how much gel coat - Moderated Discussion Areas

  ContinuousWave
  Whaler
  Moderated Discussion Areas
  ContinuousWave: Whaler Repairs/Mods
  how much gel coat

search | FAQ | profile | register | author help

Author Topic:   how much gel coat

SMLWhaler posted 07-15-2003 10:22 AM ET (US)
I have a 13'whaler. I am ready to spray gel coat on the entire bottom. I am using Spectra's product. How much should I buy? It comes in quarts and gallons.
Bigshot posted 07-15-2003 11:16 AM ET (US)
Couple gallons at least.
jameso posted 07-15-2003 01:25 PM ET (US)
SML guy,
Think twice! If you are not an expert with gel and glass I would farm this out. Last 13 I saw 'painted' with new gel coat looked like a chocolate bar that had been left on the console too long.
Just my 02, Jim Armstrong
timbaho posted 07-15-2003 10:14 PM ET (US)
SMLWhaler,
I also will echo jameso's suggestion from personal experience. I purchased two Guardians at a gov. sale with the intentions of refurbishing them both. After I saw the difficulty invlved with the process and less than desirable results from a non professional application of 2 gals. of Spectrum (that's $300 worth) on my buddy's Guardian, I quickly shyed away from the Spectrum complexities to the Awlgrip application. I did all the prep work myself and found a professional do the application and I'm VERY pleased with the results. Gelcoat just isn't meant to be sprayed as a final coat after leaving the factory although it's done from time to time by knowledgable people and a TON of sanding and polishing. The epoxy urethanes made today have an incredible finish if you choose the right one for your situation you won't be dissappointed. Kevin
timbaho posted 07-15-2003 10:16 PM ET (US)
SMLWhaler,
I also will echo jameso's suggestion from personal experience. I purchased two Guardians at a gov. sale with the intentions of refurbishing them both. After I saw the difficulty invlved with the process and less than desirable results from a non professional application of 2 gals. of Spectrum (that's $300 worth) on my buddy's Guardian, I quickly shyed away from the Spectrum complexities to the Awlgrip application. I did all the prep work myself and found a professional do the application and I'm VERY pleased with the results. Gelcoat just isn't meant to be sprayed as a final coat after leaving the factory although it's done from time to time by knowledgable people and a TON of sanding and polishing. The epoxy urethanes made today have an incredible finish if you choose the right one for your situation you won't be dissappointed. Kevin
Smallfrye posted 07-16-2003 10:16 AM ET (US)
Kevin, what was the cost to apply the paint after you did the prep work ? I'm working on a Guardian now that is a borderline re- surface job. I was going to patch the many scratches with gel coat but the number of spots seems to be increasing daily.
Is the prep work simply sanding and wash ?
Thanks, Jim
SMLWhaler posted 07-16-2003 01:55 PM ET (US)
After talking to the rep. from Spectrum and hearing what you guys have to say regarding the complexity of working with the product, I'm second guessing myself. It seems like too many variables to contend with. Humidity, temperature, sunlight, proper mixing, plus the main disadvantage of having to work outside. I'm leaning towards Awlgrip. Probably will try to find someone else to spray it also.
Is this stuff tough enough to endure long term? Can I have it sprayed on the entire bottom of the boat as I had planned to do with the gel coat? The boat will not be sitting in the water for more than a day at a time.
Thanks for all the input. I have spent about 400 hours doing prep work so I want to make sure I end up with something that looks decent and is durable as well.

Bigshot posted 07-16-2003 02:50 PM ET (US)
Awl grip is tough stuff. Fine on the bottom as long as you don't leave in the water too long(week?). You can also roll & tip it yourself and get better results than spray being no orange peel. I hear most yachts are rolled & tipped for a mirror finish.
mtbadfish posted 07-16-2003 04:33 PM ET (US)
What is the best paint alternative to gelcoat for the hull bottom. Something that would be able to exceed the 1 week in water restriction Bigshot referred to?

mtbadfish posted 07-16-2003 04:35 PM ET (US)
Punctuation check.
What is the best paint alternative to gelcoat for the hull bottom? Something that would be able to exceed the 1 week in water restriction Bigshot referred to.

SMLWhaler posted 07-17-2003 09:42 AM ET (US)
What do you mean by rolled and tipped? I'm assuming rolled means rolling paint on with a roller but what about tipped?
flyguy posted 07-17-2003 10:30 AM ET (US)
"It seems like too many variables to contend with. Humidity, temperature, sunlight, proper mixing, plus the main disadvantage of having to work outside."
I don't think it's that big a deal. I sprayed some fairly large areas on my boat with decent results. In the sun, out of sun, it worked fine. I won't dispute the fact that working with regular paint will probably be easier and cheaper, not to mention that gel coat seems to ruin every tool it touched. Follow the directions and be confident. The one tip I can give you is that you should NOT thin it with more than 20% acetone. Any more will lead to severe curing problems. Stick to 20% and you will be fine. Good luck.
jimh posted 07-17-2003 10:46 AM ET (US)
See a previous message thread for comments on this topic:
http://continuouswave.com/ubb/Forum3/HTML/003707.html
If sprayed to a thickness of 20-mils, you can cover about 20-sq-ft with each quart.
WetWilly389 posted 07-26-2003 09:42 PM ET (US)
Why is it that Awlgrip can only be on the bottom for only a week? If the sides and interior are awlgripped that won't wear off in a week, would it?
acassidy posted 07-27-2003 09:19 AM ET (US)
If you leave it in the water for more than a week you could go with a barrier coat and with bottom paint. I have read many times that 2 part epoxy paints will bubble up if left in the water for a long period of time. Very interesting thread about people's experience with gelcoat.

