The contents and instructions of ûWest Marine's large SeaFit repair ûkit (above) are almost identical ûto those of the Evercoat. Neither ûis as detailed as the Bondo kit.

Today, we have gelcoat, in which cracks, chips, and scratches are a constant problem for owners who want to keep their vessels looking good. Gouges must be filled and faired smooth. Cracks need to be opened (routed out) and similarly filled and resurfaced. Like bodywork on a car, gelcoat repair is as much art as technology.

We wanted to see what’s involved and how difficult it is for average boat owners to do their own gelcoat repair using the available "off the shelf" products. We visited the BoatU.S., West Marine, and Overton’s websites and ordered the three most common gelcoat repair kits available—from Evercoat, SeaFit, and Bondo. We reviewed and…