Opinions needed on restoring gelcoat.

[MassillonBuckeye]

This is what parts of it look like:

The dash on the glove box side is a little wavy and seems in the worst shape. Cracks are a little larger than whats shown. Should I even bother with rubbing compound? Am I going to have to sand this all out? I wasn't planning on redoing the floors etc so I need to keep the dust down(wetsanding??) The hull is in really good shape gelcoat wise, so wasn't going to mess with it, I just really want to do about 80% of the Cap. Any advice would be appreciated

 

[ondarvr]

Re: Opinions needed on restoring gelcoat.

It looks like they did a terrible gel coat job at the factory. There really isn't much you can do with it except sand it all out, as in remove all of the gel coat and then re-gel coat it. Cracks like those indicate more problems than a little sanding and buffing can fix.

 

[oops!]

Re: Opinions needed on restoring gelcoat.

lol......the above is correct.

if you decide to re gell it.....its not that hard but just time consuming

hit search......and you will find many threads on the subject...

just remember it check the date on the thread before you hit reply.

 

[oops!]

Re: Opinions needed on restoring gelcoat.

lol....jody.....ill go monitor a different forum and let you take the questions...

they will be in better hands....

 

[MassillonBuckeye]

Re: Opinions needed on restoring gelcoat.

Ok, so you guys dont think its worth saving. Should I go with an orbital or sander/buffer like:

http://www.homedepot.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?storeId=10051&productId=100609577&langId=-1&catalogId=10053&ci_sku=100609577&ci_kw={keyword}&cm_mmc=shopping-_-googleads-_-pla-_-100609577&ci_gpa=pla&locStoreNum=2324

There are some spots with less damage, but I'm probably looking at doing the entire cap? Haven't drilled into the transom yet but I'm about 80% certain its not rotted. If it turns out to be, well um.. We'll cross that bridge when we get to it

Here she is, yet to be named(girlfriend said "behemoth", but I don't think thats very flattering!):
Behind the jeep

need bigger to tow?? Haha

 

[oops!]

Re: Opinions needed on restoring gelcoat.

ok.....lets start at squair one......sounds like you might have a fill gut possibility.

lets get some shots of the transom and ski locker area......is there any soft spots in the floor?

and yes that is a good buffer for the job. harbour freight has one for cheap that will also work fine......I use a big makita very similar to the one above.

gellcoat ing the cap is a big job bud. gellcoat does not come out of the gun all shiney like paint.....it is orange peeled something fierce. the orange has to be sanded down.

I would just do areas of it.......so sand in all the tight little places of the cap could be more trouble than its worth.

 

[MassillonBuckeye]

Re: Opinions needed on restoring gelcoat.

Image overload!!

https://plus.google.com/photos/114888527474509440745/albums/5643882144577798289
There is a link to the album of my two boats. All pictures will be going here.
I can go take some more real quick. Those are the best I have at the moment from the engine compartment. A little water was collecting in the bilge after a big rain and I didn't have a good cover. After a couple days, no more water pooling in bilge.

No soft spots anywhere in the floor.
Yeah.. If I had the space to work on it, I'd do it. I just don't think I'd have much room in my garage at all. Single stall. So I basically bought a boat to fix up, with no place to fix it up! Smart me!

 

[SteveMcD]

Re: Opinions needed on restoring gelcoat.

I read somewhere that gellcoat is merely the manufacturer's cheaper way out of paying painters. Wouldn't a medium/high quality epoxy paint serve the same purpose? or is that taboo?

 

[MassillonBuckeye]

Re: Opinions needed on restoring gelcoat.

I think its more its ability to get a glass smooth finish reliably. But its a process. I thought about paint. I'd especially like some foot grip "steps" built into the finish in the bow and aft for docking and what not. Can you do that with gelcoat?

 

[JDA1975]

Re: Opinions needed on restoring gelcoat.

paint can get a glass-like finish as well, there are quite a few boat threads on here that went with paint and came out great, Gel is more resistant to the abuses of boating though, but since your doing the cap only, it is not as harsh so paint will probably achieve what you need and last a long time!

 

[Mike Lammert]

Re: Opinions needed on restoring gelcoat.

I read somewhere that gellcoat is merely the manufacturer's cheaper way out of paying painters. Wouldn't a medium/high quality epoxy paint serve the same purpose? or is that taboo?

