I Guess This Comes Under Maintenance

[Rakuflames]

Gasoline from the generator got spilled on my cabin top during the boat parade. The (old) gelcoat is bubbled up and yellow.

What would be the best thing to do? I do not have time to completely refinish the boat over this.

[Ram]

why not just sand the area thats bad , Gel Coat is thick and then buff some 3M Finesse-It II Glaze -then wax !

[Cheechako]

Hmmm, I'd be surprised if gas would do that to gel coat... sure it hasnt been painted? or maybe it sat wet for a long time? Gas should evaporate nearly as fast as acetone or lacquer thinner I would think....

[delmarrey]

Originally Posted by Cheechako

Hmmm, I'd be surprised if gas would do that to gel coat... sure it hasnt been painted? or maybe it sat wet for a long time? Gas should evaporate nearly as fast as acetone or lacquer thinner I would think....

I would agree! Gelcoat should hold up to gasoline for an extended time, unless there were cracks that it seeped into and caused a de-lamination.

[capngeo]

Agreed.. I have Gelled the INSIDE of fuel tanks when building them

[zeehag]

sounds like paint bubbling instead of gelcoat, unless gelcoat was poorly sprayed-- shouldnt bubble with gasoline--mine didnt. good luck.

[Rakuflames]

Originally Posted by Cheechako

Hmmm, I'd be surprised if gas would do that to gel coat... sure it hasnt been painted? or maybe it sat wet for a long time? Gas should evaporate nearly as fast as acetone or lacquer thinner I would think....

Yes of course I'm sure it was gasoline. I was right there when it happened. I am sure it did evaporate very quickly. Nevertheless, the gelcoat is quite damaged.

[Rakuflames]

Originally Posted by delmarrey

I would agree! Gelcoat should hold up to gasoline for an extended time, unless there were cracks that it seeped into and caused a de-lamination.

Aha! OLD boat. OLD gel coat.

[Rakuflames]

Originally Posted by Rakuflames

Gasoline from the generator got spilled on my cabin top during the boat parade. The (old) gelcoat is bubbled up and yellow.

What would be the best thing to do? I do not have time to completely refinish the boat over this.

So now I refine my knowledge of the problem:

The generator, a small one, was sitting on a piece of styrofoam. I'm thinking that maybe the gasoline dissolved the styrofoam and *that's* what is all over my cabin too? Ya think?

If so, what would be a good way to get it off?

[David_Old_Jersey]

Originally Posted by Rakuflames

So now I refine my knowledge of the problem:

The generator, a small one, was sitting on a piece of styrofoam. I'm thinking that maybe the gasoline dissolved the styrofoam and *that's* what is all over my cabin too? Ya think?

If so, what would be a good way to get it off?

You could try using Gasoline / Petrol! (honestly!)....melted it last time .......once removed might need to sand down any staining.

FWIW, gelcoat simply doesn't bubble up from petrol.....of course you could have invented some sort of GRP eating combination of chemicals - if so, get a Patent!

[delmarrey]

Originally Posted by David_Old_Jersey

You could try using Gasoline / Petrol! (honestly!)....melted it last time .......once removed might need to sand down any staining.

Ditto! That and a plastic ice scraper. Then some rubbing compound and polish.

[Rakuflames]

Originally Posted by David_Old_Jersey

You could try using Gasoline / Petrol! (honestly!)....melted it last time .......once removed might need to sand down any staining.

FWIW, gelcoat simply doesn't bubble up from petrol.....of course you could have invented some sort of GRP eating combination of chemicals - if so, get a Patent!

This place is GREAT but no, I haven't invented any new miracle chemical. I just suddenly remembered that the generator had been sitting on styrofoam packing (it had never been used before), and when I threw it away ... it had a hole in it ... a hole with very smooth edges. You never get smooth edges if you put a hole in styrofoam mechanically.

[Rakuflames]

Originally Posted by David_Old_Jersey

You could try using Gasoline / Petrol! (honestly!)....melted it last time .......once removed might need to sand down any staining.

FWIW, gelcoat simply doesn't bubble up from petrol.....of course you could have invented some sort of GRP eating combination of chemicals - if so, get a Patent!

Thank you!!

[David_Old_Jersey]

Originally Posted by Rakuflames

Thank you!!

Errrr.....let us know how it turns out

FWIW I would start with a small area and not flood the deck with Gas / Petrol - as will likely yellow the Gelcoat, albeit I am not sure of the timescale for that (instant? or a week? / more?). Clean up with soapy water (Washing powder (for Clothes) is my favourite (and cheap!) degreaser that also breaks down petrol and diesel from spills....again, don't start by spreading it all down the deck!

Then, if still yellowing / staining can start with gelcoat rubbing compound (or automotive T-Cut ) - but if that don't work then it's time for the Sandpaper (wet 'n' dry) - used wet!........start with something like 800 grit and then work your way down the numbers until you start shifting gelcoat / stain (dunno how thick your gelcoat is, but on the (older) boats I have done this on can be surprisingly aggressive with the hand sanding (not a belt sander though!) and seem to need to be to shift any gelcoat (it's tuff stuff!)........and then work your way back up to 800 grit (or higher) and then finish with rubbing compound and polish - downside is that will likely look a bit better than rest of deck, that difference will fade in time.