Sounds like paint is in your future! <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Simple.

Find new locals.

Jake

I thought that spraying of gelcoat was outlawed in the USA because of all that nasty styrene.


Paul GBR7

I think it is too much, it will damage the jell coat quality, I thin 10% and use a gun with 2.5mm nozzle.



I use 2% Paraffin wax and mix it thoroughly, it works fine for me, how ever if the wax is not mixed properly, then you will have an incomplete cure in some areas.

one more thing, once you put tape in order to set the boundaries of of your working area and clean the area with acetone some of the glue from the tape end can smeared and cause the Jell coat not to qure.

in addition I spread styrene on the old layer of Jell coat before i begin spraying, this will cause a cimical reaction to the old layer and the 2 (old & new)layers will merge rather then stick.

<img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" />sorry my English is not perfect and its taking me for ever to write

Interesting discussion. I have broadened my focus to just about any color. Hot Purple? Silver (talk about glare!)

No one has mentioned the "Mother of Pearl" finish you can find on some cars (color changes hue as you look from different angles). Is this possible with gelcoat? Perhaps a base color coat with a modified clearcoat?

I do like the International Orange for the daggarboards/rudders. Is this legal?

uhh, what rule would prevent a commonly used SAR color?

The reason that I recommended orange foils is because a silver boat would be very hard to spot from the air.

Do a dark, gunmetal silver with the orange boards and I'd want to make love to your boat.

Hey Maugan,

I share your taste in color. Just had my new (to me) boat painted a light grey. looking for orange to do the blades but can't find anyone that makes a two or even a 1 part poly in Orange. seems it's popular as anti-foul for offshore stuff, but not something awlgrip makes or even interlux... I'll send you a pic when all is said and done (may be awhile).

worse comes to worst, home depot spray can marking paint + clear coat and polish.
<img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Hi Todd
I don't know who told you that you can't get Awlgrip in Orange...see for yourself at http://www.boatpaint.co.uk/awlgrip_colours_chart.htm

Regards,
Bob

Listening to the guys who dare "to go there' I cannot even think I need that sort of hassle. I know I will have work to do down the line but I figure if I have a thick coat I can cut in repairs with the two coat 1200 wet and dry.

That's not the visual I needed <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" />

But if I were sponsored by H&K or something, that'd be my colorscheme...

i wish i had kept the link that that shows a french guy preparing his catamaran in french polinesia for a few months of chartering , the piture shows him up to his waist in the water roller in one hand and tray in the other happily applying his second coat, he said the previous application had lasted more thn two years! get real guys its only a covering! the real action starts when you hoist the main!!

Say hello to Agent Orange

You of course mean after the final coat of Gel, spray the pva.

I re-gelcoated my hulls this spring using just the wax mixed in the last coat and had no problems with curing.

Over thinning and not using the right amount of MEK can lead to problems.

The Styrene I used recommended no more than 25% by weight not volume to thin.

Perhaps that was part of my problem, but I have since done tests with various amount of thinning and various amounts of wax additives (all in the same day with relatively similar ambient conditions). I got crazy results. I just don't see any reason to not use the PVA when it's so goof proof. I got some great results while thinning at 40% and it seems to be doing just fine - but I guess I would probably recommend less thinning and a thicker nozzle (and more sanding of orange peel).

Nothing wrong with painting. Tornados are painted. The only thing I would do if I were you is try to keep about a 4-inch strip of the bottom gelcoat. It's a better surface for dealing with the beach, beach wheels, etc. and it's easy to touch-up.

I use the PVA on small repairs and it works fine.

I used to do the mad scientist routine and I had problems. Now I follow directions, measure carefully. That way if I have a problem I can go back to the place I get my stuff from and get answers.

...and I know what your talking about when the stuff doesn't work <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif" alt="" />

...and with painting you do most of your sanding up front and with Gel you do most of it after. There's no getting around it. <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif" alt="" />

Sanding by hand with a block or with a machine sander?

Block, wet and dry, for/aft, high/low and the cross angles to creat a true and flat shape.

I don't normally use power tools when sanding. Depending on what I'm doing I'll use fart rock or a board file. Blocks are too small and can create the problems power sanders do.
That is low spots. However blocks are fine for small areas as long as your careful. I thought about using a air file ( air operated board file) but I'm just not a fan of the vibration or pounding the power tools create on a foam or any cored hull.

In case you don't know a file is about 16 inches long and 2.5 wide.