Timid but determined Glasstream restoration

[CLAYAROBINSON]

Re: Timid but determined Glasstream restoration

Thanks for the feedback. Will have to remember that when I get to that point. What I think you said is the greater the flaring the better. Opposite of platting in metal manufacturing.

Bob, What kind of engineering do you do? My self it's aerospace manufacturing/quality and reverse engineering (Not what I think a true engineer is).

 

[boatnut74]

Re: Timid but determined Glasstream restoration

Lookin good Bob, she's comin along nicely.

 

[BobsGlasstream]

Re: Timid but determined Glasstream restoration

CLAYAROBINSON,
You are correct in what you thought I said. There is an actual number for the ration but I can't remember it off the top of my head. I have a great memory, It's just short.
As for the type of engineering I do. Technically should be an EE but I have spent my life in the manufacturing arena. I work on a lot of new product launches and troubleshooting processes. Life is funny sometimes on how it works out.
boatnut74,
Thank for the kind words.

Well, I made it home tonight with the plan of doing some more sanding. It would be a great time for some wet sanding, since its raining. However I'm using electric sanders and Water+electricity = a shocking experience.
I think I will stay in tonight. We really need the rain so I'm not going to complain about it.
Take care
Bob

 

[Woodonglass]

Re: Timid but determined Glasstream restoration

Hey Bob,

The Sanding is getting there. I'm going to be flipping my hull soon, I hope... So many things seem to be pulling me in so many different directions lately. Can't seem to get focused on the boat. Anyway you are making some good progress. Keep it up

I'm just sayin...

 

[BobsGlasstream]

Re: Timid but determined Glasstream restoration

Thanks woodonglass,
I am making some progress.
I called a local marine repair place yesterday and after talking to some of the great folks on here I have decided to not remove all the gel coat. I am going to sand down with 80 grit to remove the deep scratches and smooth out high and low spots and then shoot it with gel coat. If I can't get back the gloss I want then I will go to arch's method and paint. but at least then if I do scratch the paint the base color will still be white. This should speed up the process somewhat.
So if anyone thinks my plan is flawed now is the time to speak.
I just like the traditional gel coat. My entire hull will be white and ready for the new graphics.
So I'm off to sand, sand and a little more sanding.
Take care
Bob

 

[Woodonglass]

Re: Timid but determined Glasstream restoration

Yeah, well I toyed with re-gelling my hull but decided to just sand and fill and then shoot her with Easy Poxy. If that does not hold up then I will sand her down and re Gel her the next time. But it would really have to be a disaster before I did that. I figure that being a trailered boat that will be used a dozen or so times a year that a painted hull should last a while. We'll see I guess.

Keep the pics coming.

I'm just sayin...

 

[BobsGlasstream]

Re: Timid but determined Glasstream restoration

Woodonglass,
I hear what you are saying, I guess I just want to do it once and be done with her for a long time. The current Gel has lasted 22+ years and I figure that I won't be around the next time it's done.
Bob

 

[archbuilder]

Re: Timid but determined Glasstream restoration

I'll be interested to see how it goes on. It sounded like skibum had a heck of a time with it. I would guess having the correct spray equipment and a helper would b a must. I think he had issues with it firing off so quickly and orange peel. I wonder if they make a retarder to slow it down so that you can get it on and have time for it to flow out? If not maybe two helpers? One to mix it, while your spraying it and someone to help you keep the gun cleaned out?

 

[redfury]

Re: Timid but determined Glasstream restoration

well, like it was said in a post somewhere, Gel coat isn't impervious. I can attest to that, I just started sanding the hull and knew I had some blistering...didn't realize that I had a bout a million of them This boat is getting paint, not gel coat.

 

[BobsGlasstream]

Re: Timid but determined Glasstream restoration

Hey arch,
I can't help it sometimes I just like traditional. I know that I will have to sand to get the gloss and level it out. What they make is a material they call patch to reduce it so you can spray with a more conventional gun. I have some but not sure if I will use it yet. It is also supposed to give you a better final layer with some leveling.
Redfury,
I know that gel coat is not impervious. I have been fighting with this question for a long time in my own little brain. Paint, Gel, Paint, Gel.

