Gelcoat
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=48840
Printed Date: January-16-2025 at 8:11am
Topic: Gelcoat
Posted By: jterr
Subject: Gelcoat
Date Posted: June-11-2020 at 10:35am
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Moved here as might have needed new topic The rains haven't stopped to finish the paint on the 79 so I decided to start cleaning up the Gelcoat on the 83. I took the footplate off top[ side and you can see the boat was originally a light Blue.  I tried buffing with a rubbing compound but didn't seem to do what I want. Tried wet sanding and if you look close there is a little blue coming up.  How much sanding can I do, is the gelcoat thick enough to do much??? |
Replies:
Posted By: TRBenj
Date Posted: June-11-2020 at 10:40am
| Not sure I understand the question... has the boat been painted white (over blue) and you want to remove it? Or is the blue faded so badly that it appears near-white? Compound isn’t aggressive enough to restore faded gel color In my experience- you’ll have to sand - potentially pretty aggressively - to have any chance. Be careful at edges and corners- as you are already seeing, they take a much harder hit than the rest of the surface. |
Posted By: jterr
Date Posted: June-11-2020 at 11:06am
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Not painted really faded. I was told by m local boat builder to use 320 (don't have been using 500) and take it easy. I can see the blue coming (on the edges)but it must really be down deep. Suggestions |
Posted By: ultrarunner
Date Posted: June-11-2020 at 11:16am
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"Carolina Blue" LOVE IT. That will be a LOT of work, but should look really cool when done! |
Posted By: jterr
Date Posted: June-11-2020 at 11:24am
Roger That |
ultrarunner wrote:Posted By: TRBenj
Date Posted: June-11-2020 at 11:29am
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320 gonna be needed (at least) if you want to go quickly. Looks like you’re not being quite careful enough at the corners. Watch for signs that you’re sanding through. Not “Carolina” but Dresdon. |
Posted By: jterr
Date Posted: June-11-2020 at 11:41am
320 on the way. Thanks |
Posted By: jterr
Date Posted: June-13-2020 at 3:47pm
Sanding away and I'm down to blue and spots of the old. It has really taken a lot of the gelcoat away, am I still gonna be ok 
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Posted By: ultrarunner
Date Posted: June-13-2020 at 4:14pm
Gelcoat is super thick. You’re taking less than you think, and is measured in ‘thousandths’;-) |
Posted By: jterr
Date Posted: June-17-2020 at 11:25am
Not that thick I found out went though in 3 places, not bad but enough to make me rethink this sanding all the Gelcoat away 
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Posted By: TRBenj
Date Posted: June-17-2020 at 11:28am
| You are sanding by hand, correct? |
Posted By: jterr
Date Posted: June-17-2020 at 11:56am
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both doing edges by hand and middle by a little palm sander-my 75 year old shoulders can't take it I'll take a couple pics later |
Posted By: ultrarunner
Date Posted: June-17-2020 at 12:09pm
Can't hit it too hard. I'd think the lowest setting on an orbital, and let it do the work without pressure. But I'll be following, as I'd love to make the time to bring my Gel back also, and I'll be new to the process. 
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Posted By: jterr
Date Posted: June-17-2020 at 1:13pm
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Here is before and after and showing where I went through. Before  After 
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Posted By: jterr
Date Posted: June-17-2020 at 2:49pm
The Blue is definitely coming out just not at the same time 
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Posted By: jterr
Date Posted: July-05-2020 at 12:19pm
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Well back from a short rest period. Suggestions on how to get this color to come up evenly. As seen in above pics it seems to not work in the middle area. I'm using 500 wet on a 4x5 hand sander. Still scared I'm gonna sand through. Is it possible because PO didn't take care of this to start with, could I be wasting a lot of time and damaging my boat???? |
Posted By: Canuck-Surfer
Date Posted: August-15-2020 at 1:07pm
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Any chance you could re-upload the pictures since the site has now been restored? ------------- 1996 Sport Nautique GT40 EFI |
Posted By: jterr
Date Posted: August-15-2020 at 4:23pm
Which boat been working on 2? What pictures do you need?
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Posted By: gun-driver
Date Posted: August-16-2020 at 11:15am
The boat this thread is about, the one you’re wet sanding.
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Posted By: jterr
Date Posted: August-16-2020 at 11:27am
I'm guessing the 83
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Posted By: jterr
Date Posted: August-16-2020 at 11:31am
Can't get but 1 to load |
Posted By: jterr
Date Posted: August-16-2020 at 11:34am
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Sorry I can't get these to load. Says they are but I don't see them.,
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Posted By: jterr
Date Posted: August-16-2020 at 11:35am
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If you need something specific let me know and maybe can redo or try and find pic. JT
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Posted By: jterr
Date Posted: August-16-2020 at 2:02pm
I'll try again |
Posted By: jterr
Date Posted: August-16-2020 at 2:03pm
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Still can't post the older ones. I do the upload and see it ,but it doesn't show in post.
I'll try later maybe some body can explain why it's not working
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