Polyester damage to your boat, expertly repaired
From a scratch in the gelcoat to structural repair of the laminate. Every case is assessed first, then comes a quote to suit.
What we do
From dull gelcoat to a hull lying open
How deep the damage sits decides what has to happen: polishing at the surface, grinding back and relaminating when the laminate is open. From the outside that difference is not always visible, which is why every job starts with an assessment.
At the surface
Polishing
The gelcoat is still sound, but has gone dull or chalky. Machine polishing takes that layer of oxidation off and brings the shine back.
The top layer
Gelcoat repair
Scratches along the topsides, a broken corner or discolouration in the top layer. The colour is mixed until the repair no longer stands out next to the old.
The structure
Polyester repair
Once the laminate itself is open, it is no longer a cosmetic problem. Grind back to sound material, laminate again, back to strength.
Below the waterline
Antifouling
The underwater hull: old layers off, the substrate assessed, and a system that suits the water your boat lies in.
The whole boat
RIB restoration
A RIB takes more punishment than a cabin boat. Hull, console and tubes are dealt with as one, not separately.
Where is the damage?
Identify your type of damage
You see a crack, a blister or a soft patch and want to know what it means. Find below whatever comes closest to your situation.
Gelcoat and scratches
Berthing damage, scratches along the topsides, dull or discoloured gelcoat. Often done on site in a few hours.
Does this sound familiar?
- Scratches or scuffs that show up white but do not go through the laminate
- Black marks from a jetty or fender that will not polish out
Time scale: 1 out of 4 compared with the other damage types.View
Crazing and hairline cracks
A fine web of cracks in the gelcoat, often around fittings or at stress points. Rarely urgent, but it is a signal.
Does this sound familiar?
- A fine network of hairline cracks, like the crazing in old porcelain
- Concentrated around fittings, stanchions, hatches and the mast step
Time scale: 1 out of 4 compared with the other damage types.View
Crack or hole in the hull
A knock against a pile while berthing, or run aground. Structural repair of the laminate.
Does this sound familiar?
- A visible crack or hole, with ragged white material at the edges
- A dent or split exactly where you struck something
Time scale: 2 out of 4 compared with the other damage types.via insuranceView
Leak with no visible damage
Water in the bilge while nothing looks broken. Usually skin fittings, seams or keel bolts.
Does this sound familiar?
- Water in the bilge with no identifiable damage
- Water that returns after pumping out, even with the boat lying still
Time scale: 2 out of 4 compared with the other damage types.View
Delamination
A soft or springy patch in deck or hull. The laminate has come away from the core.
Does this sound familiar?
- A soft, springy patch in the deck, often around fittings or a hatch
- A hollow sound when you tap across the surface with a coin or plastic hammer
Time scale: 3 out of 4 compared with the other damage types.View
Osmosis and blisters
Blisters on the underwater hull. Needs drying and a barrier coat, not a job to fit in between.
Does this sound familiar?
- Blisters or bumps on the underwater hull, visible as soon as the boat is out of the water
- A sour or vinegary smell when a blister breaks open
Time scale: 4 out of 4 compared with the other damage types.View
How we work
Look first, then start
Four steps, and the first two come before any agreement about money.
Assess
From a photo or on site. How deep the damage sits, what is underneath, and what that means for the structure.
A quote to suit
You hear what is needed and what it costs. Only once that is clear is an appointment made.
Carry out
Small work on site, in the harbour or at the storage yard. Structural work in the workshop, at a steady temperature and dust-free.
Finish
Mixing the colour, sanding, polishing. A repair is only finished when you can no longer find it.
Service area
Lemmer and the surrounding area
Around Lemmer there are hundreds of berths within half an hour's drive. Smaller work we do where your boat lies; what has to come into the workshop, we collect.
- Lemmer
- Balk en Sloten
- Stavoren en Hindeloopen
- Workum en Woudsend
- Echtenerbrug en Delfstrahuizen
- Emmeloord en de Noordoostpolder
Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors
Frequently asked questions
Do you work on site or does the boat have to come to the workshop?
Both. Scratches, gelcoat damage and polishing we do in the harbour or at the storage yard. Structural repair, osmosis and spray work go to the workshop in Scherpenzeel, because that work needs a steady temperature and a dust-free space.
Which area do you cover?
Lemmer and the surrounding area: Balk, Sloten, Stavoren, Hindeloopen, Workum, Woudsend, Echtenerbrug and the Noordoostpolder. For larger projects we also work outside the region.
Can you quote a price without coming to look?
Send a close-up photo, a photo from a distance, and the make and model of your boat. On that basis we assess the damage and make a quote to suit. For osmosis and structural damage we come and look first, because there the depth decides the work.
Damage to your boat? Send a photo.
A photo and a short description are enough to assess the damage. Then you hear what is needed and get a quote to suit.