Gel Coat with faded metalflake

[bigredinohio]

I have a 1975 Checkmate that is completely metalflaked. The red metalflake that is really faded above the rub rail and below the water line. When I bought it, the top very rough and I have buffed with Aqua-buff which smoothed and restored some shine but nothing like glass of good gel coat and no color. It also seems blotch, especially on the front. I am hoping that I have not already screwed myself by buffing. What can I do to either restore this or redo within a reasonable budget? I would perfer to do this myself but don't know what to do now. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Before the buffing

After the buffing

Bottom half of boat

 

[wca_tim]

Re: Gel Coat with faded metalflake

here's something for consideration... after light sanding and then buffing out again. it got a LOT better after significantly more sanding and then aquabuff followed by finesseit 2...

 

[wca_tim]

Re: Gel Coat with faded metalflake

is the roughness you feel flakes or is it just oxidized clear gel? checks have really thick clear on them. You may be able to sand out the worst of the oxidation... if not, the best way on a budget to get it looking something like new, is to sand a bit, rough iot up degrease the living you know what out of it and shoot it with automotive clear cloat, If doing it yourself you can do it with a cheap gun and acrylic urethane a good combination particulate (aerosolized iso) charcoal filter mask in the back yard and then buff it out. the absolute key to makeing thos work well is prep...


I just looked at your pictures again. It is hard ot see if that is all oxidized clear that make sit look faded of whether it is through the color all the way to the flakes. Does it look better wet?

 

[bigredinohio]

Re: Gel Coat with faded metalflake

is the roughness you feel flakes or is it just oxidized clear gel? checks have really thick clear on them. You may be able to sand out the worst of the oxidation... if not, the best way on a budget to get it looking something like new, is to sand a bit, rough iot up degrease the living you know what out of it and shoot it with automotive clear cloat, If doing it yourself you can do it with a cheap gun and acrylic urethane a good combination particulate (aerosolized iso) charcoal filter mask in the back yard and then buff it out. the absolute key to makeing thos work well is prep...


I just looked at your pictures again. It is hard ot see if that is all oxidized clear that make sit look faded of whether it is through the color all the way to the flakes. Does it look better wet?

The orginal roughness was almost like sand paper and now it feels fairly smooth. My guess is it is probably a combination of both but more flake? Not for sure really how to tell but I can tell you that it is considerably thinner compaired to areas such as under the bow light or under the windshield. I did wet sanded using 1000 grit then buffed using 1000 then 2000 Aqua-buff. The red on top really doesn't look better when wet unlike the red under the rub rail.

 

[wca_tim]

Re: Gel Coat with faded metalflake

can you feel the metalflake when you run your hand over it?

Note that I went as far down as 320 before cutting as much of the oxidized gekll oif as I wanted., yours may be beyond it though... hard to tell from the pics

 

[Rickairmedic]

Re: Gel Coat with faded metalflake

Bigred I hate to say it but I think your gonna have to go deeper with the wetsanding maybe start with 600 and work up from there . I dont think you can make it worse at this point . Looks like the original color under the bow light is way off of everything around it .


Rick

 

[bigredinohio]

Re: Gel Coat with faded metalflake

can you feel the metalflake when you run your hand over it?

Note that I went as far down as 320 before cutting as much of the oxidized gekll oif as I wanted., yours may be beyond it though... hard to tell from the pics

It doesn't feel like flake, more like a smooth counter top...definitely not like glass

 

[wca_tim]

Re: Gel Coat with faded metalflake

It doesn't feel like flake, more like a smooth counter top...definitely not like glass

it really kind of looks like the color is gone... and that if you sanded under the light you would get to flakes there as well... I hope not.. what happens when you pour solvent on it (like xylenes or something that doesn't evaporated immediately. do you see red color in the behind the haze?

The black boat above (a check) looked like light gray chalk when I started. couldn't even see the metal flake underneath it...

 

[wca_tim]

Re: Gel Coat with faded metalflake

the more I look at the pics, I am thinking that the color scheme on the top should be similar to what's on the bottom and that the red is just gone...

 

[bigredinohio]

Re: Gel Coat with faded metalflake

I think the red is gone also...just don't know what I should do? I don't know if I can just respray some red metalflake then re-gel or I have to strip the top off completely to redo? Painting seems unlikely with all the metalflaking but I'm all new at this so I open to suggestions. This is my first (and probably my last) attempt at boat restoration.

