Keel Repair Product Advice

[jwl019]

Re: Keel Repair Product Advice

Products that I am debating on:
1. Evercoat Gel-Kote qt. size (think I need PVA too)
2. Evercoat - One step Finish Gel-Kote qt (no PVA required)
3. Spectrum Malibu Gel-coat (don't know what else required): http://www.iboats.com/Malibu-1997-2...4309398--**********.317326895--view_id.835767

Anyone use any of these, which one is the best/easiest? Any other product suggestions? If they are all white, would I need coloring agents?

Other items needed:
1. All kinds of sand paper, is this all dry sanding? 320 on up, any lower numbers?
2. Bondo Spreader
3. A bunch of towels
4. Acetone
5. Mixing sticks
6. Dome mixing cups
7. Sanding block
8. ?? Anything else you can think of, especially useful tools?

Thanks for all y'alls help. Since I have some time until water warms up, I figure I'd better go ahead and fix it right.

 

[xanthras]

Re: Keel Repair Product Advice

I can't believe that someone would beach an inboard. How they heck do they do that and not cause damage?? Anyways, not super relavant... Nice boat.

 

[Yacht Dr.]

Re: Keel Repair Product Advice

If they are all white, would I need coloring agents?

Other items needed:
1. All kinds of sand paper, is this all dry sanding? 320 on up, any lower numbers?
2. Bondo Spreader
3. A bunch of towels
4. Acetone
5. Mixing sticks
6. Dome mixing cups
7. Sanding block
8. ?? Anything else you can think of, especially useful tools?

Thanks for all y'alls help. Since I have some time until water warms up, I figure I'd better go ahead and fix it right.

White is NOT white .. there are Many different whites. The spectrum # is correct for your boat.

All you need for this 'cover coating' is some 180-220 sand paper ( to prep where your going to spray ), Some acetone/rags to wipe, Gelcoat mixed properly, a few preval sprayers, safety stuff ( goggles .. suit..mask that kinda thing ), wetsand paper, buffer and compound.

Yes yes..the other things like sticks and cups..gloves etc. sundries.

Or you can just keel guard it back ..

Your choice and we will help you no matter which way you choose to go with..

YD.

 

[jwl019]

Re: Keel Repair Product Advice

Yacht Dr, just saw the preval sprayer you mentioned, that looks like a good way to try this, a couple of the disposable ones is about the same price as a roller and the handle. Which one doe you think would do a better
job and easier?

Thanks for compliment xanthras.

 

[Yacht Dr.]

Re: Keel Repair Product Advice

I would use the preval. Prevals can come with or without the glass jar.

I normally just use the preval power pack and a dixie cup. But because its on the bottom..might want to get the glass jar too.

YD.

 

[jwl019]

Re: Keel Repair Product Advice

Update, all the sticky from the original Keel Guard is off and the boat is jacked up off the trailer. I will start sanding and prepping for the gel tonight. All my supplies have come in. Removing the sticky from the previous Keel Guard was a job in itself! One whole can on acetone , two applicators, and a pair of chemical gloves have been totally used up so far. The gloves got so bad that I could not touch anything without sticking to it from the old glue I was rubbing off.

 

[chriscraft254]

Re: Keel Repair Product Advice

Update, all the sticky from the original Keel Guard is off and the boat is jacked up off the trailer. I will start sanding and prepping for the gel tonight. All my supplies have come in. Removing the sticky from the previous Keel Guard was a job in itself! One whole can on acetone , two applicators, and a pair of chemical gloves have been totally used up so far. The gloves got so bad that I could not touch anything without sticking to it from the old glue I was rubbing off.

Little late now, but you could have used some Xylene or an adhesive remover, would have made your life much simpler with getting the adhesive off.

Acetone is goood for alot of things, but removing adhesive is not one of them, basically just gums it up.

Good job non the less, make sure you share some pics of your project. good luck.

 

[jwl019]

Re: Keel Repair Product Advice

Is surface seal the same thing as PVA or different but can be used the same. If I don't have time to apply multiple coats in one days time, which of the two should I use in between coats if eithet. Was thinking of applying one coat tonight and hopefully one tomorrow night if its not raining tomorrow evening/night.

 

[jwl019]

Re: Keel Repair Product Advice

Sanded down to get all layers even on old gel coat with 100the grit sandpaper.


Next I wiped down really good with acetone to remove all sanding residue. Then mixed 5 oz. of gel mixed with 5 drops of catalyst and 5 drops of surface seal. Applied with a brush.

Next step I will sand down smooth and mix another coat to apply tonight depending on the weather, its supposed to be raining starting tonight thru Monday.

 

[Yacht Dr.]

