can I get my old kayak re-gelcoated?
To answer this it would be beneficial to first describe the process of building a fiberglass kayak. The designer will first produce what is called a plug which is in essence a full size model of the finished kayak. The plug eventually gets “detailed” to a mirror finish before female moulds of the deck, hull and cockpit rim are made. Even the smallest scratches left in the plug would show up in the mould and all future boats built from that mould. To build a new kayak from the female moulds, gelcoat is sprayed or brushed inside the mould and let cure typically overnight. The next day layers of fiberglass and other fabrics are laminated inside the mould leaving the gelcoat mirror smooth as the outside finish. If someone were to attempt to re-gelcoat a kayak, they would first have to remove all fittings and lines, sand the entire surface to achieve a good mechanical bond and then spray the gelcoat through a special gun to a uniform thickness. Gelcoat is a heavy, catalyzed material that le
