2003 Trillium Outback Gel Coat

[Craig73]

Hello,
I am needing to do some minor gel coat repairs and was hoping someone could tell me the colour of the 03 Outback. It is an off white / cream. Does anyone know the exact name of the colour. I did email the manufacturer a couple of weeks ago but no response.

Also, anyone know where I could get a copy of the owners manual for a 2003?

Best regards,

Craig

[David Tilston]

Originally Posted by Craig73

Hello,
I am needing to do some minor gel coat repairs and was hoping someone could tell me the colour of the 03 Outback. It is an off white / cream. Does anyone know the exact name of the colour. I did email the manufacturer a couple of weeks ago but no response.

Also, anyone know where I could get a copy of the owners manual for a 2003?

Best regards,

Craig

They still make them:
https://trilliumtrailers.com/

Give them a call.

[theresa p]

Yes, I agree. Call Joe. He is usually too busy to answer emails in a timely manner.
As to the colour, if you go to most paint stores, like Dulux, here in the Maritimes, they have a hand-held gun-type thingie that will scan the outside of your trailer and will be able to match the colour 100%.



That might be quicker than anything....

[thrifty bill]

Lets say somehow you got the number for the original gelcoat. Your gelcoat is 18 years old. So will fresh match 18 year old?

I'd go with the gun mentioned above. You want a match for the color NOW, not a match for what the color WAS 18 years ago.

"Gel coat, like paint, fades (changes color) and oxidizes (chalks over) due to exposure to UV light over time. ... A dull oxidized surface may restore to a deep luster with polishing but still leave an uneven color due to fading. This is more prevalent in dark colors but can be seen even in off-whites."

[theresa p]

Agreed, 100%. It does change with age, as do all painted finishes.

[Borden]

Originally Posted by Craig73

Hello,
I am needing to do some minor gel coat repairs and was hoping someone could tell me the colour of the 03 Outback. It is an off white / cream. Does anyone know the exact name of the colour. I did email the manufacturer a couple of weeks ago but no response.

Also, anyone know where I could get a copy of the owners manual for a 2003?

Best regards,

Craig

Use paint and you can not easily go back to gelcoat. We have stayed with gelcoat only on our unit.

We have used the small colour match kits and the pint clear or white kit.

Make sure that the trailer has been deoxidised first.

Then take the pint can

Mix a drop of brown into two table spoons of pre waxed white gelcoat in one small tray then mix about 2 drops of yellow in two table spoons of white gelcoat in second tray this is your pre mix. Do not add hardener yet. Put gelcoat into a third tray and mix in a very tiny amount of the pre mix yellow and then brown just a very small dab for tint.

Match for area to be fixed on deoxidised trailer.

You can fill in scratches and gouges. They will in include a hardener add it to final mix only, as it will set instructions will be 1 to 2 % in drops. Get it too yellow add more white.

Adding to pint doing full tint of can can be done, it is for those that are experienced at mix as get it to dark and you will need a second can of white to lighten colour.

Save the metal pint inside seal under lid put it back when done and the can will keep for a good amount of time. Large areas would require spray more details needed, but can be brushed on as is from can but put into trays.

Paid a boat repair specialist the teach me how to fix our trailer. Worked together till understood process. The trailer maybe faded more in some areas; so clean deoxidised trailer and match area to be fixed, small batches worked best on our boler.

Need more info just ask.
P.S. you can make brown tint but they will also sell it separate. On boler main colour tint was yellow.

Hope this helps

[Borden]

Pre colour match is only available in 1 gallon cans it is $280 a gallon set for spray or brush on thickness. Prices are pre-pandemic from Toronto. This would only work if gelcoating whole trailer.

[Craig73]

Thanks Borden for the well thought out response. Much appreciated.

[Borden]

Originally Posted by theresa p

Yes, I agree. Call Joe. He is usually too busy to answer emails in a timely manner.
As to the colour, if you go to most paint stores, like Dulux, here in the Maritimes, they have a hand-held gun-type thingie that will scan the outside of your trailer and will be able to match the colour 100%.

That might be quicker than anything....

Not a fan of Dulux used it on our canoe. Wish we had stayed with gelcoat but that is a personal choice. We did not know all our options at the time the canoe was done.

[Ak Ron]

I have a 2004 and the “manual” that came with it was a folder which included the instruction and installation manuals for items like stoves, refrigerator, etc.