Gel Coat

[Jacob Rogers]

Hey guys, couple questions. I sanded my boat 80 grit then 120, I’m changing the color of it. I sprayed total boat 2part epoxy primer and let it cure for 2 days. I’m going to do a red base color gel, and I’ll also be using duratec with my gel. Do I need to sand the base coat after it’s sprayed to get any orange peel out before taping off for my stripes?

 

[Scott Danforth]

you dont use primer with gel.

gel goes on directly over the fiberglass and fairing material.

regarding your stripe. I would mask off what you dont want colored. then when you do the next color, change your masking and butt the edges of the colors together. that way, when you go to sand, you only have approximately one layer, just a tad thicker at the color edges, then when done with final buff, go back over with 1/16" or 1/8" pinstripe and hide the color seam

 

[Jacob Rogers]

you dont use primer with gel.

gel goes on directly over the fiberglass and fairing material.

regarding your stripe. I would mask off what you dont want colored. then when you do the next color, change your masking and butt the edges of the colors together. that way, when you go to sand, you only have approximately one layer, just a tad thicker at the color edges, then when done with final buff, go back over with 1/16" or 1/8" pinstripe and hide the color se

you dont use primer with gel.

gel goes on directly over the fiberglass and fairing material.

regarding your stripe. I would mask off what you dont want colored. then when you do the next color, change your masking and butt the edges of the colors together. that way, when you go to sand, you only have approximately one layer, just a tad thicker at the color edges, then when done with final buff, go back over with 1/16" or 1/8" pinstripe and hide the color seam

you dont use primer with gel.

gel goes on directly over the fiberglass and fairing material.

regarding your stripe. I would mask off what you dont want colored. then when you do the next color, change your masking and butt the edges of the colors together. that way, when you go to sand, you only have approximately one layer, just a tad thicker at the color edges, then when done with final buff, go back over with 1/16" or 1/8" pinstripe and hide the color seam

Okay so I’ll need to re sand the whole boat, I read where you could use total boat total protect barrier coat/primer before starting the gel coat process. And so the orange peel will be okay to leave until all colors are done, and do you clear over everything before you sand or sand first then clear

 

[Scott Danforth]

you clear coat paint. not gel

total boat product that requires a barrier coat or a clear coat is a paint

 

[Jacob Rogers]

you clear coat paint. not gel

total boat product that requires a barrier coat or a clear coat is a paint

you clear coat paint. not gel

total boat product that requires a barrier coat or a clear coat is a paint

When I say clear I meant spray clear gel over everything

 

[Scott Danforth]

When I say clear I meant spray clear gel over everything

why? you are thinking like you are applying paint

clear gel is generally not used with the exception being a metal flake clear job on bass boats

with gel, you start sanding at 240 grit, then 320, then 400, 600, 800, then start buffing to get the shine

clear gel doesnt have the amount UV inhibitors that colored gel does.

 

[Jacob Rogers]

When I say clear I meant spray clear gel over

why? you are thinking like you are applying paint

clear gel is generally not used with the exception being a metal flake clear job on bass boats

with gel, you start sanding at 240 grit, then 320, then 400, 600, 800, then start buffing to get the shine

clear gel doesnt have the amount UV inhibitors that colored gel does.

So this is the vision to help out in perspective, I want to spray a red gel base coat, then mask off for my black metal flake that will be mixed with clear gel, then spray the red metal flake mixed with clear gel for the main color of the boat

 

[Scott Danforth]

If you are doing metal flake, you have to sand between each coat

 

[Scott Danforth]

Light reading. https://www.boatdesign.net/threads/gelcoating-the-whole-boat-down-to-the-waterline.61694/

 

[MikeSchinlaub]

If you are doing metal flake, you have to sand between each coat

You just have to let the first color dry so the tape will stick. I wait about an hour on a good day, then tape over the first flake to do the next color.

Jacob, flake can be pretty tricky to get right, and multiple colors makes it so much worse. Do you have prior experience with gel?

 

[Scott Danforth]

If you are putting metal flake over another color, you need as little orange peel as possible. which usually requires sanding it flat so the flake lays correctly. especially if you havent worked with gel often.

Gel is finicky, and sprays like a high-build primer....and with the duratec, you need to ice it down.

as Mike indicated, as you get proficient with gel, you get really good at spraying it flat. however that takes practice.