Gelcoat Finish - Advice Please.

[Biggles]

Right the Winter Work has started in earnest now.

I've got the boat home and stripped off the tons of paint that covering the hull.

I've used a chemical paint remover and scraper.

I now have a hull that is in its original colour but has no sheen and is covered in small nicks and scratches both from the scraper and fair wear and tear.

Although I don't think I'm ever going to get the hull looking like new can anyone suggest a good way of getting some sparkle back in to it.

At the moment I am considering getting a car polisher and some grinding paste. Grinding it smoother and then polishing it up with loads of Car Polish. Is this a wise move.

If all else fails I am considering painting it with a roller using Brightside paint painted straight on the hull.

[Nos4r2]

Originally Posted by Biggles

At the moment I am considering getting a car polisher and some grinding paste. Grinding it smoother and then polishing it up with loads of Car Polish. Is this a wise move.

No. Grinding paste will go into the gelcoat not just sand it down. Is it feasable to re-gelcoat the bottom?

[Matt]

Too many people just use a mop & polish/paste.
In many instances, where the surface of the gel is in a poor condition, you should first wet & dry with a good quality (3m) 1200 wet and dry. This gets you into new, fresh gel that will get, and maintain, and good level of finish. Otherwisre you can mop & polish forever, but it'll never look that good.

As far as a polishing machine goes, I very much recommend the machine mart one, you won't get a better one for less money.

[Biggles]

Matt,

I'm not sure of the process as I've never done it before.

But can you just buy gelcoat and paint it on with a roller.

The bottom is all stripped, clean and ready for working on.

I like the sound of re Gelcoating it but am not sure of the procedure, costs or how good the finished result will be.

Does Gelcoat come in a tin like paint ?

Regards Nick.

[Nos4r2]

I'm not sure-I got that impression from the guys on iboats though. It might be worth asking on there-they do some really insanely hard restoring jobs.

[Matt]

You could, I've tried it, and I wouldn't again. As above, unless it's really shot, I'd rub down with 1200 and then T-cut & mop.
If it's beyond that, I'd look at international perfection, just done my transom in it.
From this http://www.mattyorke.co.uk/gallery/refit/Img_0043
To this http://www.mattyorke.co.uk/gallery/231005/IMG_0781
Perfection is incredibly hard - much harder than gel, so while it takes a lot of effort, you can get an excellent finish that is tough. You can also roller it on with reasonable results.

If you really want to re-gel, I definately wouldn't roller it on, I would spray it on.

[Rogue Wave]

R U talking about the inside of the Hull or the outside

[Biggles]

Thanks for the replies so far.

I'm getting the idea now.

The boat isn't worth spending lots of money on but I'm prepared to put some effort in to it over the winter to make it look reasonably nice.

Seems like I'm going to go down the 1200 Wet and Dry route on a drill.

Then T Cut it using the Polishing Machine.

Then Polish it lots and lots with an automotive Polish. Possibly Mer thats been good for me in the past.

For Rogue Wave its the outside mate.

[Matt]

I'd do the 1200 by hand too.
I wouldn't do 1200 in a drill for 2 reasons.

[Biggles]

Matt,

I can't find 1200 to fit in a drill so I guess it will be by hand.

Will I need to go over the Gelcoat lots or just a reasonable amount ?