Restoring Gel Coat

[dcohoon]

Got a old boat which had some nasty,nasty bottom paint on it. Took off the bottom paint to find about a dozen quarter size dimples/bubbles in the gelcoat. I was going to pop them and fill with marine-tex, any other suggestions?

Also, the gelcoat has been rough sanded and there are some spots where it is very thin or none at all, any suggestions on how to build this back up? Should I fine sand the hull and then roll on gelcoat or perhaps use epoxy?

 

[andy6374]

Re: Restoring Gel Coat

Don't use epoxy if you are planning on relgelcoating. The hardener for epoxies inhibits the MEKP from fully curing the gelcoat (or any polyester or vinylester resin for that matter). I would pop the blisters and build back up with some polyester resin, microballons, and cabosil. The gelcoat.

Plenty of people get rid of stubborn bottom paint. The usual procedure involves scraping the bottom paint off, wetsand with 320, 600 and then 1000 grit. Then compound and polish...it will look beautiful.

 

[stevieray]

Re: Restoring Gel Coat

dcohoon - are you planning on keeping the boat in the water or are you going to trailer? Boat kept in the water most probably should have bottom paint re-applied. If trailering, andy's advice is good.