Sticky gelcoat

[noworries79]

Do you know of anything I can do about my tacky gelcoat? Overall I am happy with how it looks and how the non-skid feels, but there are a few tacky spots that don't seem to be curing. Any ideas?

 

[badMonkey]

Re: Sticky gelcoat

I am someone more knowledgable will answer, but I was under the impression you needed to keep air from gel-coat for it to cure.

check out this post:

http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=351681

 

[Intermediate Mariner]

Re: Sticky gelcoat

I have not gelled my boat yet... but if I had to bet, it's probably the wax thing. Gel coat is actually tinted fiberglass resin, thus it will be tacky without the wax surfacer. Add 1-2% of was (it's usually about $2) and it should come out some and shiny (of course you can wet sand and buff for high gloss finish). Good to know that you brushed it on and it came out good, I'll have to try that (I heard its a real pain to spray).

 

[saildan]

Re: Sticky gelcoat

Do you know of anything I can do about my tacky gelcoat? Overall I am happy with how it looks and how the non-skid feels, but there are a few tacky spots that don't seem to be curing. Any ideas?

Sounds like you used a laminating gelcoat for the top layer.

They sell a finishing gelcoat that has a wax component. When the resin heats to cure the wax floats to the surface cutting off air and allowing a tack-free finish.

You can change a laminatng resin to a finishing resin by coating it. The common way is by misting it with PVA (Poly-vinyl Alcohol).

Fiberglass shops, autobody jobbers, and boat repair stores will have this stuff. If you ask for it in a big box store the clerk is more likely to reply, "you want fries with that?".

Check in your town, but if it's void of fiberglass professionals try here:

http://www.boatbuildercentral.com

http://www.jamestowndistributors.co...duct.do?pid=4213&familyName=Polyvinyl+Alcohol

http://www.fibreglast.com

http://www.mertons.com

 

[noworries79]

Re: Sticky gelcoat

Good to know that you brushed it on and it came out good, I'll have to try that (I heard its a real pain to spray).

I highly recommend the adhesive rollers for all resin/gelcoat applications. That is what I used with the gelcoat and non-skid additive and it turned out pretty good overall.

Thank you for the replies, another amature move on my part. Ha ha