How to repair chipped fibreglass kayak?

My wife and son were unloading our Swift Bering Sea Fibreglass Kayak (just bought a month ago) from the car and dropped one end onto the driveway. It has caused a chip about 2cm long underneath right at the tip of the boat, deep enough that a small (2mm) amount of metal is showing. I am wondering if anyone can tell me how to repair this chip? Can I use some sort of automotive body filler or something to patch up the chip and smooth out the jagged edge? I cannot glue on the piece as it chipped into a few small bits which I do not have anymore.

Thanks, ..Roger

Metal? in a Bering Sea?

Go to a marine supply store and get a gel coat repair kit. If the hull is white, it will make your life easy - otherwise you'll have to mix in the tints to match the colour. Mix a small amount and fill in the chip. Cover with a piece of plastic release film and let it cure. When it's cured, wet sand the surface smooth and then wet sand with increasingly fine sandpaper until it's almost as smooth as the original hull. Then use a polishing compound to make it shine. It's actually fairly easy to do.

Once you realize how easy it is, you'll not be too worried about scratches on the hull.

Thanks.

Well it looked like a fine metal strip which I thought may be used right at the bottom tip of the boat as reinforcement or something, but then I know nothing about building boats!

I'll follow your advice and hopefully it will work out well.

..Roger

Hi Roger, Ottawa Valley Canoe & Kayak carries repair materials (ie gelcoat) and can offer you advice on the repair. They can be reached at 832-2569 or on their website at http://www.ottawavalleycanoe.ca. Beth