refinish help

[saltfly]

OK I need to come back to the experts here. I’m about to start a refinish on my 1981 222ccp. I’m going to change the haul color but want to keep the rest of the boat white. Now sense I’m going to be doing this in stages. I what to color match the color that is right for 1981. Now some of you are now asking, what has this got to do with us? Simple I’m colorblind . So as you can see. I couldn’t color match anything and be right. So OK what color gelcoat should I get and where, and what are most of you using to thin gelcoat for spraying? Oyea did I forget to mention I’m gelcoating and not painting.

[RickK]

Hi Saltfly,
If I haven't already welcomed you - welcome aboard :!:
As for colors - have your wife, girl friend or someone pick the color for you based on what you want.  Which colors can't you see - shades of reds and greens?  Aquasports weren't those colors, 'cept a yellow green hull for a while.
Are you trying to be absolute "factory" on your rebuild?  If not, hey - it's your choice - white's always a winner.  
There is no reason except being "pure" as to why you can't vary in your rebuild.

[bdtsr]

Spraying large ares of gelcoat can be very time consuming to sand and buff out. You may want to consider Imron or some other polyurethane paint. There are other types that work well also. When we have a large area to repair, we usually use the Imron. Any Dupont automotive paint dealer can color match the paint with a sample you provide, they can then give you the formula and it can be reproduced at any Dupont Automotive paint supplier. NAPA also has polyurethane paint but are stuck with "premixed" colors.

[saltfly]

Thanks for the well come, but I’ve been here for a while.  I just don’t post that much, do to a bad computer. Takes forever to get on and post anything.  As well as my fishing comes first. So a new computer has to wait.
 Now for the refinish. I wouldn’t even try Imron even though I like it. I’m doing this in my yard and don’t have a full body suit and an air tank and Imron scares the hell out of me . So I’m sticking to gelcoat. It does take some work :( , but I’m retired so time isn’t a factor. So If anybody uses gelcoat? As for the colors. I’m going with dark dark dark blue for the hull. From the rube rail down to the water line. The gunwale from the rube rail all the way to the floor as well as the bottom will be white. But again. I’m doing this in stages. So I want it to at least look like I know what I’m doing    . Even though there is a question in that.

[slippery73]

You shouldn't have a problem spraying the gelcoat as long as you use the right techniques, tools, and products. The people on here that think its a lot of work aren't applying it correctly to begin with and it results in a lot of wet sanding to smooth out their crappy spray job. I use duratec when spraying gel, you mix equal parts of duratec to gelcoat and catalyze at 2% mekp.  I've included the manufacturers product specs and application guide below. I would also recommend a decent gravity fed hvlp spray gun, wether its a cheapo or a nice gun get at least a 2.0mm tip for it, I'm shooting a Devilbiss with 2.2mm tip and it flows very nicely. With this setup there is virtually no orange peel, im not sure how the cheapo guns spray but in my eyes it was worth the extra money for a nice gun that I new would spray well. One thing to keep in mind is time, only mix a batch at a time when spraying, you don't want this to gel in your gun. I have someone mixing the duratec and gel 50/50 and have the catalyst ready. When Im done with one cup in my gun I clean with acetone, mix in the catalyst in the mix thats waiting and keep spraying. Its like a little assembly line and makes for very little down time as you will want to keep a wet edge while spraying. Not sure where your located but I get all my gelcoat and supplies from FGCI in st. pete. They are very nice and have a knowledgeable staff on the sales floor if you need to go in and ask questions.


http://www.duratec1.com/dp07.html

http://www.duratec1.com/Application_Guides/ag7.pdf

[LilRichard]

This same topic comes up about once every six months.  we have debated plenty of times on spraying gelcoat...

Either way, I would STRONGLY advise against going with a dark color gelcoat.  Even new boats from the factory fade more quickly the darker the color.  If you want to go dark, you're better with a linear polyurethane.  

If you'd like a third party opinion on dark gelcoat, go over to classic mako and ask Rob (Raybo)... he ends up repainting those hulls frequently.

Good luck!

[slippery73]

I agree about the dark hulls with the gelcoat, the darker color just aren't as lightfast as the lighter as they don't reflect uv rays. The lighter the color the more it reflects and the more likely it is not to fade. White hides a lot and is easier to apply and maintain.

[bdtsr]

Hey slippery73, I work for a fiberglass repair company. Please don't dog us or say we do a crappy job when you are 1100 miles away and have never seen our work! If have have a technique that works, please share it, but please keep your insults to yourself.

[slippery73]

Hey slippery73, I work for a fiberglass repair company. Please don't dog us or say we do a crappy job when you are 1100 miles away and have never seen our work! If have have a technique that works, please share it, but please keep your insults to yourself.

Im not dogging anyone, I am simply letting the poster know that gelcoat isn't difficult to work with and that if others are having problems applying it they are simply not using the correct products or techniques. Simple as that. If you would like some more information about the duratec products follow the links I provided above.

[MarshMarlowe196]

Hi Saltfly,
If I haven't already welcomed you - welcome aboard :!:
As for colors - have your wife, girl friend or someone pick the color for you based on what you want.  Which colors can't you see - shades of reds and greens?  Aquasports weren't those colors, 'cept a yellow green hull for a while.
Are you trying to be absolute "factory" on your rebuild?  If not, hey - it's your choice - white's always a winner.  
There is no reason except being "pure" as to why you can't vary in your rebuild.

The hull on my 19-6 appears to have come from the factory with that green color bottom paint, which matched the original rub rail and windshield color.  Is the yellow green color you're talking about the same thing?  Just curious...

[RickK]

I don't think that the factory sent any boats out with bottom paint - may have been an option but I doubt it.

[Capt. Bob]

Hey slippery73, I work for a fiberglass repair company. If have have a technique that works, please share it,

It looks like he did. Hope it helps you out.

[MarshMarlowe196]

I don't think that the factory sent any boats out with bottom paint - may have been an option but I doubt it.

I don't have any pictures of my boat when it still had the green paint, but here's a few that I've found on the net that look to have the same color scheme:





These looked exactly like mine when I bought it...  I know the 19-6 isn't as popular as the 22-2 on this site, so maybe it was something we've overlooked...?  Though I doubt it would have only come on the 19-6...

[saltfly]

Hey guy’s thanks. Bdtsr I don’t think slippery73 was talking about pros but back yard guys like me. And I do agree with him on that. I’ve seen some pretty bad gel coat as well as paint jobs done by us back yard guys and I will add that I’ve also seen some back yard guys do jobs that would rival any pro’s work.
  Just to add. I’m in Delaware and only have West Marine and Boaters World and some small dealers to buy supplies from. I do know a few pros’s here and in Md. That I my be able to get them to order supplies for me. Thanks again. The tips on the spary gun were one of the things I was looking for.

[bdtsr]

saltfly, slippery73 and I have been pming and chating a little bit. Things are all good in AS land and yes it was just a little miscommunication. As for gelcoat application, you should see what some boat companies put out! The owner's son of a dealer I worked for had a 23' go fast. He brought it in for a clean and wax (only 1 year old) and we wound up shooting the whole thing in matching red Imron. The gel coat was so thin that using the buffer removed what little was actually on the boat. Been in some boats you could see day light through the hull!