Question about glassing bottom of boat...

[rickou812]

I have a old 50's model runabout that I acquired. It has several old repairs on the outer hull on the bottom. My question is, can sand the bottom down to fresh gel coat and then reglass and paint?

If so, what materials should I use for the re-glassing?

Thanks,
Rick

 

[Yacht Dr.]

Re: Question about glassing bottom of boat...

Hello Rick..

Do not glass over anything but glass.. grind to glass..

YD.

 

[rickou812]

Re: Question about glassing bottom of boat...

Hello Rick..

Do not glass over anything but glass.. grind to glass..

YD.

That would be a hell of a job, unless I am missing something. I am assuming that I am seeing gel coat. I have sanded the paint off half of the bottom so far, and that took about 3 afternoons using 60 grit aluminum oxide paper and a electric sander.
What I am seeing under the paint is a white substance that reminds me a bondo, but a heck of a lot harder. Is this gel coat?

It would be impossible for me to sand through this stuff to the fiberglass utilizing the current equipment.

So I have come to the impression that I am going about this totally wrong.
How should I be approaching this project to refinish the bottom and add a little strength while fixing some old repair areas?

The old repaired areas appear to be about 4 places where a previous owner had struck something(s) and repaired by glassing over.

Any guidance is appreciated,
Rick

 

[ondarvr]

Re: Question about glassing bottom of boat...

If the hull is in that bad of shape and needs another layer of glass, then it should be done from the inside, or find another boat.

If you think taking the gel coat off is hard, then fairing the entire hull and re-gel coating it will kill you. It really is a lot of work.

Pics are always good for better answers.

 

[Yacht Dr.]

Re: Question about glassing bottom of boat...

Hello again..

I was just talking about where your going to glass. IE fixing the old repairs. Grinders not sanders work well for this.

I dont think you would need to sand off all the gelcoat for refinishing.

YD.

 

[keepNitreel]

Re: Question about glassing bottom of boat...

I'm in love with these classics runabouts & would love to see some pic's of your 50's model.

 

[rickou812]

Re: Question about glassing bottom of boat...

I'm in love with these classics runabouts & would love to see some pic's of your 50's model.

It is upside down on saw horses right now. I did take a few pics of it yesterday but have not got them to my computer yet. It is hard to tell much about it upside down though...lol And I have a crappy camera

I will try to get some pics posted today though.

 

[rickou812]

Re: Question about glassing bottom of boat...

Hello again..

I was just talking about where your going to glass. IE fixing the old repairs. Grinders not sanders work well for this.

I dont think you would need to sand off all the gelcoat for refinishing.

YD.

In the areas I do grind down to glass, after I repair with epoxy/glass, will I have to gel, or can I feather out and paint?

Thanks

 

[Yacht Dr.]

Re: Question about glassing bottom of boat...

Hello again m8..

No gel needed after the repair. ( IF doing the repairs with poly I would suggest a few coats of epoxy over them b4 prep and paint ).

Just prep/prime and paint.

YD.

 

[rickou812]

Re: Question about glassing bottom of boat...

Hello again m8..

No gel needed after the repair. ( IF doing the repairs with poly I would suggest a few coats of epoxy over them b4 prep and paint ).

Just prep/prime and paint.

YD.

Thanks, will have some crappy pics up shortly

 

[rickou812]

Re: Question about glassing bottom of boat...

Here are a few crappy pics. I did not get any of damage yet. Just overall hull.
This side I have not touched yet.

This side I have sided the bottom with 60grit until I got most of the old paint off. The paint is green, the gel coat is white, but it is hard to tell...lol

This one show some of the top. I plan on separating, but have decided how to go about it yet. The seem is glassed on the inside.

I am sorry about the poor quality....

 

[keepNitreel]

Re: Question about glassing bottom of boat...

The pic's are very exceptable , make sure you paint the bottom before turning it back over

 

[Yacht Dr.]

Re: Question about glassing bottom of boat...

Your doing great m8..

The FL stickers can be replaced..take/sand them off ( keep track of the numbers though )

If that deck is glassed to the hull might be a good thing to leave that alone..

Do your reps and prep/prime/paint ( or gelcoat ).

YD.

 

[rickou812]

Re: Question about glassing bottom of boat...

Your doing great m8..

The FL stickers can be replaced..take/sand them off ( keep track of the numbers though )

If that deck is glassed to the hull might be a good thing to leave that alone..

