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Started By
Message
Need some advice concerning my 17 foot fiberglass center console Bay boat.
Posted on 3/29/19 at 3:16 pm
Posted on 3/29/19 at 3:16 pm
The hull is over 20 yrs. old but the boat still runs good. Problem is the gelcoat on the topside is starting to chip and crack. I really don't want to spend thousands of $$ to have it professionally redone. Is there a good product on the market that I can topcoat it myself that won't break the bank? Only looking to get say another 5 or so years out of it. There are a couple of soft spots on the floor that I could repair before. Any advice would be appreciated.
4
Posted on 3/29/19 at 3:19 pm to The Shed
Re-coat with awlgrip?
Fixed.
I’ll also add - just spot patch with gel coat if you are not too worried about looks.
Fixed.
I’ll also add - just spot patch with gel coat if you are not too worried about looks.
This post was edited on 3/29/19 at 3:26 pm
Posted on 3/29/19 at 3:21 pm to eng08
LOL. Not sure what you're asking me.
Posted on 3/29/19 at 3:54 pm to The Shed
Gelcoating and floor softness are different issues. If you are just looking to add a layer of gelcoat, I've used the West System stuff and it is pretty easy to work with. You can buy large bottles with squirt tops that measure the components well. That is something you can do yourself if you aren't too picky about it looking like a professional job. That may be what you mean, although it's difficult to figure out exactly what the problem is.
As for the soft floor, you are looking at cutting open the deck. For a novice just trying to get some final years, I don't know if it would be worth your time and effort to try to do that yourself.
As for the soft floor, you are looking at cutting open the deck. For a novice just trying to get some final years, I don't know if it would be worth your time and effort to try to do that yourself.
This post was edited on 3/29/19 at 4:05 pm
Posted on 3/29/19 at 4:04 pm to TBoy
Yeah, I would just step around the soft spots for 5 more years.
Posted on 3/29/19 at 5:11 pm to The Shed
quote:
The hull is over 20 yrs. old but the boat still runs good. Problem is the gelcoat on the topside is starting to chip and crack. I really don't want to spend thousands of $$ to have it professionally redone. Is there a good product on the market that I can topcoat it myself that won't break the bank? Only looking to get say another 5 or so years out of it. There are a couple of soft spots on the floor that I could repair before. Any advice would be appreciated.
You would have to post some pictures for us to see. If you are talking strictly cosmetics, there are a ton of marine mat type places around. You could just throw down some sections of cheap seadek an call it a day.
If it is a structural issue, i suggest taking some pictures and posting it on thehulltruth. Let them know what type of boat it is. There are some great people over there that can point you in the right direction.
Posted on 3/29/19 at 5:35 pm to eng08
I'm in same situation. I have an older boat with few spots of small cracks/chips but no soft spots. Can you just prep an awlgrip over entire floor?
Posted on 3/29/19 at 7:12 pm to headedwest21
You can Awgrip the entire floor if you want to or just reapply gelcoat.
Renewing the Gelcoat is easy if you are a DIY kind of person and have a few tools. Simply tape off any areas you do not want covered, sand real good and you can very easily just roll gelcoat on the floor with a paint roller. To add to the non skid simply add some powdered pumice to the final coat and you have it. **** . You do have to add 'sanding aid' to the gelcoat, it comes to the surface and forms an airtight layer that will allow it to cure.
For me it was a really fun project, a legal high and a project that I will be repeating next year as we have almost walked through another layer of gelcoat.
This guys Youtube channel is great and he covers a couple of products here when it come to paining awgrip.
LINK
Renewing the Gelcoat is easy if you are a DIY kind of person and have a few tools. Simply tape off any areas you do not want covered, sand real good and you can very easily just roll gelcoat on the floor with a paint roller. To add to the non skid simply add some powdered pumice to the final coat and you have it. **** . You do have to add 'sanding aid' to the gelcoat, it comes to the surface and forms an airtight layer that will allow it to cure.
For me it was a really fun project, a legal high and a project that I will be repeating next year as we have almost walked through another layer of gelcoat.
This guys Youtube channel is great and he covers a couple of products here when it come to paining awgrip.
LINK
This post was edited on 3/29/19 at 7:13 pm
Posted on 3/29/19 at 7:34 pm to Reelscreamers
Capt D,
Did you have the non skid diamond pattern on your boat before you did it? Mine has that pattern so trying to figure if once i re applied coating, would i still need a sand aid.
Did you have the non skid diamond pattern on your boat before you did it? Mine has that pattern so trying to figure if once i re applied coating, would i still need a sand aid.
Posted on 3/29/19 at 8:09 pm to The Shed
quote:
There are a couple of soft spots on the floor that I could repair before. Any advice would be appreciated.
Run. There is a very good chance the stringers are rotting out too along with the transom.
Posted on 3/29/19 at 9:09 pm to Reelscreamers
On my boats - for regular smooth areas I used a close color match Gelcoat and Saran wrap. Or plastic.
After cleaning out the chip, Get some masking tape and your piece of plastic wrap and tape it next to the chip. Mix your Gelcoat with hardener, dab a bit on the spot, then stretch the plastic tight over the spot and tape it on the other side so it’s tight.
Use your finger to try and smooth it out and get it close to the adjacent Gelcoat.
That trick makes it much easier to sand and smooth and buff it back in if you don’t want to or can’t spray it.
After cleaning out the chip, Get some masking tape and your piece of plastic wrap and tape it next to the chip. Mix your Gelcoat with hardener, dab a bit on the spot, then stretch the plastic tight over the spot and tape it on the other side so it’s tight.
Use your finger to try and smooth it out and get it close to the adjacent Gelcoat.
That trick makes it much easier to sand and smooth and buff it back in if you don’t want to or can’t spray it.
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