I love my Kahale. She is a beauty. I have put a few thousand kilometers on her, and I have easily put a hundred paddle scratches on the hull. The bow has some scrapes because I carry the Kahele on my shoulder upside down when entering and leaving the ocean, so the bow gets rotated in the sand when I set her down. Before I put another 1000 km on the Kahele, it is time for some maintenance. This is how I am taking care of the gelcoat scratches.
I had worked with gelcoat before, And I know a little goes a long way. I found this at my local West Marine, and I knew I would have to do some tests with the blue to get this Kahele blue. This isn’t like the gel coat that comes in a can as it does not need a catalyst and does not stink, etc. The end result seems pretty soft but seems just fine for scratches.
Turns out a small tube of white gelcoat scratch patch and a tube of blue coloring agent, along with acetone and a little mixing spatula, were all I really needed. First wipe down the hull area to be worked on with acetone to clean it, essentially to make sure it does not have wax on it. Then mix the color with the white. My first mix was too dark, so I lightened it a little.
I followed the directions, which was to load the repair area with the mix then wait fifteen minutes and scrape off the excess. I was not happy with this solution, so while removing the first trial I made a discovery: you can simply stroke the area with a rag wet with acetone and buff the gelcoat down to a satisfactory level.
Leave the gelcoat high because as it cures it will shrink in, then buff it out. I plan on doing a light sand touch up with around 1000 grit sandpaper on the areas where I fixed a couple of dings.
Kahele is looking good! I will let the gel cure overnight then wax the repair areas. I only did the right side of the Kahele as my first test. If all goes well after I take her for the next paddle, I will complete the ama side. This was surprisingly easy. Images with the final wax are in the video. I am super happy with this, *NOTE I was not happy using this product for larger chips and will try to mix some of the coloring agent with epoxy to obtain better adherence and a sandable surface. So, update forthcoming.
LIGHTER: at 4.5 ounces weighs half of other leashes, floats
SMALLER: 50% smaller than other leashes but still extends just as long
STRONGER: heavy duty webbing, stitching and YKK buckle system, 1600lb jacketed Samson Dyneema retractable leash, stainless steel clasp system (no hidden mystery hardware or plasticware like other leashes)
SAFER: easy to inspect, high contrast (red, orange, hot pink, lime, yellow or black cuff), red, yellow, orange or pink leash, dual quick release/connect for either race start or getting out of tricky situations
SIZING FOR OUTRIGGER, SUP, SURFSKI, FOIL, PRONE: Retractable leash comes in 9’ or 6’ length.
SIZING FOR FIT ABOVE CALF: Leash cuff is to be worn above the calf or connected to waist strap.