Short answer: Harbor Marine repairs ramp scrapes, road chips and other gel coat damage for Sugar Hill trailer boats at our shop next door in Buford. Call (770) 967-8495 to set up a drop-off.
Damage that comes with trailering
Most Sugar Hill boats make the trip to Lake Lanier on a trailer. Every trip means a launch and a load, plus miles on SR 20 or the interstate. That routine produces its own kind of hull damage: keel and bow scrapes at the ramp, chips from gravel and road debris, and marks where the hull sits on worn trailer bunks.
What we repair
- Keel and bow scrapes from loading at the ramp.
- Chips and dings from road debris and gravel.
- Bunk and roller marks along the bottom.
- Gouges and cracks from docking or hitting debris on the lake.
Trailer boats are easy to repair
A boat already on a trailer can come straight to our shop at 6516 Lanier Islands Parkway in Buford, next door to Sugar Hill, and repairs below the waterline are simpler because the boat is already out of the water. Call ahead and we can look at the damage with you at drop-off.
How the repair goes
- Inspect the damage and check the fiberglass underneath.
- Clean and grind back to solid material.
- Fill, adding fiberglass if the damage is deep.
- Fair to the hull's shape.
- Gel coat, matched as closely as possible, then sand and polish.
Ramp habits that save gel coat
Most ramp damage happens in the last few feet of loading. Back the trailer in far enough that the boat floats onto the bunks rather than grinding up them. Center the boat before winching, and go slowly. On a shallow ramp late in the season, take extra care with the keel. A few seconds of patience saves a repair.
Storing outside and the finish
Sugar Hill boats stored outside on trailers get hours of direct sun every day. Sun fades and chalks gel coat over time, and older, faded gel coat is harder to color-match when a repair is needed. A cover and a good protective coating keep the finish closer to its original color, which makes future repairs blend better.
Photos that help us plan
When you request a repair, send a close-up of the damage, a wider photo showing where it is on the hull, and one with a coin or hand for scale. For trailer boats, a quick photo of the trailer bunks under the damaged area helps too, since worn bunks are often part of the story.
That lets us tell you what the repair involves before you hitch up and bring the boat to our Buford shop.
What affects a gel coat repair
Pricing is set when you call for a quote. These are the things that change the size of the job:
- How deep the damage goes.
- Where it is on the hull.
- How faded the gel coat is, which affects color matching.
- Whether there is fiberglass damage underneath.
Drop-off made simple
Call (770) 967-8495 to set a time, tow the boat to our shop next door in Buford, and walk us around the damage. We will tell you what the repair involves and contact you when it is ready to pick up.
Prevent the next scrape
Check your trailer bunks and rollers each season and replace worn carpet on the bunks. Line the boat up carefully when loading, especially on a shallow ramp. A coat of wax or a ceramic coating in Sugar Hill helps the finish stand up to light contact.
Next door, see gel coat repair in Buford or Suwanee, or gel coat repair on Lake Lanier for in-water boats. See all our Sugar Hill services, our main gel coat and fiberglass repair page, or contact us.