New flooring

[blind]

I just put a new floor in my boat and it looks really good. I use 3/4 plywood and lots of resin to seal it. My question is, how can I get it to look like a new fiberglass floor like in the new boats that you buy. That pretty white looking fiberglass look. <br /><br />riverrat@inteliport.com

 

[rjarreau]

Re: New flooring

You can either put a white gelcoat on it, thats what all the new boats have. you can buy it at west marine and be sure to get the white gelcoat. it cost 83.00 bucks a gallon and you will need a mold releasing agent\catalist. after the gelcoat is applied it will dry tacky . put the catalist in a spry bottle and spray the gelcoat. it will harden like a rock and look just like the new boats. you also have the option of using awlgrip top deck paint. takes a few coats but is just as good but will take more to get the job done than gelcoat. good luck in the completion of this project. i am doing my center console bay boat right now and opted for the gelcoat for durability. of course you will get many opinions on what to use. but either will work

 

[blind]

Re: New flooring

Hey riarreau<br />Is it really hard to put on and work it and will a gallon do the whole floor and some of the sides. Its a 19ft raven boat. Changing the subject for a minute, I would like to ask you about the boat and motor if I may. It has a I/O Motor. I just bought it at a really low price. I seen it run last year and it ran great. I think it has a mercruiser 2.5 or 3.0 engine with a Alpha 1 outdrive or sterndrive I don't know which. I'm new to a I/O boats. <br />Do you think thats a pretty cold boat<br /><br />riverrat@inteliport.com

 

[rjarreau]

Re: New flooring

The gelcoat is a non-sag norun and is not very diffcult to work with. but i would get more than one gallon at 86.00 a gallon it is kinda steep but if you do not use it bring it back. i have done the dopside of my sail boat and above the water line with the awlgrip or interlux paints. and they are alot harder to work with in my opinion.the gel coat was a breeze and i was really nervous about it not drying to a hard finsh and being tacky unitl i used the mold release agaent and it worked like a charm. the guy at the marina was right. the gelcoat will hold up better than the paint.and yes i use to have a nice ski boat, with a i\o-sterndrive motor and they get alot better gas miles than my **** 2 stroke outboard and plus runner a lower rpm. i wish i had one in my boat but i have a 1998 promaster center console bay boat. and overall it's the most versitile boat i ever had , but thats because i live to fish down here in south louisiana.