Epoxy ??

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C

Cmp1110

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Jun 16, 2011
173
Catalina 350 Rock hall
Can I gel coat over west epoxy??
Repaired my rudder today and I want to use gel coat to finish fair the bottom edge
 
CalebD

CalebD

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Jun 27, 2006
1,479
Tartan 27' 1967 Nyack, NY
Gel coat is a pigmented polyester resin. When boat hulls are made usually they spray the mold with gel coat and then apply polyester resin and fibers which makes a polyester to polyester chemical bond with the gel coat.
Most gel coat can labels suggest that it can't be applied over epoxy although I have done it. The gel coat will only have a mechanical bond to the epoxy so it is best to use a fairly rough grit sand paper on your epoxy coating that allows the gel coat some 'tooth' to grab. At a minimum wipe your epoxy coat down with Acetone to remove any amine blush on the surface of the cured epoxy.
It can be done successfully.
 
MrUnix

MrUnix

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Mar 24, 2010
626
Hunter 23 Gainesville, FL
Cmp1110 said:
Can I gel coat over west epoxy?
Click to expand
Did you read my reply to your other rudder repair thread? Yes, it can be done and I did the same repair to my rudder (split seam). Let the epoxy cure fully (2-4 days min), wipe down with a damp rag to remove any amine blush and then rough up with sandpaper or a grinding bit in a dremel. Use a wax solution if you don't have any PVA or other means to inhibit oxygen so it cures hard. Put on a bit more than you think you need as it shrinks slightly when cured, then sand it smooth and flush.

Cheers,
Brad
 
catsailor

catsailor

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Jan 10, 2009
590
PDQ 32 Deale, MD
Cmp1110 said:
Can I gel coat over west epoxy??
Repaired my rudder today and I want to use gel coat to finish fair the bottom edge
Click to expand
This is submerged and bottom painted? In that case there is no reason to do ANYTHING over the epoxy. Scrub off the blush and paint. The epoxy is more water proof than the gel coat anyway, no barrier coat needed.
 
Don S/V ILLusion

Don S/V ILLusion

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Sep 25, 2008
7,435
Alden 50 Sarasota, Florida
catsailor said:
This is submerged and bottom painted? In that case there is no reason to do ANYTHING over the epoxy. Scrub off the blush and paint. The epoxy is more water proof than the gel coat anyway, no barrier coat needed.
Click to expand

I suggest you follow the above for the following reason. Some years ago, Nelson Mareck produced an epoxy hull boat covered with typical gel coat. ALL of them developed blistering (not the underwater type) and the gel coat had to be stripped like sheets of paper off the hull because it didn't adhere. Sure, some lasted longer than others but eventually ALL of them separated from the glass.

My son had one and I still recall peeling the gel coat off easier than wet wallpaper.
 
C

Cmp1110

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Jun 16, 2011
173
Catalina 350 Rock hall
MrUnix said:
Did you read my reply to your other rudder repair thread? Yes, it can be done and I did the same repair to my rudder (split seam). Let the epoxy cure fully (2-4 days min), wipe down with a damp rag to remove any amine blush and then rough up with sandpaper or a grinding bit in a dremel. Use a wax solution if you don't have any PVA or other means to inhibit oxygen so it cures hard. Put on a bit more than you think you need as it shrinks slightly when cured, then sand it smooth and flush.

Cheers,
Brad
Click to expand
I did read your post and it was helpful I have epoxy filler ( interlude water tite)
But I may not have enough and I have a whole can of paste gel coat wanted to use it up but I will get more water tite do not want to chance it I plan on finishing with intercote just need to smooth out some spots
Thanks everyone for your advice
 
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