However for all the paint guru's out their. I have a question. I have sanded the boat down and in some places into the glass to get it as flat as I wanted it, If i decide to go with paint can I just shoot the primer over the raw glass? This ma be close to stupid question but I would rather ask now then be sorry later.
I will post some pic's later of my current level in the sanding operation.
I'm pretty pleased with my progress this weekend. I kept the wife happy and got a little time on the boat.
I at least got the one side of the bottom almost completely finished. I still have a little clean up to do but overall it looks great.
Bob

 

[Woodonglass]

Re: Timid but determined Glasstream restoration

Bob,
If you decide to paint and you have bare glass you just need to make sure and acetone it to remove any WAX that it might have. When you prime it you will know very soon if you got it all or not.. A little more sanding and acetoning and you'll be there. I plan on using a high build primer to take care of the small spider cracks etc. I know that Yacht Doctor is very HIGH on GC and says us Amatuers can do it with a HF spray gun but, I also know That OOPS says that GelCoating is NOT easy to do. You KNOW my opinion. Do what your GUT tells you that YOU will be happy with. It'll be a learning experience either way. Heck, a lot of guys have used CheapO Rustoleum and had it on their hull for 5 years with NO Problems. I hope I will be one of em.

I'm just sayin...

 

[archbuilder]

Re: Timid but determined Glasstream restoration

Bob,

When I worked in the body shop we painted raw glass all the time....heavy trucks, no gelcoat. The high build primers will work miracles with some sanding...if you haven't used them before you will be shocked at how smooth they sand out...smooth as a 21 year old's.....well you know what I mean I'm really interested in the gelcoat method, but it sure seems like a hard row to hoe. Looking forward to seeing which way you go!

 

[BobsGlasstream]

Re: Timid but determined Glasstream restoration

Thanks Woodonglass,
I have already bought the Gel coat. However that doesn't mean I have to use it.
I figure at my current speed, I'm still 3-4 weeks out till I'm ready to put on the gel or paint. A lot can happen in that time.
Take care.
Bob

 

[BobsGlasstream]

Re: Timid but determined Glasstream restoration

Hey arch,
Thanks for the info. The paint seems like the easier path, I'm still fighting myself.
I'm really happy with the way the hull is coming out right now. I'll post some pic's later but I'm not sure how many pic's of sanding folks can deal with.
Take care.
Bob

 

[RobbyA]

Re: Timid but determined Glasstream restoration

Bob, go with the gelcoat so I can learn what not to do when it comes time to decide paint/gelcoat.

 

[BobsGlasstream]

Re: Timid but determined Glasstream restoration

RobbyA,
I knew I would be good for something on here.
I use to have a poster in my office, that was a beautiful sunset with a ship half sunk, standing on end, The caption said, " Have you ever thought that the only purpose in your life, was to serve as a warning to others"
My life.
Take care
Bob

 

[redfury]

Re: Timid but determined Glasstream restoration

What I was surprised to find when grinding out these blisters ( the horde ) on my boat was the differences in gel coat thickness. The bottom of the hull had a relatively thin layer of gel vs. the side of the boat by the bottom edge..most likely due to spraying into a corner in the mold. I've got more gel coat cracks where the gel is thicker than it is thin, plus while sanding, I've got serious print through of the heavy roving from the first layup after gel was put in the mold. At first I thought I was losing the grit on my discs too fast and wasn't sanding very much, but after replacing the papers a few times, I realized that I'm never going to have a mirror smooth hull with this boat. Thankfully, this isn't a show boat. I've got enough to do dealing with ( the horde ).

 

[archbuilder]

Re: Timid but determined Glasstream restoration

I ended up with paint mostly because I wanted the metal flake...otherwise I would have been tempted to go with the gel. No doubt its more durable than the paint.....its just that it sounds like a nightmare to finish! But there is always an easy way.....I just want you to figure it out so I can copy it

 

[BobsGlasstream]

Re: Timid but determined Glasstream restoration

Hey Redfury,
I just left your post and those blisters are wild.
I don't or haven't found any blisters or cracks in my gel yet.
If I didn't want to change the color of my boat, I would have just repaired the scratches and chips and be done with it. However the bottom of the boat had some really heavy scratches and a lot of them. Some went almost the entire length of the boat. that's another reason I'm going this far.
arch,
Thanks my friend,
I'll be the Ginny pig on this one. I have been doing a lot of research and asking a lot of questions from people I know have the answers. I was at a Marine repair shop picking up some supplies last month and he had a boat sitting in his shop that he had just sprayed out a couple days before I got there and he was getting ready to start sanding with 320 grit. He told me it's not that bad.
We shall see.
Bob

 

[CLAYAROBINSON]

Re: Timid but determined Glasstream restoration

Bob,

Ginepigs make life easyer for me. If you do end up painting. I have a paint that I am thinking of using. It's epoxyply--- somthing that we use for aeronatical painting. Used it on a swamp cooler once. Didn't have to mess with scrapping and putting on that tar like stuff for over 15 years now. Zero corrosion. Sprays on using standerd spray paint equipment. If you do end up painting and would like to check into it let me know ginee.

Clay

P.S. It comes in any color thats in FED-STD-595 if you know what that is.