primer

No chance of bringing back the original gel?

I knew that I would be hearing from you regarding bringing it back.
I tossed the idea around quite a bit. The gel is really pitted up to where the water line would land. There are a few areas where the previous owner(s) tried repairing above that.
I decided that painting would be the best option - for the mustang and myself.

Pete - that's what I needed. I'll check into the allgrip and sterling. We truly do not have any professional (boat) painters in our area. I've learned alot on "this" site.

I do have a friend that owns a body shop and he referred a buddy of his to me. This guy has offered his time and expertise as far as painting and helping to strip the boat. He "donates" his spare evening time to help and he instructs me. I get to paint - he has all of the tools. Hard to believe - I know.he is becoming a fast friend of mine and my fiance's.

I guess what I need to do is contact each company and request specifications on their products. I was hoping that a few of you guys could offer what you have used and "why" you prefer using the product. I know when I start receiving information, every company will say they are the best. I like hearing tried and true.

Tim - when I first saw this mustang, I envisioned the colors I would like to see it. As I started stripping the paint, it didn't look so bad. I would stand back, look at it and the boat actually "smiled". That is till I hit the pitted and repair areas. I'm not crazy about the yucatan yellow, but I would have kept it original if it were in better shape.

eric - what products have you used together as far as paint/primer. Are these boats kept in the water? The mustang will be trailered, but I want the quality of something that could be.

Thanks guys

Oh boy...that's opening a whole new can of worms. I will take a few updated pictures tonight and will post in the morning.

You guys don't know me well enough yet.

I will gather ALL of the information you can give me - paint, primer and including restoring the gel if it is possible and cost effective. Talk me into it or talk me out of it. I want to learn everything I can along the way.So, if I ask alot of questions, please be patient.

Once I have all the options and opinions in hand, I will sit in a quiet room, go through everything and then make a final decision.

Once I decide...it'll be final.

TRBenj wrote: sanity wrote: Input please? Talk me into it or talk me out of it. You want it? You got it! Pete, I cant believe you dont have my back here!

Tim,
I did mention the re gelcoating threads back!!

Michelle,
Let me remind you that re gelcoating the boat is certainly the premium way of restoration. It is sprayed on like paint only very heavy. It's then wetsanded out and buffed. More work but the end result is basically a new boat.

alright gentlemen. I am running home on my lunch break to take pictures.Then you can tell me the whats and whys.

Yes, Pete. I do remember.

Keep in mind that there are many items missing and some things that "are" on the boat are not original.

Back in a bit.

Chelle'

three more after these

uh-oh! Did the pictures scare everyone away.

Tim, what causes the bubbling in the first two pictures? How do you repair that?

Michelle, the blisters are osmotic- gelcoat is porous and will absorb water. CC technically recommends that boats not be left in the water without a protective bottom paint for this reason- but the blisters are purely cosmetic. Some boats seem very perceptable to this, and some dont- I dont know why. Our '92 was only left in the water 1 season and it developed a few blisters below the waterline a few years later. My Skier sat in the water for 25+ years and it doesnt have a blister on it.

Edit: Pete beat me to it.

Pete, can blisters be sanded flat? Just curious. I would imagine that buffing the gel out would make them much harder to see, anyways.

I painted my previous boat (25 yrs ago) with Imron & it held up well. If you do this yourself, get a fresh air hood. It's nasty stuff to breathe, will ruin your health even with a charcoal respirator.

The blistering is caused by moisture intrusion into the base resin (hull) below the gel coat. (polyester resin is hygroscopic) Then to my understanding that a reaction takes place between the gel and the hull that develops pressure popping off the gel. They must be routed out and filled.

Tim's correct that some boats will do it and others won't and there's no explanation why. Charlie (Brady) has a 70 Cuda and it's bottom has lots of blistering - never sat in the water - alway hung out of the water in a boathouse. Sometimes the blistering is so bad that the entire gel needs to be removed. Gary (farmer) did one of his not to long ago. Gary, you still have a couple of the pictures? I couldn't fint the thread.

Re gelcoating can be done in any color just like paint.

I had you in my mind as a big burly flannel wearing woman that loves boats

are those airguide guages?