Gel Coat
Printed From: CorrectCraftFan.com
Category: Repairs and Maintenance
Forum Name: Boat Maintenance
Forum Discription: Discuss maintenance of your Correct Craft
URL: http://www.CorrectCraftFan.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=3802
Printed Date: January-16-2025 at 2:41pm
Topic: Gel Coat
Posted By: houck32
Subject: Gel Coat
Date Posted: June-06-2006 at 1:42pm
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I have a 64 mustang fixed rebuilt motor updated with hot rod parts, redid interior, need left side windshield and cracks and dirt in the gel coat, can you just roll on new gel coat, change color? ------------- houck32 |
Replies:
Posted By: 77stang
Date Posted: June-06-2006 at 2:03pm
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yes you can roll on gel. but if you can shoot it you'll be better off. with rolling you'll have alot more sanding to do, plus, as in my case, you'll sand so much that you may have to add a second coat and sand again. If i were to ever do it again i would definately shoot. ------------- http://correctcraftfan.com/diaries/details.asp?ID=1360&yrstart=1971&yrend=1975 - '77 Mustang 17 |
Posted By: jimbo
Date Posted: June-06-2006 at 4:34pm
| I'm not real sure exactly what you're trying to fix but you would probably be better off sanding and applying Bondo, then painting. Bondo is easier to sand and it'll be easier to match the paint to the gelcoat than to match new gelcoat to the old. |
Posted By: rmcdonald
Date Posted: June-07-2006 at 10:28am
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If you are talking about a minor repair of a small area yes you can.
If you are talking about the whole boat, the answer would be NO. Respray with a Marine Grade two pack poly ureathane. This is what I did with my 1968 Ski Nautique its in the Diaries section Regards Rob Mcdonald |
Posted By: 77stang
Date Posted: June-07-2006 at 11:50am
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i agree with rmcdonald in that, if i were to do it all again I would use the two part poly like interlux. however, if your insistant on gell please save your self some time and spray your gell application.
------------- http://correctcraftfan.com/diaries/details.asp?ID=1360&yrstart=1971&yrend=1975 - '77 Mustang 17 |
Posted By: David F
Date Posted: June-07-2006 at 11:57am
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Even with spraying, it requires a TON of sanding (ask me how I know). It can be done and is done. I believe it is more durable than paint, but definately more time consuming and costly.
Bottom line is that gel coat, when sprayed, leaves heavy orange peel. The gel simply does not flow out like paint. Sure smoother than rolling it on, but still must be sanded out by hand. ------------- |
Posted By: stang72
Date Posted: June-07-2006 at 11:55pm
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David F...How do you know???
Answer...Because when you do that much sanding...you never forget  Right?------------- stang Face plants are not that funny when it's you face! http://www.correctcraftfan.com/diaries/images/3720/photo1.jpg" rel="nofollow - The Super Air |
Posted By: David F
Date Posted: June-08-2006 at 9:16am
You got that right. I think it took a couple weaks for my fingerprints to grow back ------------- |
Posted By: rmcdonald
Date Posted: June-13-2006 at 6:19am
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Hi
I would like to add to my last post. The Reason I would not Re-Gel coat an entire boat is because of the following. Gel Coat itself is very brittle and has no real strength. When a boat is made, from a mould The mould is waxed so that the Gel-Coat does not bond to the mould. The Gel Coat is then sprayed. After Gel Coat has cured The Fibreglass applied Sprayed (Chop String) or laid glass fibre mat. The Fibre glass and resin the bond to the cured Gel Coat. When applied in this manner, it forms a very strong bond However when you reverse the process you are relying purely on the adhesion strength of the Gel Coat to bond to fibreglass that is already cured. Irrespective of which route you chose Sanding takes forever. Trust me, the gelcoat on the top of my hull was so badly crazed I removed all of it. Re-Glassed to get a good finish and then sprayed. Make sure that you don't use a Automotive Paint. Use a Marine two pack like a Linear Aliphatic two pack polyurethane Very Dangerous stuff but the results are worth it,but follow the safety instuctions Regards Rob McDonald |
Posted By: oldskiboat
Date Posted: June-16-2006 at 1:56pm
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I have sprayed my 75 southwind. I used a preasurized romote cup and that worked well. It does have a lot of orange peel though. A wet orbital sanders works good. If you have cracks you must file them out first and fill them in with fiber glass filler. Then sand and spray. Use a wax made for gel coat in the last coat or you will never be able to sand it. The wax allows it to dry and not be tacky. I did mine about 4 years ago and it is still bonded well. No chips or cracks. ------------- Gary The Villages Fl. http://www.correctcraftfan.com/diaries/details.asp?ID=1392&sort=&pagenum=1&yrstart=1971&yrend=1975" rel="nofollow - 75Southwind 20 |
Posted By: wrollema
Date Posted: June-20-2006 at 10:23am
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Gel Kote has 2 distinct advantages,
1. It allows for easy repair of scuffed surfaces - just requires buffing, whereas in most cases painted surfaces (1 to 3mm thick) if buffed would remove the paint exposing the undercoat. 2. Over the life of a boat let say 20 years paint will fade and so will gel kote the diffrence is that paint may and and I stress may allow you to buff to obtain a like new look whereas gel kote since the application is 15 to 25 mm thick will allow you buff several times bringing back that new look each time. Willy |