'78 Ebko Lebaron - Therapy

[Decker83]

Re: '78 Ebko Lebaron - Therapy

I'll be looking forward to seeing both you and Decker doing gel-coat...

Like I said, I personally believe it to be a superior product for the hull of a boat, over paint...

As far as color...well there again a very personal choice, but I would opt for the fairly easy to touch up/repair color, one that doesn't tend to fade or discolor as much over time...White, plain, classic and simple...then again you could go nuts and do a really custom, multi-layered job like this...

Happy Monday...

If I could do this kind of work I wouldn't be selling insurance for a living.

The gel coat will last 20 years at least if it is maintained correctly. I did a thread a few months ago about the gel coat and the differance in the high priced and low priced gel. As far as the guru's here said there all pretty much the same and the dealer I found here sales it for about $25.00 to $30.00 a gallon and it is cheeper by the pail..(5 gallons)
I did an old skeeter about 15 years ago with the gel and I have a 1/2 gallon presure pot at the time. I am not sure what the tip size was on the spray gun, but I had no problem shooting the gel. I used the same compressor I have now. It's not a 60 gallon tank but it will put out 10.2 cfm @ 100 lbs continuous. I did have to move fast and I used several gallons of acetone to keep the gun and pot clean.
This time I will use some plastic bags in the pot to save on the acetone.
I still have the old skeeter and the gel coat is still good on it.

 

[sphelps]

Re: '78 Ebko Lebaron - Therapy

I chickened out on the gell coat on the mfg with all the lapstrakes ... Maybe I should paint
over my boring stripes with some cool flames ! That boat looks so cool but I think I would have left the Viking off ..

 

[Gator1996]

Re: '78 Ebko Lebaron - Therapy

Trooper I also shot gelcoat on the stringray.

There were a couple of things that convinced me. First I read everything Yacht Doctor posted on the subject. If nothing else, he made me blind my self with my own ignorance and gave me the confidence I needed to get at it. I also found this on Bertram31.com http://www.bertram31.com/proj/tips/re-gelcoating.htm you may have found it already but it is a well written article on gelcoating.
The sanding does suck (still going) but so did the grinding and we still decided to restore rotten boats knowing what we had coming. I do think that it will be worth it in the end. I did blow it on some things. I am going to outline a couple of them in my thread if your'e interested.

http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=509995&page=3

Good luck, Gator

 

[Trooper82]

Re: '78 Ebko Lebaron - Therapy

Hey guys...GT, JB, WoG, Capt K, Decker, SP and Gator...appreciate the feed back. All valid points for sure. Hope I didn't miss anyone!

I have been juggling this decision for quite some time...but have in the back of my mind sort of made the decision to go with gel awhile back...

and Gator...Welcome aboard...I don't know how, but your thread is another one of those good ones that I seem to have missed. I took a quick read of your thread and you are doing an awesome job! I would suggest putting a link back to your thread in your signature under profile settings..that is how I got exposure to mine...or atleast that is what I think has done it...

 

[Trooper82]

Re: '78 Ebko Lebaron - Therapy

Last nights update:

Did some sanding on strakes...got tired...pulled out the DA and sanded these...

Tonights update:

Finished sanding the strakes....need to make some more fairing compound...then more sanding....tomorrow..

Is it Hump Day already?

 

[jbcurt00]

Re: '78 Ebko Lebaron - Therapy

Hump day is waning over this way, so it should be wrapped fairly soon over your way too

Sanding is looking good once again, as usual. I think I'll just order a big rubber stamp w/:

Great Job!

It will save so much typing :facepalm:

 

[Trooper82]

Re: '78 Ebko Lebaron - Therapy

Thanks JB

 

[CaptainKickback]

Re: '78 Ebko Lebaron - Therapy

All this sanding. You guys need to do what oops! did (in one of his pictures). He had a sander in each hand...

Or maybe you're doing that already.

Keep at it.

Sea ya...

 

[Trooper82]

Re: '78 Ebko Lebaron - Therapy

All this sanding. You guys need to do what oops! did (in one of his pictures). He had a sander in each hand...

