gel coat,...who needs it!!!!

Repairing my rudder,...removing all paint, barrier coatings..., and gel coat. Using west sestems epoxy with fillers,...so why would I need to gel coat before my new barrier coats???

 

You won't!

 

just use 545 primer and top coat

 

On our small fishing canoes we do not use gelcoat at all to keep them affordable. We just pigment the laminating resin to the desired colour, mix a bit of Kudu power into it to thicken up a bit, and apply into mold as a gelcoat. Then laminate as usual. Cannot tell the difference from a gelcoat unit and it is cheap.

 

Nobody needs it, correct.

 

I need it , I like it, I see it everywhere! Gelcoat is a terrific product. All the best from Jeff.

 

Jeff

Finally someone who disagrees.

Gell coat is heavy ! You can cut quite a bit of weight off a rig by not using gell coat.

 

Gel coat

Due not put gelcoat over epoxy!! now if you like to scrape. Fritz

 

Jeffy

thanks jeff

 

Thanks for the advice Fanie & woofie, you definatly don't want gelcoat over your epoxy & on the right track with the epoxy based repair stategy especially if you've found some good sound fiber under to fair from. However we all know gelcoats heavy especially when you add the tie layer etc.Q. Rosco asked who needs it? A. Any body that wants to conform, isn't chasing weight, needs an economic finish for a contact molded structure, likes to repair minor scuffs with a quick cut & polish, likes to make small repairs to acceptable finish, likes the smell!, likes boat shows full of lovely glossy desirable gelcoated boats, likes to stick to the laminate schedule as specified, wants a nice finish etc etc. Gelcoat is fantastic!! All the best with your epoxy repairs from Jeff.

 

Kudu power

Hi Wynand, I'm curious about the "Kudu power"

 

Hi Jeff,

it is actually called Kulubrite here and is a light, fine, super white calcium carbonate used as an extender/ filler and available in 5 and 15 microns we use - an dirt cheap (about 17 times cheaper than gelcoat).

For hard wearing items such as fishing canoes hulls we mix this to gelcoat or resin up to 50/50% ratio, meaning a kilo of gelcoat goes a longg way and it is hard wearing. Instead of a thin coat of clean gel we pack this about 3mm thick and it gives a lot of added rigidity to the hull without a lot of extra added weight.
It is also used mixed with a bit of resin to make a good and cheap filler for GRP that works easily and can be tinted/pigmented to any colour you want