Need direction of a new project... gel coat repair

[eclipseturbors]

I picked up a 16ft 1968? Mark Twain V Sonic. It's in decent shape for being such an old boat and comes with a new floor. The transom and rest of the boat is solid as far as I can tell, but needs TLC. I have a ton of little cracks about 1" or so in the gelcoat. They are not spider cracks and do not look like from flexing. Almost all of them are on the deck. The hull has one scratch to the fiberglass about 3". I have no experience in gelcoat, but wonder if it's worth sanding all these little cracks one at a time and going the gelcoat route or just painting the whole top deck? I really think that a gelcoat repair to the scratch on the hull and some buffing with compound will bring back the hull to a nice condition. My time is cheap and winter is still here, so I am willing to try the gelcoat route. I am on a budget as well. What would be the best way to get the top deck looking good for a little amount of money? With a little internet research and youtube watching, I feel more confused than before. Does gelcoat paste really work and blend to the rest of the boat? Can it be rolled and just block sanded smooth and then buffed? Thanks in advanced for all opinions and advice. This will be my 5th boat and the oldest... the wife even thinks it's cool.

 

[oops!]

Re: Need direction of a new project

Re: Need direction of a new project

hi....and welcome to iboats !

we need pics. each gellcoat scratch may be a differen tkind of fix.

ok....now.....the cheapest is if you sand and buff the gellcoat first....see if you like it.

if you dont....then you can fix the scratches,,,,if its white...its an easy fix.....but you might not be able to match the color 100% perfect....but good enough.

gellcoat is best sprayed.....it does not lay down like paint...so if you brush it or roll it you have a ton of sanding to do.

painting is allways an option.....so is re gellcoating the deck...i like gellcoat personally.

but lets try sanding with 400 grit and working all the way up to 1000 or even 1500 grit.......then buffing with farecla or a 3m gellcoat product first....that is the cheapest way to start.

cheers
oops

 

[eclipseturbors]

Re: Need direction of a new project

Re: Need direction of a new project

The boat is white top and bottom with a, don't laugh, vinyl stipe down the front of the deck. I had seen a few videos of a guy shooting gelcoat with an aerosol setup... I think preval made the attachment. I have a 30gal compressor, but just gave my DeVilbiss HVLP gun to a friend to paint some cars with. I'm not too keen on wanting to try to spray it only because my garage is directly connected to the house. I will try to get some pics up hopefully tomorrow.

 

[eclipseturbors]

Re: Need direction of a new project

Re: Need direction of a new project

Pics of the gelcoat... I am interested in now the most cost effective way of fixing this. I will not rule out just sanding and roll and tip a new top coat, but I'm afraid the top won't match finish on the hull.

 

[Yacht Dr.]

Re: Need direction of a new project

Re: Need direction of a new project

Hello Eclipse...

Sorry to say..but your boned..

Thats some serious crazing in the gel. .. No way to sand them out.. .

I cant think of an EZ or cheap fix for this..

I know of an epoxy sealer that might bridge those cracks..but No idea how well that gel is adheared to the glass. So you could be spittin in the wind going any route you take.

I also think regelling is out of the question..your better off with epoxy primers and surfacers for a new substrate.

Its just really hard to give you an opinion on this.. mebbe somebody else has a good idea floating around in there head ..

ttt

YD.

 

[ondarvr]

Re: Need direction of a new project

Re: Need direction of a new project

The gel coat it is trash, and other than grinding it all off and re-gel coating it any fix is a maybe at best. That is not normal weathering, it is from the gel coat being applied incorrectly right from the start, which means the physical properties are far below what they should be.

There are some products that claim to bridge over the cracks, and like YD said, its not necessarily going to work long term, but if you want it to look better you don't really have a choice.

 

[Yacht Dr.]

Re: Need direction of a new project

Re: Need direction of a new project

And its not going to be cheap or quick..

Can we get an overall pic of the boat deck please..

YD.