Or maybe you're doing that already.

Keep at it.

Sea ya...

Capt K....If I had a prehensile toe I'd hold one in both feet too! (Edit: opposable?)

 

[Trooper82]

Re: '78 Ebko Lebaron - Therapy

Got a plan in the works for this weekend...renting a larger aircompressor so I can get the big sanding done this weekend....and fairing...and sanding...and fairing...and sanding....

 

[Decker83]

Re: '78 Ebko Lebaron - Therapy

Looks good Trooper. Keep on sanding. Hope you can get it all finnished this weekend.

I don't think I ever want to hold 2 sanders at one time. The 1 I have takes 2 hands.

Wow, I am so tried of sanding.

 

[craigweaver]

Re: '78 Ebko Lebaron - Therapy

Looking good Troop! I can attest to the fact that the sanding does eventually end. I can't wait to see how the gelcoat goes down for you. I'm considering that for my cap

here's to a good and productive weekend!

 

[Trooper82]

Re: '78 Ebko Lebaron - Therapy

Looks good Trooper. Keep on sanding. Hope you can get it all finnished this weekend.

I don't think I ever want to hold 2 sanders at one time. The 1 I have takes 2 hands.

Wow, I am so tried of sanding.

Me, I love sanding...just like I loved to grind fiberglass...oh and of course on a blistering hot 115+ degree day...with no shade...in a zoot soot no less...

This too shall pass Decker...

 

[Trooper82]

Re: '78 Ebko Lebaron - Therapy

Looking good Troop! I can attest to the fact that the sanding does eventually end. I can't wait to see how the gelcoat goes down for you. I'm considering that for my cap

here's to a good and productive weekend!

Thanks CW..weather looks like it is going to cooperate...so excited to get started early Saturday Morning...

 

[Trooper82]

Re: '78 Ebko Lebaron - Therapy

First of two updates for tonight.....

Tonights plan was to get the front part of these strakes fixed....Front view...

Left...

Right...

Used 36 grit paper dry...rolled up and on some foam..even the sanding block...then went to 80 grit wet
Still crooked! Doesn't look near this bad in person...maybe look ok flipped? Could maybe take a little off the top on the right side...

Looks OK from this side...

and this one...

 

[GT1000000]

Re: '78 Ebko Lebaron - Therapy

I can NOW tell you for certain that this sanding thing will pass...BUT, only on the bottom...then there is the rest of the story...:redface:

 

[Trooper82]

Re: '78 Ebko Lebaron - Therapy

Second update for tonight....


Took this so I had something to compre to this weekend..camera is failing me...wanted to see the keel line..the dips & waves...Question: Do I want to add more glass in the places where I have sever dips? I think I do...but looking for advice...some places look o be 1/4" to 1/2" deep...

I do not recall seing this before! Maybe my airhose did this? I have other places similar..so wanted to see what was under it...mainly because I want to know if I can just gelcoat over them....I am almost certain the glass underneath is fine...

Picked at it a little...

then sanded with 36 grit by hand...

here it is wet...other than the places my knife chipped into resin when I chipped the gray stuff...doesn't look injured to me...

 

[Trooper82]

Re: '78 Ebko Lebaron - Therapy

I can NOW tell you for certain that this sanding thing will pass...BUT, only on the bottom...then there is the rest of the story...:redface:

Sounds like a hint to me Gus!!

 

[GT1000000]

Re: '78 Ebko Lebaron - Therapy

The strakes are looking really good, especially when you see them from one side or the other...

If you are anything like me...1/4"-1/2" dips and waves...even if they will only be seen by the fish in the end...need to be addressed...if only so we can sleep at night...:facepalm:

The little spider crack spots look like you could maybe hit them with a couple of spot coats of gel-coat, just to build them up a bit before going over the whole thing...or you could fair and sand them a bit...either one will probably work...

Happy Friday!

 

[sphelps]

Re: '78 Ebko Lebaron - Therapy

Looks good from here troop. Maybe a little pb faired into the spider crack would help ...