Gel Coating '88 Kawasaki X2 Engine Bay and Hull

Discussion in 'Fiberglass and Composite Boat Building' started by E350, Oct 11, 2019.

  1. E350
    Joined: Sep 2015
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    Location: Sacramento River Delta, CA

    E350 Junior Member

    I bought two quarts of white gel coat and some surfacing agent from Fiberglass Hawaii out of Ventura, CA.

    After degreasing the inside of the engine bay with 99 cent store bbq degreaser, I sandblasted the inside. It is as clean as I am going to get it. Although I plan one more shake down and vacuum and wipe down with acetone before gel coating.

    My plan is to roll a coat of white gel without surfacing agent (i.e., wax) and see if it has good coverage, and if it doesn't roll a second coat, then add coat of white gel coat with surfacing agent.

    I plan on using 99 cent store 4 inch roller frame with 4 inch medium nap "weanie" roller covers.

    Any questions, suggestions, comments? After I get the engine bay done, I will flip the boat and do the hull with a high density foam smooth surface roller cover (any suggests for what mfg. model cover is best?).
     

    Attached Files:

  2. ondarvr
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    ondarvr Senior Member

    For in the bilge your plan is fine.

    You won’t like the results on the hull.
     
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  3. E350
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    E350 Junior Member

    Thank you for replying ondarvr
    For the hull should I learn to spray?
     
  4. Sparky568
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    Sparky568 Junior Member

    Go with the white higher density foam rollers (for the bilge) from home depot or paint store. I bought a dozen cheap ones from harbor freight thinking I found a low cost supply. They literally melted within minutes. Lost 400ml of gelcoat as I didn't have anything else to use.
     
  5. ondarvr
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    ondarvr Senior Member

    Yes, spraying will give you a much better finish.

    Add some Duratec Clear additive to the gel coat and it will level much better.

    For rolling on gel coat in a bilge, use the cheapest pack of fuzzy rollers you can get at a box store. They hold fine for that kind of work.
     
  6. E350
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    E350 Junior Member

    Thanks guys! Pictures (good or bad) tomorrow evening!
     
  7. kapnD
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    kapnD Senior Member

    There is quite some art involved in getting a pretty finish when using gelcoat.
    I’d be looking for some good quality two part boat paint that can be rolled and tipped, it’s easier to use, and gives much more working time.
     
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  8. E350
    Joined: Sep 2015
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    E350 Junior Member

    kapnD (and ondarvr): Can you provide a link to a good quality two part boat paint? Because epoxy apparently does not have U.V. inhibitors, I have looked but have never found any 2 part exterior paint.
     
  9. kapnD
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    kapnD Senior Member

    I’ve used Awlgrip for many years, Sterling is a top notch paint too.
    There are many others, Imron is a really tough industrial paint that finds its way into the marine market, and a google search should reveal many more, some possibly easier to use than others.
    Looks like you’re painting a jet ski, so check out the manufacturers website because it might not have gelcoat on it to begin with, and you want to avoid problems with compatibility.
     
  10. ondarvr
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    ondarvr Senior Member

    Depending on exactly what you want in the finish, just about any two part automotive paint will work.

    They can’t be left in the water long term, but for a trailer boat they work well.
     
  11. E350
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    E350 Junior Member

    Gentlemn, with great respect and thanks for all your help and with desires for your future help let me say this:

    kapnD have you ever applied Imron?

    My 1977 Corvette was originally painted with Imron.

    I will be repainting it soon, but I will not be using Imron. Look it up. From what I have read, gel coat would be easier to learn to spray than Imron.

    And ondarvr, I respect your advice so much. But I have no interest in automotive paint. Because the epoxy does not have U.V. protection, a final clear coat is required. The entire system build up from 2 part epoxy to 2 part automotive color to U.V. clear is really, really expensive.

    I would use one part Valspar Tractor and Implement paint with Valspar Enamel Hardener before I would us automotive paint.

