Short answer: Harbor Marine repairs gel coat and fiberglass for Atlanta boat owners at our Buford shop: scrapes, chips, cracks, dock rash and strike damage. Call or text (770) 967-8495.
Where the damage comes from
Atlanta boats pick up damage in a few predictable places. Crowded weekend ramps on Lanier lead to scrapes while launching and loading. Tight storage facilities catch rub rails and bows. Marina slips bring dock rash from pilings and neighboring boats. And when the lake is low, rocks and stumps find the hull.
Gel coat is a thin outer layer. Once it is chipped through, water can soak into the fiberglass, so it pays to fix damage early.
What we repair
- Scrapes, chips and gouges.
- Dock rash on the bow and sides.
- Spider and stress cracks.
- Keel and bunk wear.
- Fiberglass damage from strikes.
- Old repairs that no longer match.
How the repair works
We grind away damaged material, rebuild fiberglass where needed, then fill, fair and sand the area to the hull's shape. The finish is gel coat tinted to match the boat as it is today. Each step needs controlled conditions and cure time, so the work happens in our shop at 6516 Lanier Islands Parkway in Buford.
Deeper than gel coat
A soft spot, star-shaped cracks or water weeping from the area suggest the fiberglass is damaged too. That glass has to be cut back and rebuilt before finishing. We will tell you which repair your boat needs once we see it.
Getting the boat to the shop
Tow it up on the trailer, or have it hauled from your Lanier slip. If towing is not an option, see boat transport in Atlanta. Send photos first: a close-up, a wider shot and one showing where the damage is.
Preventing repeat damage
If the same spot keeps getting hit, look at the cause: fender height in the slip, a tight turn into the storage bay, or worn trailer bunks. We point it out when we see it so the repair lasts.
Color matching
Gel coat fades and shifts color over time. We tint new gel coat to match the hull as it is now, and a polish afterward helps the repair blend.
What affects a gel coat job
Pricing is set when you call for a quote. These are the things that change the size of the job:
- Size and depth of the damage.
- Whether the fiberglass is damaged.
- How hard the color is to match.
- Where on the hull it is.
Storage bay bumps
Backing a boat into a tight storage bay, or having it moved by facility staff, can leave marks on the bow, rub rail or swim platform. If you find new damage after storage, take photos right away and talk to the facility. Then send the photos to us so we can tell you what the repair involves.
Busy ramps
Weekend ramps near the south end of the lake can be crowded. Hurried launches and loads, crosswinds and wakes push boats into docks and trailers. Slowing down, using fenders on the ramp dock and having a second person on a line all help.
Before and after the repair
Wash the damaged area before sending photos so we can see it clearly. After the repair, give new gel coat a few weeks before waxing, and avoid hard scrubbing on the spot while it settles in. Then treat it like the rest of the hull.
When to call us
Call when you see a chip that goes through the color, a crack that spreads, a soft spot or water weeping from the hull. These are signs water could reach the fiberglass. Small repairs done early are simpler than waiting until the end of the season.
Related and nearby
If a strike caused the damage, check the drive through sterndrive repair in Atlanta. A detail in Atlanta afterward evens out the hull.
North of the city, we also offer gel coat repair in Alpharetta and in Suwanee, and our shop is in Buford. If your boat stays in the water, see gel coat repair on Lake Lanier. All our work for city owners is on the Atlanta boat repair page, the main service page explains each step, and you can contact us anytime.