fixing hull dings and gouges - to gelcoat or not to?

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tipsyravensailing

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Apr 25, 2017
195
pearson 26 holland mi
Hello all!

I've been perusing the forums here and i'm having trouble finding a solution that fits my problem, so i'm gonna try to create a new conversation on it that hopefully tailors to my problem:

Couple details:
1. i don't need to restore to original.
2. i don't want to burn my whole budget doing whatever i do.
3. I just need to get the boat in this year. Next season i can redo anything prior to putting her in.

ok. with that out of the way. I own a pearson p26 and i'm looking at the hull. I have a few things that need to be fixed, and thats not part of the scope of the conversation here. (replacing compound around the keel, rudder tube, and filling a few gouges, as well as removing a through hull).

What i'm coming up bupkis on is how to go from fiberglass to wax.

I know i'm going to need to put down a primer, then a base coat, i'm thinking coppercoat (the copper dust in epoxy) for the below water line, but i'm scratching my head over the notion that there's all this existing gelcoat. I don't care if i maintain the gelcoat... do i? hahah.

So. Help me out. Do i sand the hull down to fiberglass everywhere? Can i primer over the gel coat and just paint? is there any pros that are not cosmetic to trying to bring the gelcoat back?

Thanks!
 
jssailem

jssailem

SBO Weather and Forecasting Forum Jim & John
Oct 22, 2014
22,766
CAL 35 Cruiser #21 moored EVERETT WA
@tipsyravensailing
Help me out. Do you have a picture of what you are describing? Your question covers several different issues.
Thru hulls are one.
It sounds like you want to remove one, is this correct?
 
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tipsyravensailing

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Apr 25, 2017
195
pearson 26 holland mi
*nods* i have a through hole where a transducer was, but plan on getting a 3 in one sensor. leaves me with a extra hole i just simply don't want :p

I already know the methodology for tapering the glass to the hole, backing it, and reglassing a patch in place using progressively larger pads of fabrics. that i learned years ago in the scouts and such.

What i'm struggling with is after its glassed what do. i mean, i know i'm going to put a filler down to smooth it all out - and probably primer, but the presence of the gel coat is screwing me up.

I'll swing over to imgur - i'm sure i have a photo posted already of the through hull and maybe a gouge or two :p
 
DayDreamer41

DayDreamer41

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Oct 29, 2016
1,929
Hunter 41 DS Port Huron
What i'm coming up bupkis on is how to go from fiberglass to wax.
Where are talking about going from FG to wax? above or below waterline

I know i'm going to need to put down a primer, then a base coat, i'm thinking coppercoat (the copper dust in epoxy) for the below water line, but i'm scratching my head over the notion that there's all this existing gelcoat.??
Which gelcoat? Above or below water line, you shouldn't be seeing gelcoat below WL unless its a trailer sailor

I don't care if i maintain the gelcoat... do i? hahah.
Again where?

So. Help me out. Do i sand the hull down to fiberglass everywhere?
Nowhere would you sand to FG unless you are laying up new glass and you need to fair into existing shape

Can i primer over the gel coat and just paint? is there any pros that are not cosmetic to trying to bring the gelcoat back?
Yes many pro's? it all depends how the original gel coat looks

Thanks![/QUOTE]
 
jssailem

jssailem

SBO Weather and Forecasting Forum Jim & John
Oct 22, 2014
22,766
CAL 35 Cruiser #21 moored EVERETT WA
I just had the yard patch several blisters on the bottom of my boat. The blisters were grounded out. This removed the paint and gel coat over the blister and around the immediate area to the fiberglass hull. Allowed the area to dry. Then epoxy with fiber was applied to the area to refill the shallow divot area. This gave a chemical bonded rough faired area. This was sanded to smooth to the hull. Coats of primer were applied o cover the area. Then the area was painted with a barrier coat. Finally the bottom was painted with a bottom paint.
Your patch can be accomplished in the same manner once you have finished the work on the hole.
 
