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

Discussion in 'Fiberglass and Composite Boat Building' started by John5455, Mar 13, 2011.

  1. John5455
    Joined: Mar 2011
    Posts: 4
    Likes: 0, Points: 0, Legacy Rep: 10
    Location: shropshire

    John5455 New Member

    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.
     
  2. pescaloco
    Joined: Feb 2006
    Posts: 301
    Likes: 10, Points: 18, Legacy Rep: 81
    Location: so. california

    pescaloco Senior Member

    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.
     
  3. anthony goodson
    Joined: Mar 2007
    Posts: 451
    Likes: 19, Points: 18, Legacy Rep: 256
    Location: Dorset UK & Murcia Spain

    anthony goodson Senior Member

    If I was me I would put some wax in the final gelcoat ,and call it flowcoat.
     
  4. PAR
    Joined: Nov 2003
    Posts: 19,126
    Likes: 498, Points: 93, Legacy Rep: 3967
    Location: Eustis, FL

    PAR Yacht Designer/Builder

    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?
     
  5. pescaloco
    Joined: Feb 2006
    Posts: 301
    Likes: 10, Points: 18, Legacy Rep: 81
    Location: so. california

    pescaloco Senior Member

    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
     
  6. John5455
    Joined: Mar 2011
    Posts: 4
    Likes: 0, Points: 0, Legacy Rep: 10
    Location: shropshire

    John5455 New Member

    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.
     
  7. John5455
    Joined: Mar 2011
    Posts: 4
    Likes: 0, Points: 0, Legacy Rep: 10
    Location: shropshire

    John5455 New Member

    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
     
  8. PAR
    Joined: Nov 2003
    Posts: 19,126
    Likes: 498, Points: 93, Legacy Rep: 3967
    Location: Eustis, FL

    PAR Yacht Designer/Builder

    Yes, repair the crazed and cracked gel coat, then use an automotive LPU if you like.
     
  9. John5455
    Joined: Mar 2011
    Posts: 4
    Likes: 0, Points: 0, Legacy Rep: 10
    Location: shropshire

    John5455 New Member

    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.
     
  10. PAR
    Joined: Nov 2003
    Posts: 19,126
    Likes: 498, Points: 93, Legacy Rep: 3967
    Location: Eustis, FL

    PAR Yacht Designer/Builder

    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.
     
  11. Boston

    Boston Previous Member

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

    [​IMG]
     
  12. PAR
    Joined: Nov 2003
    Posts: 19,126
    Likes: 498, Points: 93, Legacy Rep: 3967
    Location: Eustis, FL

    PAR Yacht Designer/Builder

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

    Boston Previous Member

    ya my dorky sense of humor got the better of me
    oops and my apologies to the x
     
  14. PAR
    Joined: Nov 2003
    Posts: 19,126
    Likes: 498, Points: 93, Legacy Rep: 3967
    Location: Eustis, FL

    PAR Yacht Designer/Builder

    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.
     
    1 person likes this.

  15. Boston

    Boston Previous Member

    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
     
Loading...
Similar Threads
  1. Quicksilver670
    Replies:
    10
    Views:
    2,211
  2. WilliamPrince
    Replies:
    9
    Views:
    2,620
  3. gainey
    Replies:
    17
    Views:
    7,567
  4. CaptainReza
    Replies:
    66
    Views:
    14,692
  5. ETSailor
    Replies:
    9
    Views:
    3,019
  6. arzzeee
    Replies:
    7
    Views:
    2,729
  7. dbstormchild
    Replies:
    3
    Views:
    3,232
  8. tugboat
    Replies:
    87
    Views:
    14,663
  9. magentawave
    Replies:
    21
    Views:
    6,464
  10. sean-nós
    Replies:
    15
    Views:
    4,838
Forum posts represent the experience, opinion, and view of individual users. Boat Design Net does not necessarily endorse nor share the view of each individual post.
When making potentially dangerous or financial decisions, always employ and consult appropriate professionals. Your circumstances or experience may be different.