Gelcoat Finish - Advice Please.

Biggles · 28 October 2005, 19:10

Right the Winter Work has started in earnest now.

I've got the boat home and stripped off the tons of paint that covering the hull.

I've used a chemical paint remover and scraper.

I now have a hull that is in its original colour but has no sheen and is covered in small nicks and scratches both from the scraper and fair wear and tear.

Although I don't think I'm ever going to get the hull looking like new can anyone suggest a good way of getting some sparkle back in to it.

At the moment I am considering getting a car polisher and some grinding paste. Grinding it smoother and then polishing it up with loads of Car Polish. Is this a wise move.

If all else fails I am considering painting it with a roller using Brightside paint painted straight on the hull.

Nos4r2 · 28 October 2005, 19:18

Quote:

Originally Posted by Biggles

At the moment I am considering getting a car polisher and some grinding paste. Grinding it smoother and then polishing it up with loads of Car Polish. Is this a wise move.

No. Grinding paste will go into the gelcoat not just sand it down. Is it feasable to re-gelcoat the bottom?

Matt · 28 October 2005, 19:36

Too many people just use a mop & polish/paste.
In many instances, where the surface of the gel is in a poor condition, you should first wet & dry with a good quality (3m) 1200 wet and dry. This gets you into new, fresh gel that will get, and maintain, and good level of finish. Otherwisre you can mop & polish forever, but it'll never look that good.

As far as a polishing machine goes, I very much recommend the machine mart one, you won't get a better one for less money.

Biggles · 28 October 2005, 19:37

Matt,

I'm not sure of the process as I've never done it before.

But can you just buy gelcoat and paint it on with a roller.

The bottom is all stripped, clean and ready for working on.

I like the sound of re Gelcoating it but am not sure of the procedure, costs or how good the finished result will be.

Does Gelcoat come in a tin like paint ?

Regards Nick.

Nos4r2 · 28 October 2005, 19:40

I'm not sure-I got that impression from the guys on iboats though. It might be worth asking on there-they do some really insanely hard restoring jobs.

Matt · 28 October 2005, 19:42

You could, I've tried it, and I wouldn't again. As above, unless it's really shot, I'd rub down with 1200 and then T-cut & mop.
If it's beyond that, I'd look at international perfection, just done my transom in it.
From this http://www.mattyorke.co.uk/gallery/refit/Img_0043
To this http://www.mattyorke.co.uk/gallery/231005/IMG_0781
Perfection is incredibly hard - much harder than gel, so while it takes a lot of effort, you can get an excellent finish that is tough. You can also roller it on with reasonable results.

If you really want to re-gel, I definately wouldn't roller it on, I would spray it on.

Rogue Wave · 28 October 2005, 19:46

R U talking about the inside of the Hull or the outside

Biggles · 28 October 2005, 19:47

Thanks for the replies so far.

I'm getting the idea now.

The boat isn't worth spending lots of money on but I'm prepared to put some effort in to it over the winter to make it look reasonably nice.

Seems like I'm going to go down the 1200 Wet and Dry route on a drill.

Then T Cut it using the Polishing Machine.

Then Polish it lots and lots with an automotive Polish. Possibly Mer thats been good for me in the past.

For Rogue Wave its the outside mate.

Matt · 28 October 2005, 19:55

I'd do the 1200 by hand too.
I wouldn't do 1200 in a drill for 2 reasons.

Biggles · 28 October 2005, 19:57

Matt,

I can't find 1200 to fit in a drill so I guess it will be by hand.

Will I need to go over the Gelcoat lots or just a reasonable amount ?

boatster_sr4 · 28 October 2005, 23:14

There are some boat refinishers that actually spray gelcoat onto the hull. I think they use an airless sprayer and thin the resin out with acetone I think. Its probably too much for an amateur job though. I've sprayed gelcoat before. After curing it still needs a ton of polishing to get a slight mirror gloss. It mostly comes out matte. And its messy and stinky.

Alot of boaters here in the USA use Awlgrip paint and paint the hull. As Nos4r2 says go read up on Iboats.com to find out more.

I'm going to be reinforcing the whole inside floor of my searider within the next year. I'm probably just going to pour a hotcoat with pigment(resin with wax addative) over the laminated fiberglass and let it settle out to a smooth even coat (As if thats going to happen).

Rogue Wave · 29 October 2005, 10:00

Quote:

Originally Posted by Biggles

Thanks for the replies so far.

For Rogue Wave its the outside mate.

It seems to me that you have a good surfac for Antifouling whih will save Time and effort and then leave less area to re gel/polish

Pete7 · 29 October 2005, 19:33

Quote:

Originally Posted by MadMat

You could, I've tried it, and I wouldn't again. As above, unless it's really shot, I'd rub down with 1200 and then T-cut & mop.
If it's beyond that, I'd look at international perfection, just done my transom in it.

Matt been having a good look at your transom this morning, really quite impressed with the finish you have achieved on DR, how was the paint applied ?

Matt · 30 October 2005, 19:38

Cheers. It's just perfection undercoat & topcoat rollered on, rubber down & Polished. It's not as good as I wanted - really needed to finish with 2000 grit before polishing, but only had 1200 to hand. Will give it a final wax & polish, but hardly seems worth it with so many other bits needing doing first.
Perfection is ffkn hard stuff - makes gelcoat look like silly putty.