Hop to:

Contact Us | RETURN to ContinuousWave Top Page

Powered by: Ultimate Bulletin Board, Freeware Version 2000
Purchase our Licensed Version- which adds many more features!
© Infopop Corporation (formerly Madrona Park, Inc.), 1998 - 2000.

Author	Topic: how much gel coat
SMLWhaler	posted 07-15-2003 10:22 AM ET (US) I have a 13'whaler. I am ready to spray gel coat on the entire bottom. I am using Spectra's product. How much should I buy? It comes in quarts and gallons.
Bigshot	posted 07-15-2003 11:16 AM ET (US) Couple gallons at least.
jameso	posted 07-15-2003 01:25 PM ET (US) SML guy, Think twice! If you are not an expert with gel and glass I would farm this out. Last 13 I saw 'painted' with new gel coat looked like a chocolate bar that had been left on the console too long. Just my 02, Jim Armstrong
timbaho	posted 07-15-2003 10:14 PM ET (US) SMLWhaler, I also will echo jameso's suggestion from personal experience. I purchased two Guardians at a gov. sale with the intentions of refurbishing them both. After I saw the difficulty invlved with the process and less than desirable results from a non professional application of 2 gals. of Spectrum (that's $300 worth) on my buddy's Guardian, I quickly shyed away from the Spectrum complexities to the Awlgrip application. I did all the prep work myself and found a professional do the application and I'm VERY pleased with the results. Gelcoat just isn't meant to be sprayed as a final coat after leaving the factory although it's done from time to time by knowledgable people and a TON of sanding and polishing. The epoxy urethanes made today have an incredible finish if you choose the right one for your situation you won't be dissappointed. Kevin
timbaho	posted 07-15-2003 10:16 PM ET (US) SMLWhaler, I also will echo jameso's suggestion from personal experience. I purchased two Guardians at a gov. sale with the intentions of refurbishing them both. After I saw the difficulty invlved with the process and less than desirable results from a non professional application of 2 gals. of Spectrum (that's $300 worth) on my buddy's Guardian, I quickly shyed away from the Spectrum complexities to the Awlgrip application. I did all the prep work myself and found a professional do the application and I'm VERY pleased with the results. Gelcoat just isn't meant to be sprayed as a final coat after leaving the factory although it's done from time to time by knowledgable people and a TON of sanding and polishing. The epoxy urethanes made today have an incredible finish if you choose the right one for your situation you won't be dissappointed. Kevin
Smallfrye	posted 07-16-2003 10:16 AM ET (US) Kevin, what was the cost to apply the paint after you did the prep work ? I'm working on a Guardian now that is a borderline re- surface job. I was going to patch the many scratches with gel coat but the number of spots seems to be increasing daily. Is the prep work simply sanding and wash ? Thanks, Jim
SMLWhaler	posted 07-16-2003 01:55 PM ET (US) After talking to the rep. from Spectrum and hearing what you guys have to say regarding the complexity of working with the product, I'm second guessing myself. It seems like too many variables to contend with. Humidity, temperature, sunlight, proper mixing, plus the main disadvantage of having to work outside. I'm leaning towards Awlgrip. Probably will try to find someone else to spray it also. Is this stuff tough enough to endure long term? Can I have it sprayed on the entire bottom of the boat as I had planned to do with the gel coat? The boat will not be sitting in the water for more than a day at a time. Thanks for all the input. I have spent about 400 hours doing prep work so I want to make sure I end up with something that looks decent and is durable as well.
Bigshot	posted 07-16-2003 02:50 PM ET (US) Awl grip is tough stuff. Fine on the bottom as long as you don't leave in the water too long(week?). You can also roll & tip it yourself and get better results than spray being no orange peel. I hear most yachts are rolled & tipped for a mirror finish.
mtbadfish	posted 07-16-2003 04:33 PM ET (US) What is the best paint alternative to gelcoat for the hull bottom. Something that would be able to exceed the 1 week in water restriction Bigshot referred to?
mtbadfish	posted 07-16-2003 04:35 PM ET (US) Punctuation check. What is the best paint alternative to gelcoat for the hull bottom? Something that would be able to exceed the 1 week in water restriction Bigshot referred to.
SMLWhaler	posted 07-17-2003 09:42 AM ET (US) What do you mean by rolled and tipped? I'm assuming rolled means rolling paint on with a roller but what about tipped?
flyguy	posted 07-17-2003 10:30 AM ET (US) "It seems like too many variables to contend with. Humidity, temperature, sunlight, proper mixing, plus the main disadvantage of having to work outside." I don't think it's that big a deal. I sprayed some fairly large areas on my boat with decent results. In the sun, out of sun, it worked fine. I won't dispute the fact that working with regular paint will probably be easier and cheaper, not to mention that gel coat seems to ruin every tool it touched. Follow the directions and be confident. The one tip I can give you is that you should NOT thin it with more than 20% acetone. Any more will lead to severe curing problems. Stick to 20% and you will be fine. Good luck.
jimh	posted 07-17-2003 10:46 AM ET (US) See a previous message thread for comments on this topic: http://continuouswave.com/ubb/Forum3/HTML/003707.html If sprayed to a thickness of 20-mils, you can cover about 20-sq-ft with each quart.
WetWilly389	posted 07-26-2003 09:42 PM ET (US) Why is it that Awlgrip can only be on the bottom for only a week? If the sides and interior are awlgripped that won't wear off in a week, would it?
acassidy	posted 07-27-2003 09:19 AM ET (US) If you leave it in the water for more than a week you could go with a barrier coat and with bottom paint. I have read many times that 2 part epoxy paints will bubble up if left in the water for a long period of time. Very interesting thread about people's experience with gelcoat.