Part of keeping your boat looking sharp is keeping the gelcoat on your fiberglass hull in top shape. A boat with a gelcoat that’s in good shape means the difference not only between being nice and shiny, but being protected, as well. In the same way you protect your boat investment with boat insurance, you want to protect the boat itself by maintaining the gelcoat. Maintaining the gelcoat is relatively simple, and doesn’t truly require that much time, effort or money. You just need to know where to begin.

What is the Gelcoat?

The gelcoat is the outer “skin” of your boat’s fiberglass hull. It’s made up of pigmented resin. It’s purpose is to protect your boat’s surface from both water and sun. It is the gelcoat that gives a boat it’s colors, and it’s the gelcoat that gives a boat a glossy finish.

Gelcoat Maintenance

Gelcoat maintenance includes a two-part process: cleaning and protecting. Cleaning the gelcoat removes the dirt and debris from the surface. Applying a protectant will help it to continue to hold up over time.

Oxidation

Eventually, your gelcoat can oxidize. Oxidization occurs when oxygen mixes with your gelcoat and it becomes dull and chalky. The shine is gone from your boat. While oxidation isn’t great for your boat’s aesthetics, it’s even worse for the integrity of the boat itself. As the gelcoat oxidizes, it can lead to greater intrusion of water and even hull damage.

Addressing oxidation can be simple or complex, depending on how severe the oxidation is:

• Light oxidation. If your boat’s gelcoat is lightly oxidized, you can use a fiberglass cleaning agent on your boat and follow it up with an oxidation remover. This will restore your boat’s shine. You can then wax the boat with carnuba wax, which will fill in any pits and make the gelcoat shine once again.
• Medium oxidation. Medium oxidation is usually something you can still address on your own. You’ll clean the boat, and then use a strong oxidation remover. You’ll probably want to buff and polish the gelcoat as well, and should apply a sealant after the process is over.
• Heavy oxidation. Here’s where you need help. In some cases, your gelcoat may be beyond home and  need to be painted. Unless you’re very familiar with the process, you should probably consider hiring a professional to handle heavy oxidation.

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