 

[eclipseturbors]

Re: Need direction of a new project

Re: Need direction of a new project

I think that I will sand them out and just see about a decent topside paint. I can't find the rustoleum. For the money I would spend getting it into Kansas City, I could spend a few extra bucks on a Interlux or maybe a gallon of West Marine topside white. The hull is in pretty good shape and does not have that crazing. It does have a single scratch. How do you feel about the gelcoat paste? What would be the best way to color match the deck to the hull? Maybe compound it first and then try to match that spot? Again thanks. I'm going to warm up the air compressor and start pulling off hardware.

 

[Yacht Dr.]

Re: Need direction of a new project

Re: Need direction of a new project

I think that I will sand them out and just see about a decent topside paint. I can't find the rustoleum. For the money I would spend getting it into Kansas City, I could spend a few extra bucks on a Interlux or maybe a gallon of West Marine topside white. The hull is in pretty good shape and does not have that crazing. It does have a single scratch. How do you feel about the gelcoat paste? What would be the best way to color match the deck to the hull? Maybe compound it first and then try to match that spot? Again thanks. I'm going to warm up the air compressor and start pulling off hardware.

Your going to sand all the gelcoat off the deck ? Including all the nonskid .. ? WOW..

Id sell it and get a better boat personally..

This project ( to do it right ) is a Huge undertaking IMO..

Your quote "I'm not too keen on wanting to try to spray it only because my garage is directly connected to the house."

Way too much work in a garage..the house will smell and the wife will leave with the kiddoes ( good reason too ).

If you want to do this..then go outside.

YD.

 

[eclipseturbors]

Re: Need direction of a new project

Re: Need direction of a new project

I helped roll and tip AWL GRIP in a parking lot... it came out pretty decent. The sanding will probably be mostly done outside anyway. I will have to see about the midwest weather when it will allow me to paint. The pics are of the worst spots and its just the deck. Right now my wife is satisfied with it the way it sits, even though I think she may have been drinking or had sunglasses on at night, or both. If the the defect is not structual, can I sand it back, fill, and fair? I think a top side paint is really going to be the most cost effective way for me right now. I've never been afraid of large projects... maybe I really am slow.

Just was looking around and found Interlux 404/414 primer that claims to "resurface cracked gel coat". I am a little skeptical. OK alot skeptical. Has anyone used it and to what success. I'm not looking for the miracle gap bridging formula. But if you have some, let me know...

 

[Yacht Dr.]

Re: Need direction of a new project

Re: Need direction of a new project

Sounds to me you want someone to tell you to just " prep and prime/paint " with good results..

I think yes..get your gear runnin and then tackle the paint job next year ( run it and get the wife on the boat have fun ).

YD.

 

[ondarvr]

Re: Need direction of a new project

Re: Need direction of a new project

Whether the product you found works long term over the cracks doesn't make much of a difference, because unless you want to remove all the gel coat its really your only option. If I was going to keep the boat and paint it, I would use it and hope for the best, but I wouldn't stress over it.

What ever you end up using should be some kind of a two part epoxy, otherwise it won't have the strength to hold up. I don't know what that primer is.

 

[Yacht Dr.]

Re: Need direction of a new project

Re: Need direction of a new project

ondarvr - Would an acid etching help in a situation like this? (Better bonding?)

Im no ondarvr..but nope..acid etching or prepsol will not help this ( might actually hurt the prep IMO ).

Unless the gel is completly removed acid etching would get into those cracks were "bridge" primers/gel cannot..

Solvents could premote lifting even further.

YD.

 

[eclipseturbors]

Re: Need direction of a new project

Re: Need direction of a new project

I think that you are right on this one. I may compound and buff and see what I get. I plan to sand out the cracked gel, but then hope fill and sand. The whole top deck is not like the pics, just a few areas. I went out and looked at the boat earlier, and about the whole inside is not crazed. It's chalky and old, but not cracked. To prep for paint, how would you guys go about the prep? Most of the boats I've owned all needed either a little interior, a buff, or mechanical help. I've never had to deal with crazing gelcoat like this. I do really appreciate all the info from the experts. I probably will have at least all of Feb and most of March to work on this gem.