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Gelcoat & Finish
Color restoring, complete overall restorations, chips, scratches, and scuffs.

Sun, weather, and time take a toll on your boat’s gelcoat. That glossy finish that looked great when the boat was new? After a few seasons in the 1000 Islands sun, it starts to fade, chalk up, and show every nick and scratch. We fix all of it — from small touch-ups to complete gelcoat color restoration across entire hull sides.
If your boat’s finish has gone chalky or dull from UV exposure, we can bring it back without a full respray. Wet sanding, compounding, polishing, and a proper wax job can make a huge difference. It’s not just cosmetic — a good gelcoat finish protects the fiberglass underneath from moisture intrusion and UV degradation.
We also repair gelcoat blisters, which are a common issue on boats that sit in the water all season. Blisters form when moisture gets into the laminate and creates pressure pockets under the gelcoat. We grind them out, dry the area, fill with the right materials, and refinish. Left alone, they spread and get expensive — catch them early.
When to Call Us
- Your boat’s finish has gone chalky, dull, or gray from sun exposure
- Chips and scratches that have gone through the gelcoat to bare fiberglass
- Gelcoat blisters forming on the hull — especially below the waterline
- Scuff marks and dock rash you want cleaned up before the season
- You want the boat looking sharp for a sale or just for pride of ownership
Frequently Asked Questions
Can faded, chalky gelcoat be restored without a full respray?
Usually, yes. If the gelcoat hasn't degraded all the way through, wet sanding, compounding, polishing, and a proper wax job can bring the shine back without re-gelcoating or painting.
What's the difference between gelcoat repair and painting?
Gelcoat restoration works the boat's original factory finish back to life and protects the fiberglass underneath. Painting or re-gelcoating is the next step when the gelcoat is too far gone to restore. We'll tell you honestly which one your boat needs.
What are gelcoat blisters and can you fix them?
Blisters form when moisture works into the laminate and creates pressure pockets under the gelcoat. We grind them out, dry the area, fill with the right materials, and refinish. Left alone they spread and get expensive, so it's best to catch them early.
Need More Info?
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