Duratec question

[bustedrudder]

This is a GREAT forum!
I've read most everything on spraying gel with Duratec and have 1 question.

I acquired a carbon/glass nomex core race kayak and have done various repairs. I intend to gelcoat the hull for abrasion resistance and sparay the deck with a single stage polyurethane (PPG ESSS).

I have a quart of no wax white gel coat and quart of Duratec. Did a test on a hatch lid cover with a 1.8mm LVLP gun. Came out good (great with a little sanding). The volume out of the 1.8 was low so now have a 2.3 gun which I will test on other hatch cover.

My question is this. Can I premix duratec / gelcoat / pigment then put back into clean quart containers? Or do I need to premix gelcoat and pigment then add duratec prior to spray?

I'm hoping all can be mixed but it is not specified anywhere. Total time of uses would be 7 days or less.

Thanks!
bob

 

[jbcurt00]

Re: Duratec question

What did you use for your repairs? Epoxy since it has carbon fiber?

What is the primary binder/resin used w/ the carbobn/glass nomex when the hull was new? Epoxy (because of the carbon fiber)?

The hull below water is what you want to gelcoat and everything from the parting line on the hull (where a rubrail would be if it had one) & up gets sprayed w/ PPG?

 

[bustedrudder]

Re: Duratec question

What did you use for your repairs? Epoxy since it has carbon fiber?

What is the primary binder/resin used w/ the carbobn/glass nomex when the hull was new? Epoxy (because of the carbon fiber)?

The hull below water is what you want to gelcoat and everything from the parting line on the hull (where a rubrail would be if it had one) & up gets sprayed w/ PPG?

Talked to the factory. It was vinylester resin. Repairs were done primarily with polyester resin and nicks filled with gelcoat. Yes only gel coat from rubrail down, built up a bit on the bottom (abrasion resistance)

 

[Woodonglass]

Re: Duratec question

I would advise you to do all your mixing at the time of the spray. This would avoid any possible separation of the products. You always mix color with gel first and then the duratec and then the MEKP last. Always mix the MEKP @ a 2% by volume ratio when using Duratec. That's what my research tells me.

You might want to review this forum thread it has some interesting points of view about Duratec by one of our experts on Gelcoat, ondarvr...http://forums.iboats.com/boat-resto...need-advice-paint-gelcoat-duratec-368770.html

 

[jbcurt00]

Re: Duratec question

No epoxy, just checking. Gelcoat doesn't adhere well to epoxy, if at all.

I've never used Duratec, I only wanted to make sure not epoxy.

WoodOnGlass has got ya covered ^^^

 

[Woodonglass]

Re: Duratec question

You might want to review this forum thread it has some interesting points of view about Duratec by one of our experts on Gelcoat, ondarvr...http://forums.iboats.com/boat-resto...need-advice-paint-gelcoat-duratec-368770.html

 

[Gator1996]

Re: Duratec question

Not totally sure what you are expecting to abrade? against. But you may consider epoxy with graphite powder on the running surface. I have heard of kayakers ,canoers? and flats boat builders using this. It supposedly provides a lubricant for sliding over coarse sand etc. and also is tougher than paint. I'm not sure that you want to just at the rocks, beaches etc. with gel coat as your only protection. I think the graphite can be painted over but I think most just leave the finished area black so that may be a deal breaker for you not sure if you don't dig the black. You might try taking a look here Graphite Bottom

I did a lot of tests with gel before I sprayed my 19 foot hull. It is tough, but the fact that it is not being applied and cured in a mold, with a good chemical bond to the glass makes it considerably less tough than when it is I think. Between the prep work and the sanding after, I don't think I would want to go into my boating day knowing that I would likely have to repair it on a regular basis.
Good luck

 

[bustedrudder]

Re: Duratec question

Not totally sure what you are expecting to abrade? against. But you may consider epoxy with graphite powder on the running surface. I have heard of kayakers ,canoers? and flats boat builders using this. It supposedly provides a lubricant for sliding over coarse sand etc. and also is tougher than paint. I'm not sure that you want to just at the rocks, beaches etc. with gel coat as your only protection. I think the graphite can be painted over but I think most just leave the finished area black so that may be a deal breaker for you not sure if you don't dig the black. You might try taking a look here Graphite Bottom

I did a lot of tests with gel before I sprayed my 19 foot hull. It is tough, but the fact that it is not being applied and cured in a mold, with a good chemical bond to the glass makes it considerably less tough than when it is I think. Between the prep work and the sanding after, I don't think I would want to go into my boating day knowing that I would likely have to repair it on a regular basis.
Good luck

Thanks Gator1996,
I had considered epoxy and graphite and some I know have done it on wood hull boats but once I do that I would face really tough repairs with a fiberglass hull. I'm in a 300 mile race to key largo so sand, shells and oyster beds are the abrasion potentials. Nothing fends off oysters, so for me a gel coat surface which can be sanded/patched and resprayed annually if needed is the ticket. The topside does not face the same perils so PPG ESSS is my plan there.

Thanks!

 

[ondarvr]

Re: Duratec question

Yes you can mix the two together, it's better that way because all of it will look the same. You will need to spray quit a few coats to get the thickness up to where it will as abrasion resistant as you plan it to be.