Gelcoated deck

[jiffyboat]

hi, I just replaced the deck of my boat , with treated plywood , fiberglass and white gelcoat, but the gelcoat seams to get dirty every time I put a foot on it, what type of product do the boat builders use on the decks , perhaps the 17' Key largos or Key west..their floor looks like plastic but I know they are not..any help or recommendation..thanks

 

[ondarvr]

Re: Gelcoated deck

Most deck surfaces are gel coat, some are from the mold, others are coated after the fact.

Did you use wax in the gel coat?

Did you use the correct amount of catalyst?

Did you do it in direct sunlight?

 

[jiffyboat]

Re: Gelcoated deck

the gelcoat that I got has wax, and the job was made during the day in florida 80-90 degree in direct sunlight, and I tried to use the right amount of catalitic..do I need may be to wax more the surface?

 

[ondarvr]

Re: Gelcoated deck

Wax allows the gel coat to cure correctly by coming to the surface and sealing it off from the air.

In direct sunlight the wax won't come to the surface fast enough and the gel coat will cure and be inhibited by contact with air. This will leave a sticky, soft surface that is like velcro to dirt.

 

[jiffyboat]

Re: Gelcoated deck

thats probably what happed , there is any fix to this problem or just regelcoat the right way?, I think I will need to sand it prior to regelcoat it.

 

[ondarvr]

Re: Gelcoated deck

Re-coating it is about the only way to make it right. You could try washing a small area with acetone to remove the sticky surface, but it doesn't always work.

 

[jiffyboat]

Re: Gelcoated deck

thanks for all this great info, I will try re coating again and I will post the results

 

[sasto]

Re: Gelcoated deck

thats probably what happed , there is any fix to this problem or just regelcoat the right way?, I think I will need to sand it prior to regelcoat it.

I would rough her up with some 80 grit and proceed with what the other posts are saying. Parafin wax may be throughout the gel-coat mixture, which may cause a future problem. But....if she were mine, I would recoat her. Good luck in the Fl heat. We used 6.5 to 7.5 oz's of MEK per quart of good stuff in South Fl.....under cover.

 

[jiffyboat]

Re: Gelcoated deck

Ok I re coated last night between 7-8pm it was no a hot temperature and was cloudy, , basically there was no sunlight hitting the boat, , today , it looks very shiny and dry to the tack , I haven't try to jump inside, I just want to be sure if it has been time enough, ...my question for how long do I have to wait, to jump inside..thanks for your help

 

[ondarvr]

Re: Gelcoated deck

It should be fine today.

 

[Yacht Dr.]

Re: Gelcoated deck

Hello Jiffy..

How did you prep your surface before re-coating ?

YD.

 

[jiffyboat]

Re: Gelcoated deck

I sanded a bit ,rinsed with water and let it dry during the sunny day, didn't want to use and thing else like acetone, actually didn't want to have any thing between one coat and the other, after the new coat, today I can walk all around and its totally different than before, don't know if that was the right way or not , but it did work