please help - just purchased a shetland - how to go about gelcoating

[John5455]

Hi i hope some one can help me i have just purchased a shetland it is a mess and needs tidying can you tell me how to go about gelcoating it and if it is possible for me to do as i have no experiance step by step would be a great help thanks.

[pescaloco]

I will try to give you a general description of what is involved

Wash and clean all surfaces you plan to sand
Wipe all surfaces with clean rags and a strong solvent like Acetone
Sand all surfaces with 120 or 150grit sand paper
Make any repairs needed with filler or fairing putty and sand flush/smooth
Mask off any areas you don't want to get gelcoat on
Spay 3 coats of gelcoat on all surfaces to a thickness of aprox. .010 to .015 in
Let new gelcoat cure for 24 hours
Carefully sand out all pits and orange peel produced from spray application
Start with 600g wet paper followed by 1000g / followed by 1200 or 1500g
Polish all surfaces with aggressive buffing compound
Polish all surfaces with fine buffing compound
Wax all surfaces
Now your done.

You may find with your limited experience that it would be easier and way faster to paint the boat with a roller/brush and a 1 part polyurethane paint like Interlux bright sides. Follow steps 1 though 5 then roll on 2 coats of compatible primer then sand the primer with 320g paper, wash and clean the surface of all dust and roll/tip with a brush your 1 part paint.

[anthony goodson]

If I was me I would put some wax in the final gelcoat ,and call it flowcoat.

[PAR]

John5455, why are you gel coating it? Is it that the gel coat is worn out and you want to rejuvenate it? Have you tried buffing?

[pescaloco]

Originally Posted by anthony goodson

If I was me I would put some wax in the final gelcoat ,and call it flowcoat.

What he said... yes use surfacing agent on the final coat

Also what Par said... you can very likely buff or wet sand and buff the gelcoat that is all ready there

I just tried to answer since no one else had, my opinion is that I wouldn't suggest you try to gelcoat the boat

[John5455]

Hi thanks for jour reply the hull is in bad condition bad scratches and small cuts has been painted with house hold paint so needs starting from the begining so appreciate all the advice can i use filler primer as used on cars.

[John5455]

would in be possible to spray with two pack enamel as i have done this on cars bearing in mind this boat will be used on the sea i may seem cluless but this is my first attempt and appreciate all your help

[PAR]

Yes, repair the crazed and cracked gel coat, then use an automotive LPU if you like.

[John5455]

Hi if i were to go down the route of gelcoat how long would it take to dry in our great british weather as i would have to do it out side with no form of heating also how far would i need to sand it back and what in your opinion is the easiest way to apply the gelcoat. Thanks for your help as cost is a governing factor as i am disabled and told my young son we would fix it. Thanks again.

[PAR]

John, don't even consider the gel coat option. Though some will tell you you can do it in your driveway, I'm telling you that you can't and get a good job of it, right out of the box. I've met very few novices that could apply whole boat gel coat and get desirable results.

The much wiser choice is repairs to the crazing, cracks and chips, then painting. The reason is simple, paints have improved so much in the last decade, that you can roll and tip, right from the can and have results that look like it was sprayed on. You don't have to buy special equipment, you don't need to rent a spray booth or buy the several harsh chemicals that you'll need with gel coat. You can paint in your drive way and get good results.

Don't get me wrong, you can apply gel coat in the driveway, but the likelihood of producing a job you'll not be ashamed to show you friends is slim. You don't have the tools, chemicals or experience to pull it off. I mean no offense with this, just a straight up dose of practical reality.

[Boston]

a Shetland eh
I'm not sure they like Jell coating
I know they sure can eat there share of grain tho

[PAR]

I almost went there too Dan, but out of respect for my first wife, I declined the obvious . . .

[Boston]

ya my dorky sense of humor got the better of me
oops and my apologies to the x

[PAR]

I don't feel bad for the X Dan, it's the ponies that I feel most for, because they don't have as much hair as she.

[Boston]

oh that was good
you win
you don't need em but soon as I pick myself up off the floor I'll credit you some

dam that was funny