Swim platform mold build gone wrong, help needed

firebird1158

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Oct 13, 2008
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Well put gelcoat in fridge and was a cooler day and got my first coat on no problem but when i put a second coat on it went well except for 1 square foot that wrinkled as it setup.... super frustrated at this point. it is where i will be putting eva teak over top and curious if i can salvage this, i can repair the small section later maybe? can i start laminating glass over top of the wrinkled part? thanks for any opinions on this.
 

Woodonglass

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What gelcoat are you using. How OLD is it? How long between coats? Are you Sure it's Unwaxed Gelcoat?
 

firebird1158

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its unwaxed , confirmed that, would have air dry sticker on can and they said they usually just give the air dry separately. new from regional supplier that supplied all builders in my area. hopefully it is. i waited 2 hours after first coat as it was setting up slow as it was cool last night.
 

firebird1158

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it was 16 degrees celcuis in my garage last night, not sure if that would cause issue as it is about as cool as recommended. thinking that that area must have been thinner than the rest. everything else looks great, the other 35sqft. i’d like to try to salvage it and repair after if possible. it is waxed and pva on melamine under it. , the packing tape worked like a charm. and body fill fillet looks great, just that one area on the large flat area
 

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Woodonglass

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I'd try sanding out the bad spot and filling it back in with fresh gelcoat. Again, you'll be able to sand it out
 

firebird1158

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You mean start glassing and then after its pulled sand it out? thats what i was thinking of doing.
 

Woodonglass

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Yup, that's what I mean. Then it can be dealt with as a "Normal" gelcoat repair.
 

firebird1158

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Well got my first layer of resin on with surface veil and another this evening of 1.5 csm. /It's been around 16 degrees celcius all day and is setting up slow, so will get at it again tomorrow. The supplier is saying 3-4 layer of 1.5 csm and then 1/2 nidacore and 3 more layers o/f 1.5 is all I need. But everything I read says I should add some 1708? Will I need it with the nidacore as I guess it gets very stiff? Thanks
 

Woodonglass

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CSM yields very little strength to to laminate. I’d highly recommend the 1708. Also you can kick the catalyst ratio up to a 2% mix In cold temps
 

mickyryan

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def use 1708 i have tried without it on a piece made to support weight and it didn't end well better safe then sorry:)
 

firebird1158

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So when i went they didnt have any 1708 left in stock so i got the 1808, little heavier i guess. they tild me that a 5 gallon pail would do the platform but i am almost out after 2 csm and surface veil. have about a gallon left maybe. does that sound right for about 40sqft of surface area? I am soaking it well and trying to spread it and seems like just enough resin.
 

Woodonglass

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A gallon of resin normally wets out about 4 yds of CSM or 1708. Sounds like you're a little RICH on the resin use. With Poly, Less is best. Just enuf to make it go clear. I'd recommend rolling a bit harder and longer to force the resin into the fibers. To much resin actually makes the laminate weaker since it doesn't get enuf CSM to keep it homogenous.
 

firebird1158

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So after a long winter and some away work assignments I finally got around to finishing up the platform. Had one area that the gel crinkled on me... again not sure why but I kept going and pulled it from mold and fixed with sanding and more gelcoat... looks good but shiny now compared to the mdf finish. Added structural nidacore supports to stiffen everything up and I’m shocked how well everything has come along. Thanks to everyone who offered help along the way. I ended up fiberglassing it to the hull with triangle nidacore supports with csm and 1808 and used west 406 to fillet them to the hull, drilled and tapped the over lay to existing platform and used 3m 5200 before screwing down. Poured thickened resin in the gap where platform meets boat and gelcoat Over it instead of caulking as it was too big to caulk. Got some Chinese Eva teak and the end product looks great.
 

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firebird1158

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Here are some more of the pics along the way and the finished product
 

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steve_h7

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That teak really puts a great finishing touch! Nice job. :thumb:
 

firebird1158

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I didn’t paint anything in the end, just melamine and sides I used glossy arborite they had cheap at hardware store, used lightweight body fill with tongue depressor to make even fillet around edge.
 

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