Under most circumstances, TotalBoat Gelcoat on the keel of a sailboat should not be repaired with gelcoat. An exception may be made for a dry-sailed boat when the goal is to make the repair blend in aesthetically. In this case, gelcoat thickened with TotalBoat Silica Thickener may be used.

As a general guideline for repairs below the waterline where antifouling paint is applied, it is more effective to make repairs with epoxy-based products, then apply a barrier coat primer and topcoat with new antifouling paint. TotalBoat Clear High Performance Epoxy or TotalBoat Traditional 5:1 Marine Epoxy thickened with TotalBoat Silica Thickener may be used. You can also consider TotalBoat TotalFair Epoxy Fairing Compound or TotalBoat Thixo products. Using epoxy products will make the repair waterproof while forming a much stronger bond to the substrates.