I don't necessarily believe this.....a proper gel coat job, that is well maintained (polished and waxed) will outlast ANY paint! In this case, it looks like there were probably some shortcuts in the manufacturing process, and also probably some moisture/weather related damage compounding with that. However I do think it will be easier and maybe cheaper to go with paint, as mentioned above. Those cracks and bubbles can be sanded/ground down, filled with a marine body filler, sanded smooth and painted with a good paint, and non-skid applied only where you want it......non trying to toot my own horn at all, but check out my resto- thread and see how I did my paint/non skid. Good luck whichever way you decide to go, and welcome to the forum!

 

[Mike Lammert]

Re: Opinions needed on restoring gelcoat.

By the way...oops is also correct on the polisher....I bought my variable speed polisher from harbor freight for $39. Lowes carries a DeWalt wool pad with backing pad for $30. Best $69 I ever spent...we have polished 2 whole boats (compound and glaze) and a car, and its still going very strong.....just be careful because the wool wheel loves to grab the cord and wrap it up in the arbor! (done it a few times:facepalm:....not fun!)

 

[MassillonBuckeye]

Well looks like I'm going to start removing all hardware and trying my hand at a little sanding . I would need the dewalt pad along with the harbor freight tool? I live within walking distance of a harbor freight. I'm lucky I don't have enough room to really tear into this heh. Hmm now about making this garage bigger haha

 

[CaptainKickback]

Re: Opinions needed on restoring gelcoat.

There are lots of threads discussing paint versus gel coat. There are advantages to both and opinions on the subject definitely reflect each poster's experience and personal preference. In fact, one of the most heated threads I've seen on iboats was on this topic.

For my project, I have decided to go with gel coat for one primary reason: gelcoat is very forgiving. That is, even if its more work, you can get it back to a high gloss if you are willing to do the work. With paint, if it doesn't come out looking like you want, you are either stuck with it or you have to start all over (this is from my research, not from experience - yet).

I did experiment with Brightside (one part). It sucks and doesn't last, especially on places with high foot trafic or where ropes rub. It also scratches easily (with just a fingernail). So if you paint, two part paints are harder. However, according to my research, if you don't have a lot of experience with them, two part paints are difficult to get a good result.

So, for us beginners, I'm confident I can do gel coat.

 

[oops!]

Re: Opinions needed on restoring gelcoat.

I read somewhere that gellcoat is merely the manufacturer's cheaper way out of paying painters. Wouldn't a medium/high quality epoxy paint serve the same purpose? or is that taboo?

nope....gellcoaters are rare....painters are a dime a dozen.......gellcoaters cost money....painters are cheap....

gellcoat stands up to a hurricane.....paint does not....

bump your boat with a shopping cart.....and you will never see it........bump your car with a shopping cart....and you are totally repainting a door.

the only reason to paint a boat is you dont like the color of the gellcoat....
the above,,,,i think is caused by a gellcoat that was more than likely under or over catylized.......that area will need to be repaired, before any paint can be applied..

gellcoat can be manipulated to have a non slip step.....either by laying a waxed shape over the wet gell...so the impression stays in the gellcoat.....or adding sand to the gell...
for that fact......just dont finish that area, and leave the orange peel.....that is great for a non slip.

 

[MassillonBuckeye]

Re: Opinions needed on restoring gelcoat.

nope....gellcoaters are rare....painters are a dime a dozen.......gellcoaters cost money....painters are cheap....

gellcoat stands up to a hurricane.....paint does not....

bump your boat with a shopping cart.....and you will never see it........bump your car with a shopping cart....and you are totally repainting a door.

the only reason to paint a boat is you dont like the color of the gellcoat....
the above,,,,i think is caused by a gellcoat that was more than likely under or over catylized.......that area will need to be repaired, before any paint can be applied..

gellcoat can be manipulated to have a non slip step.....either by laying a waxed shape over the wet gell...so the impression stays in the gellcoat.....or adding sand to the gell...
for that fact......just dont finish that area, and leave the orange peel.....that is great for a non slip.

Makes sense. I want gelcoat. The bottom hull is beautiful. The top, well as you can see, is pretty nasty. I'm going to clean it up tear it down and start sanding. Probably going to have to redo carpet then. I know you guys really want me to tear the floor out, but I'm sure I don't want to take that on at the moment. Bought it cheap, and if it came down to having completely gut it, its not my dream boat so I'm pretty sure I'd just sell it cheap. Trailer would be super with a light sanding and couple coats, and the drivetrain is good with good compression on motor so.. I don't think I'm quite ready to join the "this is nuts club" quite yet. haha