Gel Coat Help?

stephen25

Seaman
Joined
Dec 3, 2012
Messages
61
hey guys i just bought a bass boat and I am restroring but I need to re-do the gel coat on it but Im kinda new to it. Im looking for that nice glitter affect like on newer bass boats, can you guys suggest a good one that I can roll/brush on and what is the best thing thing to sand it I dont want to burn it.
Thanks
 

Woodonglass

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Dec 29, 2009
Messages
25,929
Re: Gel Coat Help?

Uhmm sorry but you can't roll on Metal Flake gel coat. Just ain't gunna happen!!!
 

Yacht Dr.

Vice Admiral
Joined
Feb 26, 2005
Messages
5,581
Re: Gel Coat Help?

I agree with Woody..but not just gelcoat. I really dont know of metal flake rolling method period.

As far as sanding goes..thats going to be dependent on what product you use. Find out what your going to coat it with then we can go from there.

OH..pics please :)
 

GT1000000

Rear Admiral
Joined
Jul 13, 2011
Messages
4,916
Re: Gel Coat Help?

Yep, sorry...any kind of metallic/metal flake paint is going to need to be sprayed, and sprayed properly, to look good...
I have a lot of practical experience in attempting both methods and can absolutely tell you there is no easy or good way to roll/brush on any paint that contains a glitter effect in it...
Here I tried to roll the silver metallic paint on my transom and while it may look good in pictures and from about a 100 feet in real life...it is somewhat splotchy and no matter how light a touch, you can still see the overlapping foam roller marks...


Here I had applied a couple of coats with a foam roller...any attempt at "tipping" with a brush would lead to a disaster...



It might be acceptable to some, especially on the bottom of the hull, but in the end this just became a base for the real finish below...



Here is the paint applied by spraying, by a pro [not me], in a commercial automotive spray booth...



Finished product...

 
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