Re: Keel Repair Product Advice

Sanded down to get all layers even on old gel coat with 100the grit sandpaper.
Next I wiped down really good with acetone to remove all sanding residue. Then mixed 5 oz. of gel mixed with 5 drops of catalyst and 5 drops of surface seal.

Did the Gel cure ? I mean .. 5 drops for 5 oz .. ? where did you get that idea from ?

YD.

 

[jwl019]

Re: Keel Repair Product Advice

Yacht Dr., it did cure amazingly. I sat and tried to figure out a ratio to use but couldn't really convert to anything. The instructions say the one once bottle of catalyst and surface seal to the quart of gel coat.

Any advice for getting the perfect mixture? Also would you recommend using the surface seal, PVA, or neither between coats?

Thanks

 

[oops!]

Re: Keel Repair Product Advice

dont use any surface ceal or pve between coats.

the surface seal is a wax....and the next layer wont bond to it......the pva is liks a wax film that allows the gellcoat surface to cure properly....if you ise pva between coats...make sure you wash it off and dry it before you add the next layer.

as far as mixing ratios.......forget the imperal system..gimme a freekin break !..1oz to 6 gallons to 8 drops per quarter gallon.......carp.....you need a freekin slide rule just to measure MEKP !

use the metric system. everything is divisible by 10.

the mix ratio for MEKP in resin and gell is about 2%...(give or take .05%)

if you use the metric system..... every 100 ml of gell you use....you use 2 ml of MEKP. simple

the mixing stuff is all marked clearly with measurement amounts. and for small amounts.....you can get eye dropper like thingys that will show mils.
i just use a plastic shot glass kinda thingy with the measurements on the cup......


it is soooooooo simple...

 

[jwl019]

Re: Keel Repair Product Advice

That just made it a whole lot easier. I tried to convert everything and ratio for quite some time. Since I used the surface seal, I guess I will sand off some so it will bond. Will just plain water wash off the PVA or do I use acetone to remove it?

Thanks so much!

 

[oops!]

Re: Keel Repair Product Advice

soap and water for the pva..

the surface seal is wax....you you will need to 320 grit it for a bit to get the wax off.....once its off....you paper will stop gumming up and sanding will be smooth and flat !

 

[jwl019]

Re: Keel Repair Product Advice

Well, sanded down smooth and the surface felt hard, wiped down with acetone to clean prior to applying another coat and it looks like the gel is coming off, so Yacht Dr, you were righ!t about asking did it cure! I guess to top did but the bottom didn't even after 2 days. Next question, how to clean up? Sanding or more acetone, or is it salvageable?

 

[oops!]

Re: Keel Repair Product Advice

you will see a top coat of gell in your rag of gell that has not cured for a bit.

especially if it was un waxed resin....

i would suggest that you use unwaxed gell then add another layer in 40 mins, and a final layer with wax or pva after another 40.

do it all at one time...waiting a day....adding another layer....sanding in between is just not the correct way to do this kind of repair...
it will work.....yes.....but its twice the work !

 

[Yacht Dr.]

Re: Keel Repair Product Advice

I would get your respo and a LOT of rags and acetone. Wipe whatever comes off.

Start over. .. get it back to where you had it .

Metric .. standard.. does not matter.

Liter/quart .. basically the same thing.

Search out a chart like this http://www.silpak.com/products/47-polyester-resins/74-mekp-ratio-chart

Notice the volume is in OZ ..and the cat is in CC ..

The MEKP supplied for a gallon of resin ( or gel ) is a 40 CC tube. .. that will break down to 10 CC per Quart ( 1% )

I would lean towards 1% for large mixes .. and then closer to 1.5ish for smaller mixes ( remember .. its about Volume and time to apply the resin )

There is a mix for CC/temp/volume/quality for resin. .. more cat and high heat=FAST pot life. Low cat and high heat=longer pot life. Low cat and low temps=Slow pot life ( but it might require an additional heat source for full and/or post cure ).

You have to know your resin First ! After that you can change your CC/Volume to your Temp.

YD.

 

[jwl019]

Re: Keel Repair Product Advice

1st coat after basically starting over. About to apply a 2nd coat in a little bit.

 

[jwl019]

Re: Keel Repair Product Advice

2nd coat applied!


Question, I am going to apply the 3rdgel coat with wax, should I sand down some before adding the third coat since it us so uneven so the last coat will actually be on the outside layer when done.

I know oops said all 3 layers but probably only if it looks veteran than this?

 

[jwl019]

Re: Keel Repair Product Advice

3rd coat with wax is on and no sanding in between.


Now how long before I can start the extremely long sanding process I have ahead of me?

Thanks everyone for the tips and help, no way I could have done this even remotely right without you!