Pitting in the fiberglass

[Glens]

Yesterday as I was cleaning my roof on my E19 I noticed an area of pitting (see pic). I have contacted Escape and requested a solution under warranty. My question is what if this continues after the warranty period? Has anyone else experienced this within the first year of ownership?

[cpaharley2008]

This is a new issue to me, have not seen this before.....

[tdf-texas]

Originally Posted by Glens

Yesterday as I was cleaning my roof on my E19 I noticed an area of pitting (see pic). I have contacted Escape and requested a solution under warranty. My question is what if this continues after the warranty period? Has anyone else experienced this within the first year of ownership?

That's from contamination of the mold when the shell was laid up and definitely a warranty issue. A quart of Escape gelcoat and a trip to a good boat fiberglass shop will take care of it.

So much for me bragging about the great fiberglass work Escape does.

[steve dunham]

We had the same type pitting on the roof of our Scamp
We took our trailer to the local marine shop that repairs FG boats
He gave me a long explanation of why this happens
( manufacturing defect )and then sold me a couple small tubes of gel coat epoxy patch and some cleaner . It was kind of a Rube Goldberg fix but luckily it was on the roof and out of view
Patching the divots was a yearly event cause they just kept popping up every Spring!

[tdf-texas]

Originally Posted by steve dunham

We had the same type pitting on the roof of our Scamp
We took our trailer to the local marine shop that repairs FG boats
He gave me a long explanation of why this happens
( manufacturing defect )and then sold me a couple small tubes of gel coat epoxy patch and some cleaner . It was kind of a Rube Goldberg fix but luckily it was on the roof and out of view
Patching the divots was a yearly event cause they just kept popping up every Spring!

The OP's trailer is new enough that Escape can send matching gelcoat. With matching gelcoat, a fiberglass shop can remove the bad gelcoat and spray a good coat to replace it.

You're right that applying gel coat epoxy patch is a sort of Rube Goldberg fix - redoing the gelcoat is the correct way to repair this. The problem is getting gelcoat that is color matched - white isn't always "white".

[Glens]

Originally Posted by tdf-texas

The OP's trailer is new enough that Escape can send matching gelcoat. With matching gelcoat, a fiberglass shop can remove the bad gelcoat and spray a good coat to replace it.

You're right that applying gel coat epoxy patch is a sort of Rube Goldberg fix - redoing the gelcoat is the correct way to repair this. The problem is getting gelcoat that is color matched - white isn't always "white".

Tdf do you recommend anyone in the Houston are that can perform this repair correctly in the Houston area?

[rubicon327]

Originally Posted by Glens

Tdf do you recommend anyone in the Houston are that can perform this repair correctly in the Houston area?

Call around to places like these and get a feel for them. There are places that specialize in fiberglass repair and know what they are doing.

https://www.boatmagik.com/
South Texas Boat Works | South Texas Boat Works
https://www.eaglesboatyard.com/repai...erglass-repair

[tdf-texas]

Originally Posted by Glens

Tdf do you recommend anyone in the Houston are that can perform this repair correctly in the Houston area?

Sorry, the shop I used in the past is gone due to the Hwy 146 expansion in Kemah. Other times, I did the gelcoat myself.

Any of the shops rubicon327 listed should be able to do the gelcoat restoration. Go by the shops and look at some of their work - a good shop will always give references.

[Glens]

Originally Posted by tdf-texas

Sorry, the shop I used in the past is gone due to the Hwy 146 expansion in Kemah. Other times, I did the gelcoat myself.

Any of the shops rubicon327 listed should be able to do the gelcoat restoration. Go by the shops and look at some of their work - a good shop will always give references.

I'm just worried about it lasting and being done correctly. Sometimes you dont find that out immediately.

[Ron in BC]

Originally Posted by Glens

I'm just worried about it lasting and being done correctly. Sometimes you dont find that out immediately.

Having done countless gelcoat repairs over the years I've never had a repair require any further work. A gelcoat to gelcoat repair is pretty durable. Some like to use epoxy but that burns a bridge that I don't want to burn.

Ron

[tdf-texas]

Originally Posted by Glens

I'm just worried about it lasting and being done correctly. Sometimes you dont find that out immediately.

All the shops listed do gelcoat repairs on boat hulls that get pounded much more than your trailer shell will ever see. A reputable shop will do the gelcoat repair such that it will last at least as long as the rest of the gelcoat.

Color matching the gelcoat is usually where the difficulty arises. But since Escape should be able to supply the same gelcoat they used for your trailer, that shouldn't be an issue.