Refitting a Compass 47

[minaret]

Why no shooting? Is it the marina you're in? The way you are doing it is a nightmare, it'll take four times as long like that. Please let me help you here, gelcoat is my thing. You certain you can't shoot? You can gear up for pretty cheap if you are only doing a section at a time. Depending on how much boat you're doing a $50 gun and a few compressor rentals will save you loads of time. I can talk you through it even if you've never shot anything before.


Which patch booster are you using? Is it Cobalt? No surface seal? Or is it in the booster?


My color matching cart. I've matched many hundreds of gallons off it. I shoot a whole lot of gel. Used to run a spray booth at a large industrial facility too, shooting production gel.

[Cherp]

Minaret...are you talking about spray-painting gelcoat?

[minaret]

Originally Posted by Cherp

Minaret...are you talking about spray-painting gelcoat?

Sure, of course.

[cpa]

Originally Posted by minaret

Why no shooting? Is it the marina you're in? The way you are doing it is a nightmare, it'll take four times as long like that. Please let me help you here, gelcoat is my thing. You certain you can't shoot? You can gear up for pretty cheap if you are only doing a section at a time. Depending on how much boat you're doing a $50 gun and a few compressor rentals will save you loads of time. I can talk you through it even if you've never shot anything before.


Which patch booster are you using? Is it Cobalt? No surface seal? Or is it in the booster?


My color matching cart. I've matched many hundreds of gallons off it. I shoot a whole lot of gel. Used to run a spray booth at a large industrial facility too, shooting production gel.

I will find out what batch booster I am using today when I am at the boat. I have had some bad experiences trying to spray paint through a gun. But, I would love to learn how with gel coat. Is it easier to spray than paint?

[minaret]

Originally Posted by cpa

I will find out what batch booster I am using today when I am at the boat. I have had some bad experiences trying to spray paint through a gun. But, I would love to learn how with gel coat. Is it easier to spray than paint?

Yes and no. It's different. Of course getting a great finish is not paramount, since you will be wet sanding and buffing it anyway. So if that was your problem shooting paint, you don't have to worry about some peel here. Rolling on eight coats to get a finish is madness. I bet you have to sand off at least half of what you put on. Prep it, squirt on three coats heavy, wet sand and buff, and you're done.

[cpa]

Originally Posted by minaret

Yes and no. It's different. Of course getting a great finish is not paramount, since you will be wet sanding and buffing it anyway. So if that was your problem shooting paint, you don't have to worry about some peel here. Rolling on eight coats to get a finish is madness. I bet you have to sand off at least half of what you put on. Prep it, squirt on three coats heavy, wet sand and buff, and you're done.

That does sound a lot better. I think I might give it a go. I am heading back to the boat after a nice lunch. Thanks for all the help.

[cpa]

Originally Posted by minaret

Which patch booster are you using? Is it Cobalt? No surface seal? Or is it in the booster?

Here is the patch booster we are using.

[cpa]

Today went pretty well. We removed everything including the stanchions, toe rail, cleat, fair leads, spinnaker pole and reaching strut brackets. Basically all but the two jib tracks. I had to do a little more wood cutting and grinding to get to a few of the bolts, but nothing too bad. We will tackle the tracks this weekend and will hopefully start fairing on Monday.

[cpa]

More:

[minaret]

Originally Posted by cpa

Here is the patch booster we are using.

Ah, Ultrapatch. Have you used much yet? Are you getting a good surface cure?


Hate to say it, but I'd throw that stuff away. First off, it's shelf life is 90 days, check the MSDS. I bet it takes half that time just to get shipped out from the factory and shelved at the store. If its been sitting on the shelf for any time at all, it's no good. Working time is supposed to be five minutes, it's much too hot for what you're doing. It is accelerated with Cobalt and actually will give a false high moisture reading. And in my experience most patch boosters do just the opposite of what they claim to do. You'll get much better results with Surface Seal or PVA. I prefer Surface Seal. You can make your own with styrene monomer and paraffin wax, works great. But a can of the commercial stuff lasts forever too.

[cpa]

Originally Posted by minaret

Ah, Ultrapatch. Have you used much yet? Are you getting a good surface cure?


Hate to say it, but I'd throw that stuff away. First off, it's shelf life is 90 days, check the MSDS. I bet it takes half that time just to get shipped out from the factory and shelved at the store. If its been sitting on the shelf for any time at all, it's no good. Working time is supposed to be five minutes, it's much too hot for what you're doing. It is accelerated with Cobalt and actually will give a false high moisture reading. And in my experience most patch boosters do just the opposite of what they claim to do. You'll get much better results with Surface Seal or PVA. I prefer Surface Seal. You can make your own with styrene monomer and paraffin wax, works great. But a can of the commercial stuff lasts forever too.

That does not surprise me. I was not too happy with it the last time I used it. Please excuse my ignorance on the subject, but can I use the Surface Seal or PVA with my brushable gel coat? Also, if I decide to try to spray it, can I still use the brushable stuff, or is that why I am having to put on so many coats? Will traditional gel coat, being thicker, make thick coats easier?

Thanks!

[minaret]

Are you using this?


ARMORSTONE - POLYGEM, Inc.

[cpa]

This is what we are using.

[minaret]

Interesting. Never seen a manufacterer describe their gelcoat as "brushable". Usually gelcoat is gelcoat, and the only option is pre waxed or plain. Perhaps this is a roundabout way of saying this is a waxed gelcoat, but I couldn't get an MSDS on their site.