Gel coat

[crashnburn86]

So I want the bottom of my ski black. I was thinking of doing a black gel coat purchased from us composites. I can get the neutral gel coat then add the die. I was buying my paint today and the lady at the automotive paint shop said i dont have to strip my old gelcoat on the bottom i can just paint the new gelcoat right no with a brush and it is self leveling and it will be fine. Is this true ? If not please explain to me what it would take to get the bottom of my ski from white gelcoat to black. I do not want to just paint it becuase i like durability....

 

[WFO Speedracer]

Self leveling gelcoat,thats a hoot,yeah it will self level sorta like the surface of the moon,at the least thin the gelcoat with acetone, shoot the gelcoat on with a gun,even better mix the last layer 50/50 with Duratec clear,its levels out the gelcoat ,produces gloss and cuts down on lots and lots of sanding.

 

[crashnburn86]

So remove some of the existing gelcoat with acetone. Then spray a couple with the gel coat then last layer cut 50/50 with duratech clear?

 

[Pablo]

I think WFO means cut/thin the gelcoat you're going to apply to the ski with acetone in order to allow it to "self level" better...OR use the Duratec clear in a 50:50 ratio with the gelcoat to give it a glossy appearance and make sanding easier.

 

[WFO Speedracer]

Exactly,there are other thinners such as styrene monomer that work better than acetone but stryene monomer is not readily available,you will need to properly abrade the old gelcoat surface with at the least 220 grit,I personaly prefer to use 80 grit.

 

[crashnburn86]

Ok i gotcha now. Where can i get duratech clear? and has anyone ever attempted to just roll gelcoat on?

 

[WFO Speedracer]

Click on the links database then click on composites,Spectrum custom color,US composties and several others carry duratec products.Listen up good ,you can apply gelcoat anyway you want,brush it on,roll it on pour it on or spray it on but if you want a decent finish without years upon years of sanding spraying it is your only option.

 

[yamaslut]

just curious... why gelcoat??

why not just paint it??
Automotive paint is much higher quality than gelcoat.

 

[crashnburn86]

can i use a stripper on the gelcoat that is on the bottom now then? if i paint? IM tired of sanding!

 

[McDog]

Sanding is the name of the game, dude. I used west marine gelcoat and brushed it on. I only put it on the very bottom of the hull and is leveled itself somewhat. I wouldn't put it on the sides of the bottom, though. Paint is the best option for a nice finish on the sides.

 

[WFO Speedracer]

There is no need to strip the gelcoat either way,sand it prime it sand it a coup[le more times and shoot the paint if you are painting it,I would suggest using a good two part epoxy primer though,you never know what some one has put on gelcoat to try and make it shiny,gelcoat is porous and contaminants tend to hide in the gelcoat and then float to the surface right after you get the pain on,the epoxy primer will act as a barrier to prevent this and eleminate the fisheyes from your new paint job.

 

[Pablo]

I sanded the bottom of my hull with 60/120/220 to get a fairly smooth finish. Then applied primer then gelcoat, sanded with 120/220 and another coat of gelcoat. I brushed it on with a china bristle brush to help minimize brush strokes and it turned out fine...not factory finish fine, but still a nice looking job.

 

[WFO Speedracer]

I sanded the bottom of my hull with 60/120/220 to get a fairly smooth finish. Then applied primer then gelcoat, sanded with 120/220 and another coat of gelcoat. I brushed it on with a china bristle brush to help minimize brush strokes and it turned out fine...not factory finish fine, but still a nice looking job.

I am not sure why you would prime gelcoat before putting on more gelcoat,unless you used a polyester primer such as the Duratec primer,you would have been better off just sanding the existing gel and spraying gel on top of it.Here is the other thing ,you can buy Prevail disposable sprayers pretty cheap,they are self contained and will spray gelcoat just fine if it is properly thinned,once you are done you throw it in the trash,there is no reason whatsoever not to spray the gelcoat on and if you want a decent job that is the way you will do it.Check the link below for the prevail disposable sprayer.

http://www.ippnet.com/EN/main/products/15529/16267.html

 

[McDog]

He used polyester primer because I had some left over from where I had to prime over some epoxy mixed with cabosil I used to do a hull repair. I think he just wanted to be sure he didn't have any problems like I did. Gelcoat will not dry on epoxy. I learned that the hard way.

 

[Pablo]

He used polyester primer because I had some left over from where I had to prime over some epoxy mixed with cabosil I used to do a hull repair. I think he just wanted to be sure he didn't have any problems like I did. Gelcoat will not dry on epoxy. I learned that the hard way.

yup.

 

[crashnburn86]

Thx for all the advice i guess im back to sanding then, and ill just paint it.

 

[yamaslut]

good job... gel coat is gay!!!! ha ha

get that thing painted and come out and ride the break w/ us...

 

[crashnburn86]

Hah im trying i still need a motor!

 

[WFO Speedracer]

He used polyester primer because I had some left over from where I had to prime over some epoxy mixed with cabosil I used to do a hull repair. I think he just wanted to be sure he didn't have any problems like I did. Gelcoat will not dry on epoxy. I learned that the hard way.

You must be talking about epoxy primer here because I have shot gelcoat over epoxy repairs way more times than I can possibly recall,when I worked at the Ski Nautique dealership epoxy is all we used for repairs,it is also all I have used since,I have never had a problem with using gelcoat over epoxy,it is a myth.

 

[Watty]

I've had good results with flowcoat, but there is some good info here. Try to get a cheap gunn with a big tip, this way you don't have to think down the gelcoat/flowcoat as much.