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tipsyravensailing

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Apr 25, 2017
195
pearson 26 holland mi
My intention is to repaint everything below the rub rail. I just don't want to do it wrong :) I'm aware that below the waterline i might need to do something different than above. I don't want to perserve the gelcoat if i don't have to simply because i don't want to trigger my OCD trying to match it :)

its not a matter of spot fixes. The weathered robin egg blue is puke. i want to copper coat the bottom, put a vinyl stripe over it as a water line stripe, and then just white hull the rest of the way up. thats where i want to get to. the problem exists between the fiberglass work which i'm confident i can do and that final objective...
 
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tipsyravensailing

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Apr 25, 2017
195
pearson 26 holland mi
daydreamer - sounds like i can rough up the surface, fair in the gouges, glass and fair in the holes, and just jump straight to primer and build up from there?
 
jssailem

jssailem

SBO Weather and Forecasting Forum Jim & John
Oct 22, 2014
22,766
CAL 35 Cruiser #21 moored EVERETT WA
@tipsyravensailing You are correct on the top side... (the side of the boat above the waterline and below the deck.). The only issue you should consider is the possibility that the former owner waxed the topside. Wipe the topside down with something to cut any wax (this helps to reduce buildup on the sand paper). Then give the topside rough up. Fair any gouges then Primer and paint - (roll and tip).
 
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B

BobbyFunn

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Apr 16, 2017
841
Federation NCC-1701 Riverside
jssailem said:
I just had the yard patch several blisters on the bottom of my boat. The blisters were grounded out. This removed the paint and gel coat over the blister and around the immediate area to the fiberglass hull. Allowed the area to dry. Then epoxy with fiber was applied to the area to refill the shallow divot area. This gave a chemical bonded rough faired area. This was sanded to smooth to the hull. Coats of primer were applied o cover the area. Then the area was painted with a barrier coat. Finally the bottom was painted with a bottom paint.
Your patch can be accomplished in the same manner once you have finished the work on the hole.
Click to expand
Study this very well.

Your overiding issue will be your OCD. That means DIY gelcoat is out of the question for such a large amount of coverage.

I would only use white hot coat gel (with wax) to cure your laminating repairs if you repair with poly resin. Thats simply a restorative process. While faring, you may actually remove or cover most of it.

Trust me, gelcoat looks rough and requires extensive longboarding and reapplication to get results worth waxing. More so without a good sprayer.

Since your repair may be smooth and true, but a mix of white gelcoat and the color of your faring compound. You will essentially have no choice but to pick a top coat and bottom coat paint of your choice and follow the instructions as gospel. The paint is practically free versus effort to do this. Buy the quality you need not the price you like.
 
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tipsyravensailing

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Apr 25, 2017
195
pearson 26 holland mi
with the layers below the water line glass -> fairing -> primer -> base coat? -> copper dust in epoxy (coppercoat) -> rough up finish to activate copper (360 grit)

layers above glass -> fairing - > primer -> paint -> wax

vinyl areas glass -> fairing -> primer -> paint -> vinyl

do i have it right?
 
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DayDreamer41

DayDreamer41

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Oct 29, 2016
1,929
Hunter 41 DS Port Huron
Blue Dingo by chance? I would really attempt polishing above the water line, you might be surprised at how well she turns out. Fairing out 52' of hull is no easy task, you are in Michigan unless you are indoor you won't even be able to start, FG or primer work for at least another month.
 
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tipsyravensailing

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Apr 25, 2017
195
pearson 26 holland mi
it is definately still cold out. i need to pull hardware and grind and sand and the rest while i have the time. the next month is all interior wood work and pulling cleats outside and stanchion bases. month after is glass and paint. then she ships to eldean in lake macatawa and the rest of the work goes from there, while on the water. i hope to day sail it by july maybe. if the season allows i might get out into lake michigan in sept. if i can get out in deep water by the end of the year and back safely i'll call it a massive success.
 
DayDreamer41

DayDreamer41

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Oct 29, 2016
1,929
Hunter 41 DS Port Huron
Just wondering, I looked up Pearson 26 for sale in MI and a powder blue on came up that all.
 
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tipsyravensailing

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Apr 25, 2017
195
pearson 26 holland mi
ah. this was found on craigslist private sale cause the yard gave the boat as a xmas gift to a yard worker who already had a boat so i got it then on the cheap. it was on craigs for all of 4 hrs when i jumped on it :p that was dec 2016.
 
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