1997 Chaparral 2330 Bowrider - Minor Restore and Refit

[NorthwestChap]

Re: 1997 Chaparral 2330 Bowrider - Minor Restore and Refit

Anyone have any secrets for color matching gelcoat? I have been "practicing", trying to match a small sample and find it infuriating. I was able to match the green for a small ding on the exterior, but the almond/beige color is very difficult to nail down. I have been using the trial and error method with 4 colors (black, yellow, red, blue) added to a base of white. I tried the HD color matching with the anchor locker hatch as a test subject, but other than a rough guide, not really much help.

 

[pyrotek]

Re: 1997 Chaparral 2330 Bowrider - Minor Restore and Refit

Anyone have any secrets for color matching gelcoat?

I was actually pretty succesful getting the offwhite color on my SeaRay. I used about 2/3 yellow and 1/3 cream pigment. I ordered from Merton's in MA, so not sure if that "cream" is available where you buy. I was extremely suprised how little pigment was required. It was very easy to go over and there is just no way to go back. There was one time I added a little bit more white but the shade was just a tiny tiny bit too dark. Other times, I had to dump the batch.

I'm very curious to see how you make out with the gelcoat. Are you planning to brush or spray, etc? If spray, let me know what equipment your planning. I have only done a small 12x12" spray with a lot of orange peel :grumpy:
In my opinion, this is the biggest problem that I don't feel the overall DIY community has had great results with.

 

[JASinIL2006]

Re: 1997 Chaparral 2330 Bowrider - Minor Restore and Refit

You are doing this right! I especially like your gantry. It's even painted! Are you planning to do this again?

I have subscribed. I gotta see how this turns out...

Jim

 

[NorthwestChap]

Re: 1997 Chaparral 2330 Bowrider - Minor Restore and Refit

Pyrotek,

I did pick up a cream color and a brown but found that I needed something else. I am able to get pretty close with the primary colors, but that is with a smaller sample. Getting a couple of gallons to match up is the big issue.

I am using a pressure pot with wax and a dump gun with PVA.

 

[NorthwestChap]

Re: 1997 Chaparral 2330 Bowrider - Minor Restore and Refit

Thanks Jim, and welcome. Don't know if I'll do it again. I always have the need to lift things though.

 

[NorthwestChap]

Re: 1997 Chaparral 2330 Bowrider - Minor Restore and Refit

After removing the carpet glue and paint from the seat bases and other wood parts I started fiberglassing.

One of the rear seat bases.



The back-to-back seat base had several blind nuts for attaching the seats and access door. The nuts were originally covered by the carpet and since I want a clean and smooth exterior finish they had to be covered with fiberglass.

 

[NorthwestChap]

Re: 1997 Chaparral 2330 Bowrider - Minor Restore and Refit

The access door for under-seat storage was originally surrounded by carpet, so the opening left too large a gap without the carpet. I used fiber glass reinforced resin (peanut butter) to reduce the size of the opening.

 

[NorthwestChap]

Re: 1997 Chaparral 2330 Bowrider - Minor Restore and Refit

The engine cover was originally covered in carpet on the bottom half. The carpet wrapped around the bottom edge to add structural rigidity. Unfortunately the bottom edge of the cover was extremely thin. This was not going to work very well.

 

[NorthwestChap]

Re: 1997 Chaparral 2330 Bowrider - Minor Restore and Refit

A few layers of 1208 should do the trick.





Much better...





I found different types of vinyl U-channel moulding which I can attach to the bottom to cover the edge.

 

[NorthwestChap]

Re: 1997 Chaparral 2330 Bowrider - Minor Restore and Refit

I've been a bit busy, time for an update.

A few weeks ago I got word of a delivery arriving at the freight terminal.

Picked up a couple of well wrapped pallets.



Once home it was time to get everything off of the truck.



A couple of large boxes on the first pallet.



One had a new Bravo Transom Assembly.



And the other, a Seakamp fresh water cooling system.

 

[NorthwestChap]

Re: 1997 Chaparral 2330 Bowrider - Minor Restore and Refit

The second pallet had a large crate with a well wrapped object inside.





My son did a little heavy lifting to get it off the truck and onto a couple of dollies.



The gantry and chain hoist worked well.

 

[NorthwestChap]

Re: 1997 Chaparral 2330 Bowrider - Minor Restore and Refit

Time for the unveiling...







Look what we have here.

 

[NorthwestChap]

Re: 1997 Chaparral 2330 Bowrider - Minor Restore and Refit

Preeeetyyyyyy.....





This should make my boat move a bit.

 

[greenbush future]

Re: 1997 Chaparral 2330 Bowrider - Minor Restore and Refit

I want a couple of those for my boat(s). The little 90 merc I'm running would be left in the dust or water in this case. Just finished reading from the start. You will really have a nice boat when your done with her. Very nice work you are doing there.

 

[GT1000000]

Re: 1997 Chaparral 2330 Bowrider - Minor Restore and Refit

AWESOME score on the new powerplant and stern drive!!!Very Nice!

 

[NorthwestChap]

Re: 1997 Chaparral 2330 Bowrider - Minor Restore and Refit

Thanks greenbush. Only one thing... My engine is on a stand in the garage, while yours is on your boat. Soon though...

 

[NorthwestChap]

Re: 1997 Chaparral 2330 Bowrider - Minor Restore and Refit

Thanks GT. It's been a long wait. Lot's of scrimping and saving. Can't wait to get her running.

 

[Hoosmatroos]

Re: 1997 Chaparral 2330 Bowrider - Minor Restore and Refit

Just read your thread, nice work so far. Will follow your progress. Good to see you have a great work force out there

 

[NorthwestChap]

Re: 1997 Chaparral 2330 Bowrider - Minor Restore and Refit

Getting started with the gelcoat. I wanted to try the two best methods for curing the gelcoat for my application, wax added to the gelcoat prior to application and PVA (polyvinyl alchohol) sprayed on after application. I also wanted to get some practice with the two spay methods, pressure pot and dump gun. My practice pieces are the rear seat bases. On one of the bases I used the pressure pot and added wax to the mixed gelcoat. On the other base I used the dump gun and sprayed PVA on after applying the gelcoat.


This is the pressure pot setup. Just your standard HF unit.




Seat base after application of gelcoat with wax and pressure pot.




Seat base after application of gelcoat with the dump gun and PVA. Note the greenish tint of the PVA.

 

[NorthwestChap]

Re: 1997 Chaparral 2330 Bowrider - Minor Restore and Refit

Niether one of the application methods was ideal. But, I have to say that the Dump gun and PVA methods were far superior. Once I got used to the dump gun's rudimentary function (point it down and it starts flowing, point it up to stop), I was very pleased with how well it laid the gelcoat down. Cleaning the dump gun was a breeze compared to the pressure pot. The pressure pot worked as expected. I needed to thin the gelcoat a bit and I was able to get good coverage, but setup and cleanup was much more involved.

The PVA provided a much better cure for the gelcoat without any impurities to weaken it over time. Application with an HVLP sprayer was extremely easy and of course the water cleanup was a non-event. The wax worked, but the cure was not as good as that of the PVA. The waxed gelcoat would wipe off with acetone while the PVA covered gelcoat was impervious to the acetone.