Do your reps and prep/prime/paint ( or gelcoat ).

YD.

Have couple more questions.
The gel coat has what I would call "spider cracks" (don't know proper term), what could I do to make these disappear? Would the primer and paint be enough?

Could I mix up some epoxy and smear on a thin coat to fill in the spider cracks and the sand the bottom smooth, prime then paint?

What do I need to use for primer?
What do I need for paint?
This will be a trailered boat in fresh water only.
I'm on a tight budget as well!

Thanks again for all the help!!
Rick

 

[rickou812]

Re: Question about glassing bottom of boat...

Here are some more pictures:

I tried to get a picture of the spider cracks in the gel coat, but my crappy camera did not do very good.

This is a pic of a previous repair

This is a pic of one of the area that needs some attention

This is the side I have not started on yet

This is the sanded side so far

 

[rickou812]

Re: Question about glassing bottom of boat...

Did some more grinding and found a lot of problems. Well all those previous repairs have caused some major issues.
They was not down correctly and allowed water to get to the glass. I have had to grind away a lot of gel on one side. I think I am now going to be forced to removed all the gel and reglass the bottom.

Here are some more pics,
This one I was trying to get a better pic of the gel cracking/crazing.

Here is what I found under one of the improper repairs:

Another improper repair:

This one shows the where the gel has just popped off, not sure what caused this:

This shows where I have had to remove the gel coat entirely so far:

Since I have had to removed so much and have to lay glass, I might as well redo the entire bottom. What do you fellows think?

 

[Robert D]

Re: Question about glassing bottom of boat...

Might as well.....and use epoxy.

 

[Yacht Dr.]

Re: Question about glassing bottom of boat...

Hello again Rick..

You have a little of everything on that

The smaller cracks all over is Crazing .. the longer ones are stress cracks. Then you have all those little pits from water getting under the craze and popping bits out of the gel.

You could go 3 ways.. cheap..decent DIY job..or Top quality full blown do it right restore

First off you fix all the repairs accordingly.

Cheap option. prep bottom with 80 grit and 5 coats of Interlux Interprotect 2000 .. prep and paint it.. done

DIY .. grind and fill as many "stress cracks" ( the long ones ) as you can. Sand the gelcoat off..apply 5 coats of Interprotect 2000.. prep and paint it.. Done.

Top quality.. Sand all coatings. repair whatever you see damaged in the glass.. Put 2 layers of 1.5 oz mat with poly resin...hot coat some gelcoat over that. fair out with long boards 80 grit . ( or 8" soft pad ) . Spray Gelcoat. ( If you go this way ill explain how ). Blocksand with wetdry 320,400,600,1200 buff. done

YD.

 

[rickou812]

Re: Question about glassing bottom of boat...

Hello again Rick..

You have a little of everything on that

The smaller cracks all over is Crazing .. the longer ones are stress cracks. Then you have all those little pits from water getting under the craze and popping bits out of the gel.

You could go 3 ways.. cheap..decent DIY job..or Top quality full blown do it right restore

First off you fix all the repairs accordingly.

Cheap option. prep bottom with 80 grit and 5 coats of Interlux Interprotect 2000 .. prep and paint it.. done

DIY .. grind and fill as many "stress cracks" ( the long ones ) as you can. Sand the gelcoat off..apply 5 coats of Interprotect 2000.. prep and paint it.. Done.

Top quality.. Sand all coatings. repair whatever you see damaged in the glass.. Put 2 layers of 1.5 oz mat with poly resin...hot coat some gelcoat over that. fair out with long boards 80 grit . ( or 8" soft pad ) . Spray Gelcoat. ( If you go this way ill explain how ). Blocksand with wetdry 320,400,600,1200 buff. done

YD.

Thanks YD,

Let me run this by you, at the moment, I was thinking about a DIY/quality job. What I mean is a combination of both.
I would grind off the bottom to glass. Prep with acetone, reglass the entire bottom using long sheets of glass and epoxy if economically feasible, block sand out smooth, prime, then paint.
I know gel would be the best, but I am thinking if I paint instead of gel, I can afford the epoxy instead of poly.

What do you think? If you agree this will work. How much epoxy will I need to do the bottom?
What type of glass would be the best. I was thinking a combo type mat (weave with chopped).

Thanks again,
Rick

 

[rickou812]

Re: Question about glassing bottom of boat...

A quick bump to the top for advice on materials, see post above.

Thanks