Boat Repair

[Bob F]

How would you go about tidying up this?

 

It's from where I removed the seat box. The fibreglass matting has been exposed.

 

Thanks

 

BF

Edited January 26, 2007 by Bob F

[Adam F]

Easy! Just needs re-flow coating.

 

Have a word with Charlie, I'm sure he has used loads of this over the past few months.

 

[Bob F]

I asked for some when I was at the Glass Fibre place by Poole Bridge. They didn't know what it was??

Edited January 28, 2007 by Bob F

[endeavour boats]

ask for gelcoat with wax added.

 

[Afishionado]

I asked for some when I was at the Glass Fibre place by Poole Bridge. They didn't know what it was??

They can be a tad snooty in there Bob and certainly not the most competitive on price. But localy I don't know of anywhere else.

 

Mad Mike

[Paul D]

Bob,

 

I have got a tin of the stuff ( well half a tin ). You are more than welcome to some if you can't get any locally.

 

Alternatively you could order some on the net. ( I will dig out the URL for you )

[shytalk]

i have a little bit knockin about in the workshop depends what colour you require

[Bob F]

It's white, Peter, but I guess you can get different shades of white.

 

Anyway, Paul phoned me earlier today to offer some that he has knocking about in his garage, so I gratefully accepted.

 

Thanks for your offer.

 

Does this stuff have a shelf life once the tin has been opened?

[Paul D]

Bob,

 

Found the tin and opened the lid. All smells and looks OK inside !

 

[shytalk]

manufacturers will only life it for a few months but if stored correctly should be good for a year or so . try a test piece first but not on bare wood if it drys hard to a smooth dull finish should be ok make sure it is very well mixed it is also temperature sensitive warmer it is quicker it will set

[Bob F]

Great. Thanks Peter, Paul.

 

Now for another daft question...how do you apply it? With a brush, a palette knife, a roller???

 

cheers

 

 

Edited January 29, 2007 by Bob F

[great white]

Hi Bob

 

As Peter says its all about matching the colour and getteng the set time correct by judging the amount of catalyst to add

 

Peter is the main man for these repairs but if I can help give me a bell

 

I also have some at home if you need some

 

You can apply many ways but I think I would brush it over that area, a couple of coats without wax then a waxed topcoat was the advice I recieved

To build up thickness to allow for flattening with wet and dry before polishing,

 

Charlie

[shytalk]

rough up the area with scratch wash with acetone mix the gel and catalyst and apply with a brush or short pile roller for larger areas if the gel you have has no wax added the mix this well before adding catalyst as wax and catalyst do not agree add wax at 4% and catalyst at min2%

[Paul D]

The stuff I have has the wax added, although has been sitting in the shed for about 6 months. I used some around a month ago though to fill a couple of chips in the floor and set OK so should be good.

 

 

[Coddy]

I know it may seem a daft question but why do you need wax?

 

Coddy

[Paul D]

It is because the gelcoat will not set whilst it is in contact with the air. If you dont have wax in the gelcoat then you have to cover the gelcoat with sticky tape to exclude the air. The gel will then harden.

 

When moulding items the wax is not required as the mould excludes the air and the gel will set.

 

When repairing or spreading gel on items outside then it will be in contact with the air, so by having wax in the gel it sits on the top and then excludes the air, allowing the gel to set.

 

If applying multiple coats of gelcoat then only the last coat is the one with the wax in it, the earlier coats will then remain tacky making a better bond between subsequent layers.

 

At least that is the way I understand it. I am sure Pete or Charlie will correct me if not quite right.

 

 

Bob,

 

You will need to get some gelcoat wothout wax added as mine is the stuff with wax ( ie. Your last coat ).

 

[shytalk]

theres no problem doing multiple coats with waxed gel just scuff it up with sandpaper and give it a good wash with acetone between c

[Afishionado]

Paul has got it spot on.

As an alternate to a final wax added coat one can cover the last coat with a polythene bin bag opened out and gently placed over the sticky semi set gell coat so as to exclude all air, then tape it down with masking tape on the none affected area outside the repair. When the gell coat has dried hard the polythene comes away easily as there is nothing that sticks to polythene.

 

Mad Mike

[Bob F]

Wow! Thanks for all the help, guys. I can't go wrong now.

[Paul J]

Bob,

 

Ask them to do a demo

 

PJ

[great white]

Bob

 

Come around for a demo if you like I have a bit of gellcoating to do

 

Charlie

[Afishionado]

Bob

 

Come around for a demo if you like I have a bit of gellcoating to do

 

Charlie

I bet he says that to all the girls!

 

Mad Mike

[Swainiac]

Bob, extreme caution to be taken if he offers to show you his etchings!!!

[Bob F]

Come around for a demo if you like I have a bit of gellcoating to do

 

Ok, I'm getting a little frightened now...