 

[MikDee]

Re: Gel Coat with faded metalflake

Okay you got plenty of shine and finish on the deck, but it's still faded,,, try rubbing in some vaseline in a small spot by hand, & see if it brings the color back, as I mentioned on another recent polishing thread here. The silicons in the vaseline soak in, & become part of the finish, bringing the color out,,, consider it a moisturizing conditioner for your boat.

 

[bigredinohio]

Re: Gel Coat with faded metalflake

Here are some more pictures

 

[bigredinohio]

Re: Gel Coat with faded metalflake

Okay you got plenty of shine and finish on the deck, but it's still faded,,, try rubbing in some vaseline in a small spot by hand, & see if it brings the color back, as I mentioned on another recent polishing thread here. The silicons in the vaseline soak in, & become part of the finish, bringing the color out,,, consider it a moisturizing conditioner for your boat.

Okay, I rubbed some vaseline in an area and it didn't have much impact. I will double check this in the morning as I don't have ideal lighting in my garage right now.

 

[MikDee]

Re: Gel Coat with faded metalflake

bigred, the vaseline does take time to work, to soak in, direct heat from the sun usually helps it work faster, but from the pix, now it looks like your boat was refinished at one time in a lighter combination of colors? It doesn't look like the original color as what's under the bow light, & accessories. If that's the case, I don't know what will work?

 

[keepNitreel]

Re: Gel Coat with faded metalflake

It doesn't look like the original color as what's under the bow light, & accessories. If that's the case, I don't know what will work?

I agree with MikDee, seems someone shot it with a lite coat of metallic.

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: Gel Coat with faded metalflake

Welcome to iboats.

Please knock those pictures down to 640 x 480 in size. It is the forum size.

Red is the fastest color to fade. Red paints are normally higher in price then others.

Since that was a nice fade to silver paint job I am afraid you will never be able to duplicate it or restore it to where it once was.

You have been doing great work.

 

[proshadetree]

Re: Gel Coat with faded metalflake

Dont mean to bring bad news but I have a sidewinder that has the same problem.The gel is gone now you are at the flake the reason its turning silver is old school flake was colored metal.paint it or regell it.This time I would use pollyflake it holds its color better.Sorry man wish I knew a magic fix so I could do mine to.

 

[bigredinohio]

Re: Gel Coat with faded metalflake

Dont mean to bring bad news but I have a sidewinder that has the same problem.The gel is gone now you are at the flake the reason its turning silver is old school flake was colored metal.paint it or regell it.This time I would use pollyflake it holds its color better.Sorry man wish I knew a magic fix so I could do mine to.

I was hoping of a quick magic fix but I'm coming to grips with that's not going to happen. I think I should probably prep it (what ever that involves), re-spray the red flake then re-spray top coats in clear gel. The only problem is I have now idea how to begin on prep work. I found this http://www.greatlakesskipper.com/productdetail.cfm?CatID=S180&ProductID=8729 for metal flake but if anyone knows of something better, I would welcome comments and/or suggestions.

MikDee: I am 99% sure it's the original finish. I'll still try the vaseline...what else do I have to loose? Even if it doesn't work for the top, I'll try it on the bottom half of the boat. The bottom of the boat is starting to do the same thing below the water line but still has most of it's gel coat (minus scrapes, chips and dings).

 

[ondarvr]

Re: Gel Coat with faded metalflake

You have three options.

Leave it as is... easy


Re-gel coat... Lots of work, its a three step processes. First a color base coat is sprayed, over that a flake/clear gel coat mix is applied, the third step is a layer of clear gel coat. The clear is allowed to cure and is then sanded smooth, enough clear needs to be applied or you'll sand through and into the flake layer which can create problems. One problem in making it look good is getting a uniform flake layer, if its not applied correctly it can look blotchy.


Paint.. Sand, prime and paint, much easier than working with gel coat, will cost less and take less time.

 

[Yacht Dr.]

Re: Gel Coat with faded metalflake

Hello Bigred..

I agree with ondarvr..

but with a twist.. can you buff out a spot till new ? mebbe 2-3 times ..

Is the flake at the surface..or under clear still ? ( look close )

Other than that.. Id go with paint. along with what ondarvr said.. Clear gel is very very touchy. Better go with some Imron or Awlcraft 2000. IMO..

YD.