Sort the dings. You won't see a thing.

The Basics

What is gel coat?

Gel coat is the outer surface layer of a fibreglass boat — the smooth, pigmented finish that gives the hull its colour and protects the fibreglass laminate underneath. It's not paint. It's a polyester or vinylester resin applied during manufacture, and when it's in good condition it's what makes a boat look sharp and hold its value. Chips, cracks, and UV fading aren't just cosmetic — left unrepaired, they let moisture into the laminate, which leads to osmotic blistering and structural damage over time. Getting gel coat damage fixed properly, by someone who knows what they're doing, protects the hull and keeps the boat looking the way it should.

What We Fix

Types of damage we repair

• Chips and gouges

  From dock lines, fenders, debris in the water, or general use. Common on bow sections, rubbing strakes, and around cleats.

• Cracks

  Stress cracks, crazing, and impact cracks. Can indicate underlying movement or just surface fatigue — we'll tell you which.

• Scratches

  Surface scratches from lines, bottom contact, or marina incidents. Often repairable without full colour matching if caught early.

• Osmotic blistering

  Water ingress through the hull causing blisters in the laminate. Requires careful preparation and proper treatment before re-coating.

• UV fading and oxidation

  Chalky, dull, or patchy hull surface caused by sun exposure. Can often be restored without full repaint.

• Impact damage

  More significant damage from collisions, groundings, or hard contact. We assess the depth of damage and repair accordingly.

• Full hull restoration

  For older boats needing the complete surface brought back to standard — fairing, colour matching, and finishing.

How We Do It

Our repair process

1. 1

   Assessment

   We look at the damage properly before quoting. Not all cracks are the same and not all chips need the same repair. We'll tell you exactly what's needed and what to expect.

2. 2

   Preparation

   The damaged area is cleaned, dried, and prepared. Any loose or compromised gel coat is removed back to a sound edge. For osmotic repairs, the blistered area is ground back and dried before treatment begins.

3. 3

   Laminate repair (if required)

   If the damage goes through to the fibreglass laminate, we repair that first before any surface work. The structure comes before the cosmetics.

4. 4

   Colour matching

   We mix gel coat to match your hull. Colour matching is a skill — we take time to get it right rather than going close enough. On well-maintained hulls, a good match is invisible.

5. 5

   Application and fairing

   Gel coat is applied in layers, built up, and faired flat. This takes time done properly — rushing this stage is where repairs become visible.

6. 6

   Cutting and polishing

   Once cured, the repaired area is cut back, polished, and blended into the surrounding surface. The goal is for the repair to disappear.

7. 7

   Final inspection

   We check the repair in different light angles before signing off. If it's not right, we fix it before leaving.

Why It Matters

Why choose professional gel coat repair?

Common Questions

FAQs

Can gel coat be colour-matched?

Yes — and it's one of the things we take the most care over. Gel coat colour matching is a skill that comes with experience. We mix to match your hull specifically, taking into account any UV fade or aging in the surrounding surface. On a well-maintained hull in good condition, a properly matched and polished repair is effectively invisible. We won't use an approximation — if the colour's not right, we adjust it until it is.

How long does gel coat repair take?

It depends on the size and nature of the damage. A small chip or surface crack can often be done in a day. Larger impact repairs, osmotic blistering treatment, or multi-area work will take longer — typically two to five days, with drying and curing time factored in. We'll give you a realistic timeframe when we assess the job, and we won't rush it to hit a deadline if the repair needs more time to cure correctly.

Will the repair be noticeable?

In most cases, no — not if the repair is done properly and the surrounding gel coat is in reasonable condition. The key factors are colour matching, application technique, and the quality of the cut and polish. On older hulls with significant UV fade across the whole surface, a localised repair can be harder to blend — in those cases we'll talk you through the options honestly before starting.