Bottom coat.

[carpenterken]

We put a new deck in my cousins 1969 Slickcraft this past fall. Thanks for that help.
Before the second coat, and carpet.

We used the Epoxy coating from Areo Marine, with two layers of woven mesh.
Now for my next question. The bottom of the boat is looking quite aged. We want to recoat it. What is our best option? This is a fresh water fishing boat, that is stored inside on the trailer. We are not trying to make a Trailer Queen, or restore it back to original. We are located in West Michigan.
My thought would be gel coat.
#1 Is gel coat easy to apply?
#2 Where is a good place to get Gel coat?

 

[ondarvr]

Re: Bottom coat.

If you are talking about just the bottom of the boat, not the hull sides, and this boat is just used for fishing, then clean it and forget about it, only you and the fish will know its not pretty. If the hull sides look bad, then try sanding and buffing to make them look better first.

Gel coat can be difficult to apply and you may need to buy equipment to spray it (don't know what you have), plus its more work than most other methods.

 

[Yacht Dr.]

Re: Bottom coat.

#1 Is gel coat easy to apply?

Yup.

Gel coat can be difficult to apply , plus its more work than most other methods.

This is a debatable subject..

Just like anything..if you know how to apply gel..then its ez. But try to Paint is hard.

However.. If you know how to Paint..then gel is hard..

Its what school you come from. Paint and Gel is like compairing welding to woodcraft. Welders cant widdle..and Woodies cant weld.

I can tell you that if your going to gel or paint..some experiance is needed ( and safty IS required ! ) .

YD.

 

[proshadetree]

Re: Bottom coat.

Would not reapplying gel be like painting with the expectation of the final product to be sanded and buffed rather than just used?

 

[ondarvr]

Re: Bottom coat.

Yes, The prep is close the same, only a little more important with paint, spraying gel coat can be looked at as either easier or harder than paint. Since gel coat is going to be sanded and buffed, if the surface isn't good after you spray it-it doesn't matter if there's enough on there to get so it can be sanded smooth, the problem is you frequently sand through and then need to respray areas of it. There is also the chance of having porosity in the gel coat, if this happens its respray time and then hope it doesn't happen again. If that doesn't get you having the gel coat get hard in the gun can, and it happens to rookies all the time, heck it happens to experienced people enough to make it an issue.

The big difference is that once you get it sprayed and you pull the tape, for the most part the paint job is done, with gel coat the work is just beginning. Now you get buy some very pricy sand paper and spend many evenings in the garage removing the ridges and skin from your finger tips and replacing them with blisters.. Actually most of it can be done with a DA, but there?ll be enough hand sanding for it to become old.

On a hull like this one, if you can?t flip the boat, then all of this sanding will be done upside down?not fun.

If you have the right equipment and experience it makes re-gel coating much easier, but even pros run into problems. The average guy will need to buy a compressor, spray gun, sander, lots of sand paper, buffer, a compound or two and a space to do it in.

Many paints can be purchased for $30 or less and all you need to do a good job is a brush and a roller.

 

[oops!]

Re: Bottom coat.

On a hull like this one, if you can?t flip the boat, then all of this sanding will be done upside down?not fun.

If you have the right equipment and experience it makes re-geling coating much easier, but even pros run into problems. The average guy will need to buy a compressor, spray gun, sander, lots of sand paper, buffer, a compound or two and a space to do it in.

as well.....add to the list ....no childern allowed.....the words that will come out fo your mouth will confirm that you have sailor in your blood

 

[carpenterken]

Re: Bottom coat.

Yes it is the underside.
The gel on the bottom is cracked and chalky.
Will a standard old DeVilBiss Automotive sprayer work for this?
It sounds like the process is: sand it, spray it, sand, and buff?
Thank you

 

[Yacht Dr.]

Re: Bottom coat.

Yes it is the underside.
The gel on the bottom is cracked and chalky.
Will a standard old DeVilBiss Automotive sprayer work for this?
It sounds like the process is: sand it, spray it, sand, and buff?
Thank you

Got some pics ?

Your Devilbiss might work..depends on the nozzle size .. ( do you know which nozzle/needle you have ? ) .
Id pick up a HF el-cheapo pressure pot setup ( not the HVLP one..the regular pressure pot one ) .

You are correct on the process..

YD.