Gelcoat over epoxy?

[strick]

Originally Posted by shine

Epoxy resin and hardener are more like couples at a dance, mix in too many males or females and you end up with leftover resin or hardener with no where to go = soft epoxy.

Back in the day we had no problem with the left over females

strick

[FishStretcher]

The guys at Merton's were telling me not to try gelcoat over epoxy. They were trying to be helpful, and I appreciate that, but I will probably still try it anyways, I found some West marine coupons. I will do a test panel this weekend.

[FishStretcher]

Maybe a test panel next weekend. Have been block sanding this weekend. Not too bad to hand sand with a 36 grit long board with micro-balloons and epoxy, but not a lot of fun.

Blue sharpie marker spots where I need to fill a little more.

The bare patch in the middle will be a hatch for the console, so I don't have to swing it on the hinges to get to storage. That will also be my West System to gel coat compatibility test panel.

[pelican]

another good tip,when applying gel over epoxy:

i like and use duratec surfacer - it's a two fold - it fills the pin holes and,it provides a seperation coat - spray the duratec,let it kick,sand,and spray on the gel - i use epoxy on just about every repair i do - this is the method i use...

[FishStretcher]

Originally Posted by pelican

another good tip,when applying gel over epoxy:

i like and use duratec surfacer - it's a two fold - it fills the pin holes and,it provides a seperation coat - spray the duratec,let it kick,sand,and spray on the gel - i use epoxy on just about every repair i do - this is the method i use...

I guess I will have to order some. I keep hearing about it here, and a primer/filler/surfacer can't hurt. Looks like mail order from Express Composites, unless there is someplace local north of Boston.

[FishStretcher]

Originally Posted by FishStretcher

I guess I will have to order some. I keep hearing about it here, and a primer/filler/surfacer can't hurt. Looks like mail order from Express Composites, unless there is someplace local north of Boston.

The vinylester duratec came in this week, haven't even opened the box. I hate sanding with a longboard. Especially when I screw up and put down too much fairing compound. Oh well, it will look nice.

[bigeasy1]

Originally Posted by FishStretcher

Is there someplace other than We$$$t Marine wher I can get gel coat retail for under $50/ qt?

That's the Woburn, MA price. I might want to apply it this weekend, so mail order isn't gonna do it.

Get it from www.mertons.com he's in springfield Ma and he carries a very good quality gelcoat.$21.75 per quart and 62.95 per gallon.He ships the same day and your a one day delivery.Order it now and you'll have it ups tomorrow.He'll be closed tomorrow(friday 4/6)Tell him I (John) sent you

[FishStretcher]

Well, I am finally getting close to gel coat. I have to address a bunch of "bullet holes" in the console, too. Plus the old gas filler hole in the cap. I filled them with JB-Weld to start. I will probably do one more batch of microbaloons and West System.

but you can see the lack of seat on the console door, finally. Now there is room to move around up there. htat's where the $80, 150 quart cooler goes. The yet to be cut out hatch should be about where one's shoulder blades are.

Oh yeah, a new instrument panel of okume is going in, too, alone with new fuse panels, radio and GPS.

With the tall Master Angler cap and no windshield, it looks like a mini cigarette boat on the trailer.

[FishStretcher]

Working in the new dash panel, too. She likes it when I do woodworking in the dining room

[muddywater]

WillyC and I both did Gel coat over Raka epoxy (his hull bottom and my console). Both of us used Duratec which definitely makes for a shiny finish, but since the Duratec is clear and replaces some of the gelcoat (and therefore some of the pigment), it seems to be a little more difficult to cover repairs without seeing through it. Even though it sprays quite nicely with a regular gun (not so nice in a gel-coat gun we found out), it ends up being kind of a pain because you need it thick enough to cover well, but if you put it on that thick, it runs BAD and sanding out runs without burning through the surrounding area is very very difficult (at least it was with my 6" sander). It took multiple coats. The results were beautiful but it is definitely alot of work. I guess one positive is that it is not as likely to kill you as spraying two part epoxies. Here is a before and after with epoxy and gel-coat.