gel coat

[bassspider44]

am trying to find a place to get my 86 skeeter bass boat regelcoated ,i beleive the pait is okay just needs new gel coat am located in southern indiana but would be willing to travel to get it done any help would be greatly appreciated thanks and tight lines

 

[Hooty]

Re: gel coat

Mr. Bassspider44,<br />Greetings.<br /> I began building frp boats back in the early '60's and own one now and would not recommend "re-gelcoating". When you look at gelcoat on your boat, you are looking at the "bottom" of the product. The part that is against the mold, and it's nice, pretty and smooth because the mold is that way. The other side or the "top" is all bumpy,dull and has itty-bitty air holes in it. That's what you would see if you sprayed gelcoat on your boat. If it was hooty's boat, he would patch all the dings,scratches, etc., sand smooth (down to 400 grit) and spray paint it with one of those new high-tech, bullet-proof, last-forever, two component coatings on the market today. Buff it out and it looks BETTER than new.<br />That's what hooty would do anyway.<br /><br />G'luck, c/6 and lettus know what you do and how it works.<br /><br />hooty

 

[Terry H]

Re: gel coat

I agree with Hooty...to reapply gelcoat you have to prepare for paint, spray gelcoat. Now the work begins...gelcoat would then need to be cured, sanded (at least 5 times down to about 1200 grit sandpaper) and then buffed. A good epoxy paint would be much simpler, and hold up better. Just a Thought

 

[MIKE F]

Re: gel coat

I also agree on not re-gelcoating. It's fine when it comes out of the mold but other than that!!! Have you tried any of those cleaner/restorers on the market (Star Brite-3M etc.) ? That might be all you need.

 

[Clay]

Re: gel coat

I did'nt think you could re-gelcoat. If your going to repaint, check into Imron paint. alot of your high end go fasts use it

 

[Pursuit2150]

Re: gel coat

Go to speed vision TV show,Just a few weeks ago they did a complete boat restoration and used some NEW HI-Tech stuff. IT is not a DIY. They are also on the internet, and maybe you can go into the archives.

 

[bassspider44]

Re: gel coat

to all who replied to my question on gel coat ,thank you. next question ,does anyone know anything about a product called vertglas,boat looks good when wet or wiped down with lemon pledge,however won't last very long.thanks again for all the input it's greatly appreciated. tight lines bass spider

 

[Pursuit2150]

Re: gel coat

I purchased a bottle of vertiglass last year because I wanted to reduce polishing time. I used it one one side of the boat> it took 4 wipe on's to get the streaks out that the product leaves, but I still did not like the shine. I will sell you what's left. na ,I'll give it to you. It cost $40.00 /qt, at a show price. I reverted back to 4-seasons.<br />By the way I happened to talk to an old salt last nite, his BAJA is now in a shop, for re-gelcoat. $3500.00 vs. $2300.00 for paint He went with the Gel because it will give him a better re-sale value,because it is "Original".

 

[bassspider44]

Re: gel coat

thanks pursuit 2150 will evaluate all info,but is not really feasible to spend that much on a 16 year old bass boat i don't have any shine at all unless i wipe it down with lemon pledge.boat came out of texas ,and was exposed to alot of sun ,evidently without a cover .thanksagain for all the infoand happy holidays to you and yours. bass spider44

 

[Pursuit2150]

Re: gel coat

Here is somthing else I did and it worked well on a 12 yr old SEA-OX.Wet a towel ring it out well squirt some "Soft-Scrub" on it,ring it out again. It is a "MILD" abrasive, like compound. It will take off the oxidation bring up the color, then follow with a good wax. I happen to love four-seasons. Do a small "Test" patch first' if you like the results,GO-For-It" Good luck.

 

[Hooty]

Re: gel coat

Re-gelcoating "original"?? Huummm.<br />For my money, Meguiars makes some of the best stuff there is. OEM's us their paste wax as the mold release agent. Meguiars also makes a kit called "Fiberglass Oxidation Removal Kit" that has three different grades of compound that does a supper job. Give it a shot and lettus know.<br /><br />c/6<br /><br />hooty

 

[bassspider44]

Re: gel coat

to pursuit 2150 and hooty thanks for the info will definitely give it a try.as always money is the big issue,would like newer boat but my wallet doesn't agree. tight lines and bent rods to ya ,bass spider 44

 

[sandman]

Re: gel coat

I tried every product on the market to try to get my motor home to shine again. Finally I ran into vertiglass. I used it (several coats) and the motor home looked like new. I have no idea how it would look on boats around water. It was expensive but it was the only thing I could find that actually made the fiberglass shine agian. It was expensive, and again I have no experience using it on boats. Good luck.