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02-18-2017, 09:34 AM
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#1
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: Seattle, Washington
Trailer: 2016 21'
Posts: 156
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Chip in front of trailer
We discovered a small chip (1/8") in the front of our Escape 21, likely caused by a rock. Is it a simple fix that we can fix by ourselves? What would you suggest we use to fix it? Do we need to fix it soon?
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02-18-2017, 09:37 AM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Galesville, Wisconsin
Trailer: 2017 21 "Blue II" & 2017 Highlander XLE (previously 2010 17B "Blue" & 2008 Tacoma)
Posts: 4,234
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Maury&Julie
We discovered a small chip (1/8") in the front of our Escape 21, likely caused by a rock. Is it a simple fix that we can fix by ourselves? What would you suggest we use to fix it?
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I would use some white epoxy on it. It won't match perfectly but in a chip that small it should be close enough.
White epoxy
__________________
Eric (and Mary who is in no way responsible for anything stupid I post)
"Beware of false knowledge; it is more dangerous than ignorance." George Bernard Shaw
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02-18-2017, 09:51 AM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Calgary, Alberta
Trailer: 2017 Escape 5.0 TA
Posts: 15,561
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Another option is to pick up a gelcoat repair kit. Pretty easy to match colour, especially when near white. Maybe Escape could let you know what the colour is, as it is not pure white. I know there was a small bubble in the gelcoat of my 19, and it opened to be a superficial but unsightly wee hole, and Reace sent me some gelcoat for an easy repair.
__________________
2017 Escape 5.0 TA
2015 Ford F150 Lariat 3.5L EcoBoost
2009 Escape 19 (previous)
“Most folks are about as happy as they make up their minds to be.” — Abraham Lincoln
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02-18-2017, 09:56 AM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Madison area, Wisconsin
Trailer: 2016 Escape 19 Chevy 2012 Express 3500 Van
Posts: 1,767
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Another white 2 part epoxy
I've used Marine-Tex on my legacy Casita for filling rivet holes as well as sailboats. It is not a perfect color match, but pretty inconspicuous. West Marine is a retail store /internet chain that would have this and other gel coat repair products, some you can mix colorants with for a good match. Buy some JB weld and Marine-Tex and see what color matches best. Either, with good preparation, will bond well.
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02-18-2017, 09:57 AM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Galesville, Wisconsin
Trailer: 2017 21 "Blue II" & 2017 Highlander XLE (previously 2010 17B "Blue" & 2008 Tacoma)
Posts: 4,234
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Jim Bennett
Another option is to pick up a gelcoat repair kit. Pretty easy to match colour, especially when near white. Maybe Escape could let you know what the colour is, as it is not pure white. I know there was a small bubble in the gelcoat of my 19, and it opened to be a superficial but unsightly wee hole, and Reace sent me some gelcoat for an easy repair.
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Something like this, Jim? Gel Coat Repair I think they are epoxy with colors included.
__________________
Eric (and Mary who is in no way responsible for anything stupid I post)
"Beware of false knowledge; it is more dangerous than ignorance." George Bernard Shaw
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02-18-2017, 11:55 AM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: North Van., British Columbia
Trailer: 2014 Escape 19, sold; 2019 Escape 21, Sept. 2019
Posts: 8,851
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Don't use epoxy on polyester unless you are doing a structural repair.
You can do an invisible repair if you get a small amount of color matched gelcoat.
Clean area. Use a small dap of gelcoat. Tape a clear piece of thin plastic over the repair and move your finger upwards to move air up and out. In the old days this was called cellofinishing.
Use the right amount and you will end up with a repair that is shiny, flush and virtually invisible.
Use too much and the repair will be proud of the surrounding surface. It can be wet sanded and buffed. It will then be invisible.
I've done a few of these repairs. After taking my f.g. boat through 450 locks in Europe I had a few chips to deal with.
Ron
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02-18-2017, 12:31 PM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Central, Pennsylvania
Trailer: Escape#5 2022 E19
Posts: 26,268
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Both of my other Escapes developed some spider cracks due to hitting a bird or one of those large Canadian grasshoppers, Reace looked at the damage and said not to worry, so I didn't.
__________________
Jim
Sometime life gets in the way of living.......
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02-19-2017, 09:15 AM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: Benton County, Iowa
Trailer: 2013 Escape 21 Classic Number 6, pulled by 2018 Toyota Highlander
Posts: 8,276
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Yes even a hard headed Canadian grasshopper could damage a gel coat at 94 miles an hour. Which is where Jim has his cruise set when he's not in a hurry. Hemi means halfway to the sound barrier right Jim?
Dave
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02-19-2017, 11:06 AM
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#9
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Marana, Arizona
Trailer: 2018 Airstream Flying Cloud (Escape 19 & 5.0 previously)
Posts: 1,078
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Not that Ron's sage advice needs any help, but I just watched this https://youtu.be/3XCQ9ne7KXc and it demonstrates what he explained nicely. FWIW
__________________
Rich & Mary
"Everything in moderation, including moderation."
- Oscar Wilde
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02-19-2017, 12:14 PM
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#10
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: North Van., British Columbia
Trailer: 2014 Escape 19, sold; 2019 Escape 21, Sept. 2019
Posts: 8,851
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Quote:
Originally Posted by cpaharley2008
Reace looked at the damage and said not to worry, so I didn't.