    As it warms up today I will flail my way through the engine compartment and will post up pictures.

    The 3M website is unclear about what filters/liners to buy for the HO PPS system for the Accuspray high viscosity gun. So I guess I will just have to call them on Tuesday.
     
  12. ondarvr
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    ondarvr Senior Member

    I’m not sure what you mean by “epoxy doesn’t have UV .
    Whatever epoxy you use, if there is one, it is under the paint, which supplies all of the required UV needs.

    Two part automotive paint is about the same thing as tractor supply paint when you add the hardener.
    It has nothing to do with clear coat.

    People use automotive paint because it’s easy to use, there are many levels of performance and price points so it can be affordable, plus the color options are almost unlimited.

    Tractor Supply paint actually does a pretty good job for the price.
     
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  13. E350
    Joined: Sep 2015
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    E350 Junior Member

    Update. Since I have decided to jump into the deep side of the gel coat pool. I used the morning to sandblast our garden tractor mower deck and we used the hottest part of the day (81F is not really hot) to jet ski.

    Since spraying gel coat will involve a new gun, new material which I have never sprayed before, I think I will get the gun and make the engine bay the first time using it since my inevitable mistakes will be less visible and hopefully I will have learned a little before I tackle spraying gel coat on the hull.

    kapnD: You are correct, Kawasaki painted the hulls as well as the decks. And Bingo! You are correct again. Kawasaki used IMRON!!!

    "Heres some more info on Yamaha waveraiders there are two different hulls one is hand laid glass the other is METTON.on Kawasaki the stx hull is hand laid glass with gelcoat and then its painted over with IMRON."

    What SMC means?, What is CoREZIN Gelcoat? - Page 2 http://www.pwctoday.com/showthread.php?t=142961&page=2

    Because of your posts, I am now researching whether or not gel coat is compatible with this X2 SMC hull.

    After 29 years, the hull could use some scratch filling, which I thought gel coat would accomplish better than paint.

    ondarvr: Dura-tec looks great! It is a replacement for surfacing agent/wax for curing and apparently helps the gel coat flow. Thank you.

    BIG UPDATE: I will NOT be gel coating the X2's SMC engine bay or hull:

    "Next, you need to select the correct resin. While SMC is a polyester—based material, it cannot be repaired with polyester resin. This is due to there being a mold release agent present throughout the entire SMC part. Unlike conventionally molded parts, where release agents are applied to the mold surface, SMC is compounded with a release agent dispersed within the resin mix for faster processing. This means that as the damage is sanded to prepare a good bonding surface, fresh release agent is exposed. Polyester resin products do not offer a strong enough physical bond to adhere to this surface. Because of this, SMC should only be repaired using epoxy—based resins, fillers, and adhesives.

    How do I finish an SMC repair? Most SMC repairs will be painted, and only catalyzed type paint systems should be used."

    From:

    Learning Center - The Ultimate Fiberglass Repair Guide https://www.fibreglast.com/product/fiberglass-repair-composite-repair/Learning_Center
     
    Last edited: Oct 14, 2019
  14. kapnD
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    kapnD Senior Member

    I have sprayed Imron many times, with good results.
    Hempel is a cheaper industrial two part marine paint that’s easy to use, and it’s possible to get a nice finish without spraying. (Roll and tip)
    You mentioned gelcoat for filling scratches, this is not the correct approach to achieving a quality finish.
    All filling and fairing must be done with compatible products prior to applying a finish, unless of course, you want to just gob it on, and then sand the entire piece back to a smooth finish, which is much more work, and there’s the danger of sanding through and botching the whole coat.
     
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  15. E350
    Joined: Sep 2015
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    E350 Junior Member

    kapnD: I appreciate your help. Hempel has quite a few marine coating products. Which product do you recommend?

    And although I will read the MSDS, would you recommend only a 3M respirator or a supplied air system to use it?
     
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