered under warranty, until this website and this discussion.

Thanks again to all. If the boat is fixed, and is no cost to me, I owe you all a beer. Now tommorrow here in Michigan, it's suppose to be high 70's. Wish I had it, but will spend the morning getting the two PWC's ready for the water.

Frank

[Kevin Leclair]

Congrats Frank!!!

[tiggerman]

Heck yeah!! That's what we're here for man! If the defects in your hull are significant, you could even end up with your hull being replaced! Good luck getting it back soon too!!! At least you have the skis and won't be entirely without something to DOO!

[secord]

Yes, thanks. It is a bit too cold for the skis here in Michigan, and I'm not sure why the wet suit keeps shrinking every year! Every year it gets a bit smaller. Must be the water.

[tiggerman]

Yeah... the water..... that's it. Sounds good anyway.

[cAn'T sWim]

Can this be done on the black cover at the back? The back end of my boat went underneath a very high dock and when the waves came back, it smashed the back end up against the underside of the dock!!! There is a pretty big scratch and I hate seeing it evertime I go out in it..... any suggestions???

[tiggerman]

The repair Kevin did or getting the hatch replaced? You should be able to get the gelcoat kit from the same people in black ( the part# is 7000 according to the site). Same procedure as Kevin used I would say, only difference is black instead of white. I bet it would do just fine.