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That was probably because he knew you'd sell it and move on before they became a problem.
Crazing, given moisture and especially freeze-thaw cycles will cause small pieces of gelcoat to come loose and fall out. It's just a matter of time.
Ron
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02-19-2017, 12:22 PM
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#11
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: North Van., British Columbia
Trailer: 2014 Escape 19, sold; 2019 Escape 21, Sept. 2019
Posts: 8,851
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Zardoz
demonstrates what he explained nicely. FWIW
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Well, not exactly. Key words are small dab. Just enough to fill the void and no more. Using masking tape as he did guarantees that the repair will be proud of the surrounding surface and require sanding. And the amount of gelcoat that he plastered on
I don't know how many gelcoat chips I've filled over the years, maybe not hundreds but many, many dozen. If I'd have slathered it on as he did I'd still be sanding
Ron
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02-19-2017, 12:44 PM
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#12
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Central, Pennsylvania
Trailer: Escape#5 2022 E19
Posts: 26,268
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Iowa Dave
Yes even a hard headed Canadian grasshopper could damage a gel coat at 94 miles an hour. Which is where Jim has his cruise set when he's not in a hurry. Hemi means halfway to the sound barrier right Jim?
Dave
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Well if they can not see me then they can not ticket me? You do not want to know what my plans are for the upcoming rally in May, but they are speedy.
__________________
Jim
Sometime life gets in the way of living.......
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02-19-2017, 02:10 PM
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#13
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: North Van., British Columbia
Trailer: 2014 Escape 19, sold; 2019 Escape 21, Sept. 2019
Posts: 8,851
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Quote:
Originally Posted by cpaharley2008
Well if they can not see me then they can not ticket me? You do not want to know what my plans are for the upcoming rally in May, but they are speedy.
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When I'm making tracks I average about 400 miles a day. I call them Junior Jim Days.
Ron
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02-19-2017, 03:22 PM
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#14
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2013
Location: ..., New Mexico
Trailer: 2013 Esc19/'14 Silvrado
Posts: 4,193
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For the bigger jobs...
__________________
Myron
"A billion here, a billion there...add it all up and before you know it you're talking real money." Everett Dirkson
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02-19-2017, 04:14 PM
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#15
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Galesville, Wisconsin
Trailer: 2017 21 "Blue II" & 2017 Highlander XLE (previously 2010 17B "Blue" & 2008 Tacoma)
Posts: 4,234
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Looks like Myron is ready to open an Escape fiberglass repair facility!
__________________
Eric (and Mary who is in no way responsible for anything stupid I post)
"Beware of false knowledge; it is more dangerous than ignorance." George Bernard Shaw
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02-19-2017, 04:54 PM
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#16
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: Fremont, California
Trailer: 2016 21/ '16 Tundra 4.6L Dbl. Cab
Posts: 1,564
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Quote:
Originally Posted by thoer
Looks like Myron is ready to open an Escape fiberglass repair facility!
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His Al-Can Highway Recovery Kit..........
__________________
Steve and Debbie
2016 - 21'
“Get out the map and lay your finger anywhere down” -Indigo Girls
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02-20-2017, 01:57 PM
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#17
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Marana, Arizona
Trailer: 2018 Airstream Flying Cloud (Escape 19 & 5.0 previously)
Posts: 1,078
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Ron in BC
Well, not exactly. Key words are small dab. Just enough to fill the void and no more. Using masking tape as he did guarantees that the repair will be proud of the surrounding surface and require sanding. And the amount of gelcoat that he plastered on
I don't know how many gelcoat chips I've filled over the years, maybe not hundreds but many, many dozen. If I'd have slathered it on as he did I'd still be sanding
Ron
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Maybe he's planning on using a grinder ?
__________________
Rich & Mary
"Everything in moderation, including moderation."
- Oscar Wilde
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02-20-2017, 02:28 PM
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#18
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2013
Location: ..., New Mexico
Trailer: 2013 Esc19/'14 Silvrado
Posts: 4,193
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Seriously now, with some spots you just got to grind it out.
__________________
Myron
"A billion here, a billion there...add it all up and before you know it you're talking real money." Everett Dirkson
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02-20-2017, 03:27 PM
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#19
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: North Van., British Columbia
Trailer: 2014 Escape 19, sold; 2019 Escape 21, Sept. 2019
Posts: 8,851
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Joking aside, just to be clear, it's possible to repair individual chips so that no grinding or wet sanding is required. Takes a lot of practice but it's possible. In most cases only very minor wet sanding is required.
For the damage repair show, yes, grinding is required in some areas. Although I wouldn't grind the crazed areas. I'd just V them out and fill. Helps keep the original contour.
Ron
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02-20-2017, 04:23 PM
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#20
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2015
Location: Baytown, Texas
Trailer: 2017 21' Escape - upgraded version
Posts: 2,697
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I've repaired a number of gel coat oops (boat owner) and find using wax paper to cover the repair while it cures works well. Clean the area to be repaired with acetone, apply the gel coat, and place the wax paper over the repair smoothing it out. Using painters tape to hold the wax paper, I let it fully cure before removing.
__________________
Normal people believe that if it ain't broke, don't fix it.
Engineers believe in fixing it so that it never breaks.
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