Need help with top clear coat on a 1980 bass boat!!

[sully9]

I just got a 1980 bass boat for free but it sat in the sun in Las vegas for around five years. The top clear was flaked up so I steam cleaned most of it off but need to know now if I should spray gelcoat back on or an automotive clear coat of some kind. Any info would be greatly helpful!! thanks

 

[Woodonglass]

Re: Need help with top clear coat on a 1980 bass boat!!

Welcome to iBoats!

Pics will help us to help you. Is this a Metalflake boat?

 

[Yacht Dr.]

Re: Need help with top clear coat on a 1980 bass boat!!

. Is this a Metalflake boat?

Yes it is FLAKE.. WOG ..

Its up to you on your clear coat OP ..some are $ .. gels are maint..

Get a good CC and spot try it ..

YD.

PS. I have done this ..

 

[sully9]

Re: Need help with top clear coat on a 1980 bass boat!!

Thank you Yacht Dr. for replying. What kind of clear coat would you recomend to get and also I am needing to buy a spray gun to so if you have any info or recomendation on what kind and what brand a good one is I would really appreciate it. I still have some of the top clear that is on the boat still do I need to wet sand it or what excatly is the steps to get the rest of the finish off? As you can probably tell this is a first time project for me so Im trying to learn all I can about it before I do it so I really appreciate all the feed back from the group!! thank you

 

[Yacht Dr.]

Re: Need help with top clear coat on a 1980 bass boat!!

Get some el' cheapo clear in a rattle can .. spot spray it and see what comes out.

Looks Good or Bad.. wipe that cheap crap off. Then Update what you see if its good enough for you.

IF the transition color is off..then your in for a hurting for flake repair .. If its fine for your standards then run with some Clearcoat over the repair ( dont wetsand .. dry sand for prep .. dry wipe and tack and shoot your clear ).

Pics like WOG said would really help out.

YD.

 

[sully9]

Re: Need help with top clear coat on a 1980 bass boat!!

YD, thanks again for posting back its been a big big help!! Ok Ill try the rattle can and see what that looks like, thats a really good idea thank you. It looks good when its wet so i am hopeing the metal flake will still be good. After i do a test spot and if everything is good with the flake what kind of clear would be good to put on it. I was told Imron was a good kind.?. also on the sanding, should I start with a course grade paper then work to finer grades as I go or what grades would you suggest? Im going to be working on it friday so Ill try and get some pictures to post.
thanks YD

 

[Yacht Dr.]

Re: Need help with top clear coat on a 1980 bass boat!!

Imron or Awlcraft2000 good stuff to use. ( basically the same stuff and IMHO works better then lets say Dupont chroma-clear ).

Are you spotting ..or full clear ?

For prep on your clear use 320-400g DRY.

Dry blow with a clean micro fiber towel...tack and shoot.

Spot spray would include a buffing step on your good clear..then overspray slightly onto the Buffed areas..then back buff after full cure.

I can go into more detail if your spotting ..

YD.

 

[sully9]

Re: Need help with top clear coat on a 1980 bass boat!!

thanks again YD for your info!! Im doing a full clear on it cause it mostly all flaked up. when Im sanding should I just hand sand or can I use a palm sander? also after I spray the first coat do I need to do anything between coats (lightly sand it?) or just shoot the next coat. how many coats would you suggest I put on it?

Also do they make a clear that is all mixed and ready to shoot>?

thanks YD

 

[Yacht Dr.]

Re: Need help with top clear coat on a 1980 bass boat!!

I guess you could use a palm sander if your real good at sanding .. just dont get too over zeolous with the power sander thinking about saving time.

Do your Hand sanding first ( radi and curves and such ) then you can palm sand the larger areas.

As far as sanding between coats..Not recommended .. I shoot 1 tack coat and 2 wet coats of AwlCraft2000 ( Or Imron ( Imron has I think 2 clears..one is a blending..and one is a surface..make sure you get the surface if you go with Imron )).

Im sure they have self drying clear..Never used it so I can not say prep or spray methods with those. Im only Awlgrip,Imron,Nasson,chromaclear,PPG ... ( kinda high end stuff .. $ )

Good products for the money IMHO ..

Really should post some pics next chance you get .

YD.