Beginners Guide To Fiberglass and Gelcoat

A Beginner's Guide to

Fibreglass and Gelcoat

New to fibreglass?

First - time boat

owner?

If you're new to Fibreglass or a first time boat owner and not sure what you need, Rayplex has put together a Beginner's fiberglass repair kit, and a Beginners gelcoat repair kit. So you don't have to spend hours figuring out what you need.

Fiberglass repair kit

White Gelcoat Repair Kit

Make you boat Shine

Beginners Guide to fiberglass

New to Fibreglass? Watch this video

Want a more in-depth Fiberglass knowledge? Click on any link below.

Gelcoat Waterproof

Basically gelcoat is the smooth colored finish on a boat. There are two type of gelcoat, Brush or Spray. Brush which is very thick is used for repair or touch up work.

Polish and Shine

We care a large selection of 3M Compounds and Waxes along with our low cost Rayplex line

Check out our How to Buff your boat Video.

Brushes Chip inexpensive

Chip brushes are low cost and through away which save the expense of cleaning and the cost of solvent.

Use for laminating do not use for applying gel coat as bristles and prone to fall out.

Brushes Red are a little stiffer and used for laminating or the application of gel coat.

Fibreglass Tools

Gloves Latex gloves for protecting your hand from the resins and glass.

Mask High Quality 3M masks when only the best will do.

Matt For simple basic repairs we suggest using Matt which conforms to the surface.

Mixing Kit Includes mixing tubs and syringes for measuring Catalyst accurately.

Resin We suggest using our Premium grade #215 Isophthalic resin as its waterproof and safe to use below the water line.

Rollers Our handy 3 in jr rollers are excellent for the application of resin and getting the air bubbles out of a laminate.

Solvents Acetone for cleaning tools and hands, Air Dry or Wax solution for making the gelcoat dry tack free.

Product

Knowledge

If your interested in learning more here is a full list of

products and uses.

Products List

Resins

General Purpose: very thick - use for repair work - apply to first layer of mold.

Water Proof: formulated for spray application - repair or part fabrication.

Tooling Resin: Formulated for refinishing, surface repair application. Light sand then buff.

Vinyl Ester: Production molds along with 216 Tooling resin.

2lb Expanding Foam

Gelcoats

Gelcoat Series and their uses:

Gelcoats are ISO/NPG Grade Waterproof.
Can be used below the water line, and also for Swimming Pool repair & recoating.

Brushing: very thick - use for repair work - apply to first layer of mold.

Spray & Buff: Formulated for refinishing, surface repair application. Light sand then buff.

Spraying: Formulated for spray application - repair or part fabrication.

Tooling Brush: Production molds along with 216 Tooling resin.

Tooling Spray: Production molds along with 216 Tooling resin.

Super Black: Brightest Black Available See Spraying Gelcoats

Super White: Made from a clear base resin See Spraying Gelcoats

Ultra Spray White: Sprays using a Preval Sprayer

Color Matched Gelcoat: Color matched to your sample provided.

Clear: Used for metal flake or for marble bath ware.

Tinted Gelcoats: Are pre-tinted from over 300 stock colors.

Patching Gelcoat: Gelcoat that applied like body fill. See Brushing Gelcoats

Specialty Items

Honey Wax: Mould release wax.

PVA: Spray on Release agent. Washes off with water.

Wax Solution

Styrene

High Gloss Additive

We offer coloured gel coats to RAL colour numbers.

All our Gelcoats are UNWAXED

Fabric List

Fiberglass Fabrics

10 oz plain weave cloth 50 in wide

10 oz plain weave cloth 60 in wide

1 in Fiberglass sleeve

2 in Fiberglass sleeve

6 oz plain weave cloth tape 1,2,3,4,6,8 width 10 & 50 yard roll

9 oz plain weave cloth tape 2,3,4,6,8 width 10 & 50 yard roll

18 oz woven roving. 50 in wide

12oz + .75 DBL Bias Knitted 50" Width Stitch Matt

(1708)18oz + .75 DBL Bias Knitted 50" Width Stitch Matt

18 oz Bi-axial (0°/90°) 50 in wide

Need to check sizes on Stitch matt sizes.

Carbon Fiber Fabric

Carbon fiber Tape 1,2,3,4 wide 3 yd, 10 & 50 yd rolls

3K, Carbon Fiber Plain Weave 6 oz 50 IN Wide 1, 3 6 10yd & 100yd roll

3k Carbon Fibre Twill 50" wide 6 oz 50 in wide 1,3,6,10yd & 100yd roll

Carbon fiber sleeve

Kevlar 5 oz Tape 10 & 50 yd rolls width 1, 1.5, 2, 3, 4 ,6,

5oz Kevlar Felt 63" Roll 3 & 4 in wide length

6 oz 58" width Kevlar fabric

Kevlar Tubular Sleeve 1 & 2 in

Kevlar Repair kit and Skid Plate Kit

Fiberglass Tools & Accessories

Aluminum Rollers for getting the air out of a laminate

Bristle Rollers Used for deairing laminates that are curving or uneven.

Mix and Measure Kits

Paper Tubs

Graduated Measuring Tubs Plastic

Mixing Sticks wood 6 & 12 in

Latex Gloves

Starter Kits

Paint Brushes Wood and Plastic Handel

Preval Sprayers

Spray Guns for Gelcoat

Balsa Wood core material