primer

you must have been feeling sentimental when you put that last post in.

I placed my order at US Composites. I wanted to work on the boat all weekend, but I have a surprise boater friend party tonight, wedding/reception tomorrow and jb wants to go out to watch the steeler game. These things should be done during the week so we have weekends free.

Dogbox is "almost" yucatan. Two very small cracks coming from the handle. Other than that, it looks great.

JB picked more steel wool and gloves up for me. And he also picked up an engine stand. He won't take me shopping at the "tool" stores. I have to give him a list.

Hey Pete!

I thought you were hiding from me.

Yes, yes, it is true. You will not be offended if I call it yuckytan will you? You're right, it grows on you, it's different and there's not another around here that I know of. Now, yuckytan is a "pet" name.

I ordered from US Composites. They weren't much help with the fiberglass selection and I will need some for backing the drink holder holes, so...I looked and looked and chose 7 1/2 oz E Glass.

Little by little. Just wish people wouldn't plan functions on the weekends. Isn't summer wedding time? And a surprise retirement party. Both this weekend.

Tim, Pete, Greg, Dave, Lee, Riley and everyone else that puts their two cents in -
THANK YOU!

sanity wrote: And Pete...when I put the rest of those steeler colors on the seats and hang my steeler flag - it will look GREAT! Just kidding!

Told ya it would grow on you!
that aint a bad idea, black, gry, yellow upholstery and the stars on the cover

who are the squeelers?

eric lavine wrote: who are the squeelers?

Thats the Pittsburgh cheerleaders

well if you hold one down in the right position she will be a squealer

ok guys, back to boat "repair" now.

I am using the dogbox as a tester piece.

All of the red/white paint is gone and there are very small hairline cracks in two places. Coming from the handle is one. Yes, I removed the handle already.

Once I make the gel repairs, should I reglass the interior of the box - or do I do that in reverse - glass, then gel repair?

I think you'll want to repair the glass first, so the cosmetic (gel) repairs last longer. Before making any gel repairs though, try wetsanding and buffing the area and see how it looks. Ive got a good sized spiderweb crack on the deck of my '90 that became MUCH less noticeable after restoring the color to the deck. I had originally planned on repairing it, but now that you have to look hard for it, its dropped down pretty darn far on my list of priorities.

I hear what youre saying, Michelle. My fear is that a color match may not be 100% perfect, and a repair might be even more noticeable than the damage! It wouldnt hurt to see what how it looks after sanding/buffing before going through the trouble of grinding out and refilling.

I know you are right about that. But that's why I'm using the dogbox as sort of a test piece too. There are plenty of repair areas on the hull that I will have to match and/or I will end up regelling the entire hull.

If I see that the matching won't work on the dogbox, it's a smaller area to re-gel and I can practice gellin' away on that.

Is my way of thinking "crazy"?

sanity wrote: But that's why I'm using the dogbox as sort of a test piece too. There are plenty of repair areas on the hull that I will have to match If I see that the matching won't work on the dogbox, it's a smaller area to re-gel and I can practice gellin' away on that. Is my way of thinking "crazy"?

Michelle,
You're not crazy!! One step at a time until you feel comfortable with a direction.

Have you contacted Minicraft yet for a color matched quart of gel paste?

With out seeing it I would guess the cracks are very small and common for this area. to stop it from spreading back it up with some glass, then try to buff or wet sand it enough to pass. If you gouge it out and patch it it almost certainly wont match and draw the eye to it. Most people probably wouldn't even notice those hairline cracks anyway. If you plan on gel-n the whole hull by all means gouge away.

8122pbrainard wrote: Have you contacted Minicraft yet for a color matched quart of gel paste?

I hope I'm wrong, but I don't think they will have much in that age range. They are pretty sharp though...they might be able to get a close match on a sample? You'd want the sample to be in super good shape.

BuffaloBFN wrote: 8122pbrainard wrote: Have you contacted Minicraft yet for a color matched quart of gel paste? I hope I'm wrong, but I don't think they will have much in that age range. They are pretty sharp though...they might be able to get a close match on a sample? You'd want the sample to be in super good shape.

Greg,
They won't have the color in their data (yes, too old) but with a sample of the existing and $75, they will match it.

Michelle,
The color swatches won't match. You need a custom color mixed up. The big problem is getting them a sample of the existing wet sanded and buffed to match. Off the deck where it's most noticable but can be covered up later!!

Do you have a horn on the boat?