Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
 
Old 02 February 2011, 21:51   #1
Member
 
Kernow Buoy's Avatar
 
Country: UK - England
Town: Cornwall
Length: no boat
Join Date: Oct 2004
Posts: 1,518
Top of transom

My Rib has had its transom cut down by a previous owner to take a L shaft engine (assume it came XL from the factory) the top of the transom and an area about 4" deep around have been painted and left with a rough finish which has begun to discolour, I've sanded the paint off the back to reveal a smooth still white gelcoat finish but as I'm sanding the top edge I'm beginning to reveal what I think is the actual fibreglass. When I've got the top smooth I'd like to put a top coat back on to protect the glass and to make it look as it should. Looking at previous threads it would seem that flowcoat is the way to go? if so paint on, sand, paint until happy with finish, or should I be using something else (I'm rubbish with gelcoat!)
__________________
Kernow Buoy is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03 February 2011, 07:37   #2
Member
 
biffer's Avatar
 
Country: UK - England
Town: swanwick/hamble
Boat name: stormchaser
Make: custom rib
Length: 8m +
Engine: inboard/diesel
Join Date: Aug 2007
Posts: 3,848
you've got it right, add wax to your gell otherwise it will stay sticky
__________________
biffer is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03 February 2011, 09:36   #3
Member
 
Kernow Buoy's Avatar
 
Country: UK - England
Town: Cornwall
Length: no boat
Join Date: Oct 2004
Posts: 1,518
Thanks biffer, is the wax the additive in 2 part?
__________________
Kernow Buoy is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03 February 2011, 18:13   #4
Member
 
Country: UK - Wales
Town: West Wales
Make: Vipermax 5.8, SR4.7
Length: 5m +
Engine: 150 Opti, F50EFi
Join Date: Sep 2005
Posts: 6,299
Go to a GRP works with 2 jars (eg jam jar and a mustard jar) and ask them for a drop of white flowcoat and some activator. Lob the boy a couple of quid for his trouble. (I know that bit will hurt, particularly in the close season)

You won't need much to coat the top of the transom - no point in buying a load of the stuff unless you have a use for it, 'cos it won't last for ever in the pot.

Mask off the area you're coating to give you a nice clean edge where the flowcoat covers the gelcoat.

Wear some disposable gloves and use a cheap brush, which you can throw away after you've finished.

Proper job!
__________________
Downhilldai is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03 February 2011, 18:22   #5
Member
 
martini's Avatar
 
Country: UK - Channel Islands
Town: jersey
Boat name: Martini II
Make: Arctic 28/FC470
Length: 8m +
Engine: twin 225Opti/50hp 2t
MMSI: 235067688
Join Date: Jun 2005
Posts: 3,030
Give the surface a good key before you start, minimum 100 grit I read somewhere once
__________________
martini is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03 February 2011, 21:23   #6
Member
 
Erin's Avatar
 
Country: UK - Channel Islands
Town: A large rock
Boat name: La Frette
Make: Osprey Vipermax
Length: 6m +
Engine: 200 Suzzy
Join Date: May 2004
Posts: 2,893
And if you want a smooth surface, it's worth laying a piece of polythene over the gelcoat afterwards and smoothing it out with a spatula. Once dry, the poly should peel off and give a good finish. Might need to do a trial run first and maybe need to wax the poly a bit to make sure it releases.
Erin is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03 February 2011, 22:07   #7
Member
 
Country: UK - Wales
Town: West Wales
Make: Vipermax 5.8, SR4.7
Length: 5m +
Engine: 150 Opti, F50EFi
Join Date: Sep 2005
Posts: 6,299
Quote:
Originally Posted by Erin View Post
And if you want a smooth surface, it's worth laying a piece of polythene over the gelcoat afterwards and smoothing it out with a spatula. Once dry, the poly should peel off and give a good finish. Might need to do a trial run first and maybe need to wax the poly a bit to make sure it releases.
Good point, but let's not forget this is a £2k Ribtec.
__________________
Downhilldai is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04 February 2011, 07:09   #8
Member
 
Kernow Buoy's Avatar
 
Country: UK - England
Town: Cornwall
Length: no boat
Join Date: Oct 2004
Posts: 1,518
Quote:
Originally Posted by Downhilldai View Post
Good point, but let's not forget this is a £20k Ribtec.
__________________
Kernow Buoy is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off




All times are GMT. The time now is 06:43.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 1
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.