WOE! Dude..... I'm thinking you're 100% correct on all accounts! It
"IS" un-waxed! I don't know how I missed that fact about the surfacing wax. I have surfacing wax that I purchased a long time ago when I got the gel coat intending to use it on the last coat only. I had no idea that non waxed gelcoat drys to the touch but remains tacky without adding the surfacing wax. I thought the surfacing wax was like optional and used on the last coat to make it extra hard. You don't know how relieved I am. I totally was begging to think I had screwed up somewhere. Thank you!!!
My propane tank was low on gas so it didn't run too too long before it shut off. The heat was more of a help in bringing my substrates up to a desireable temperature than accelerating the cure time. Plus, without the surfacing wax being added to the gelcoat the heat was probably irrelevant to the cure time.
If you use propane heat with no fan to circulate the hot air off the ceiling of your tent support, be carefull for any plastic parts or pieces as they may melt. If you're making it from scratch use wood or anything that wont melt from the heat.
I don't recommend using the boat cover as a tent. Even with the propane heater stopped, between the residual gas and composites fumes its pretty daunting even for a dare devil like me
that plus being crotched over..... wait.... crouched over LOL isn't very comfortable
