Last fall my bottom was covered with hundreds of small blisters. 19 years ago it had been covered with VC Tar and since has had VC17 applied each year. The yard manager advised a gelcoat peel and resurface job to the tune of $9,600.00. I said ok to the peel, planning to collect enough information about resurfacing, sealing and fairing to finish the project myself in the spring. I'm fairly handy and have time to do the job. The bottom under the gelcoat is in excellent condition -- no delamination and no evidence of longterm moisture penetration. The company that peeled it did a great job leaving me with a fairly smooth surface. Of course, I have lots of grinding to do around thru-hulls and corners. Also, there seems to be some small areas here and there where voids need to be filled. Are there any experts out there willing to give me some advise about the right products for the job? I've begun researching products from Interlux. How should I approach fairing the bottom? Are there any other questions I should be asking?
- Status
Interlux 1000.1001
First - a question - when you say they "peeled" the gel coat - how did they do it a chemical peel? - sand? or sandblast? sounds like they did a good job - I had this done last spring - unfortunately - they had to grind out some of the blisters - The yard manager then recommended a barrier coat of Interlux 1000/1 - and then primed with Interlus 2000/1 - and finally the anti-fouling VC-17 - I am NOT an expert - I relied on the yard manager's expertise - but from what I was able to glean from others - Intelux is the best way to go - for a lake boat - Best of Luck!
First - a question - when you say they "peeled" the gel coat - how did they do it a chemical peel? - sand? or sandblast? sounds like they did a good job - I had this done last spring - unfortunately - they had to grind out some of the blisters - The yard manager then recommended a barrier coat of Interlux 1000/1 - and then primed with Interlus 2000/1 - and finally the anti-fouling VC-17 - I am NOT an expert - I relied on the yard manager's expertise - but from what I was able to glean from others - Intelux is the best way to go - for a lake boat - Best of Luck!
Barrier coat
I did something similiar 2 years ago but only down to the barrier cote. Applied 2 coats of the inter-protect 3000 and 3 coats of Trinadad SR. This worked well and foam (barrier and top coat)rollers made the bottom nice and smooth. The only pain (besides all the sanding to the barrier coat)was you have to put the top coat on the barrier within a few hrs(3-5?) You mentioned you applied a new coat of VC17 each year. Why?
I did something similiar 2 years ago but only down to the barrier cote. Applied 2 coats of the inter-protect 3000 and 3 coats of Trinadad SR. This worked well and foam (barrier and top coat)rollers made the bottom nice and smooth. The only pain (besides all the sanding to the barrier coat)was you have to put the top coat on the barrier within a few hrs(3-5?) You mentioned you applied a new coat of VC17 each year. Why?
Bottom Peel
I've seen boats with the bottom peeled, to get the gel coat off and blisters removed. It seems to me that what I saw was one or two coats of glass put back on, this to bring the haul thickness back up to what it was before the peel. Afterwards I recommend the Interux barrier coat. They have more than one and I've used two of them, both very good results. In either case you want to follow the directions and before the last coat is fully cured, put your first coat of bottom paint on. Go read the Interlux label and use the one that suits your conditions/preference the best. Use a good roller skin and roll it out really good, otherwise it will run. Good luck, Paul
I've seen boats with the bottom peeled, to get the gel coat off and blisters removed. It seems to me that what I saw was one or two coats of glass put back on, this to bring the haul thickness back up to what it was before the peel. Afterwards I recommend the Interux barrier coat. They have more than one and I've used two of them, both very good results. In either case you want to follow the directions and before the last coat is fully cured, put your first coat of bottom paint on. Go read the Interlux label and use the one that suits your conditions/preference the best. Use a good roller skin and roll it out really good, otherwise it will run. Good luck, Paul
Peel
The peel was done with a device similar to a surface planer which can be adjusted to remove desired thicknesses of material. They only removed the thin layer of gelcoat on my bottom but I've heard that sometimes they go a lot deeper to remove damaged material. Why do I apply VC17 every year? I guess I don't have a better answer than everyone else does up here. I cut the stuff with about 30% acetone which makes for a very thin kote and very little build. The VCTar had begun to form an alligator skin. I heard the tar is a pain to sand as it clogs paper quickly. I've heard alot about Interlux 2000, using 1000 first to seal the laminate. I'm going to the boat show in Chicago next month and hope to get a deal -- if nothing else I'll get a chance to talk with the reps face to face.
The peel was done with a device similar to a surface planer which can be adjusted to remove desired thicknesses of material. They only removed the thin layer of gelcoat on my bottom but I've heard that sometimes they go a lot deeper to remove damaged material. Why do I apply VC17 every year? I guess I don't have a better answer than everyone else does up here. I cut the stuff with about 30% acetone which makes for a very thin kote and very little build. The VCTar had begun to form an alligator skin. I heard the tar is a pain to sand as it clogs paper quickly. I've heard alot about Interlux 2000, using 1000 first to seal the laminate. I'm going to the boat show in Chicago next month and hope to get a deal -- if nothing else I'll get a chance to talk with the reps face to face.
Blisters
I have the same problem with my boat. Surveyor categorized the blisters as "cosmetic", ie. they don't go into the glass below. Local yard quoted $8,000 to take off gellcoat, thoroughly dry the hull, and add 8 coats of epoxy then bottom paint. They would sand after the first coat of epoxy, but not after subsequent coats.
I have the same problem with my boat. Surveyor categorized the blisters as "cosmetic", ie. they don't go into the glass below. Local yard quoted $8,000 to take off gellcoat, thoroughly dry the hull, and add 8 coats of epoxy then bottom paint. They would sand after the first coat of epoxy, but not after subsequent coats.
look at the interlux web site
I think there system is good. or get a copy of the west system recomendations. either way you will seal up the bottom with epoxy then paint it. you may have to do some filling and faring to get a good finish.
I think there system is good. or get a copy of the west system recomendations. either way you will seal up the bottom with epoxy then paint it. you may have to do some filling and faring to get a good finish.
Whatever you do...
Be sure to prime the smooth surface before applying bottom paint. You can use chemical wipedowns or paint it with an aluminum-based primer, but otherwise the paint will flake off over time, which is a maddening development as you go to repaint with bottom paint. It flakes off onto the roller and back onto the surface in globs.
Be sure to prime the smooth surface before applying bottom paint. You can use chemical wipedowns or paint it with an aluminum-based primer, but otherwise the paint will flake off over time, which is a maddening development as you go to repaint with bottom paint. It flakes off onto the roller and back onto the surface in globs.
Here's what I have seen
Chris, I have never done a peel job myself but I have seen one guy at our club who peeled his gelcoat off and exposed the FG laminate. He used System 3 epoxy over the exposed laminate to build it up, and as the barrier coat. He claimed that System 3 was better and cheaper than the West and Interlux epoxy products. He did all the work himself, both the peeling and the fairing and epoxy work. Around my club (Lake Ontario) all the DIYs use Interlux 2000 as a barrier coat. But I have only seen it applied over gelcoat after it has been exposed by sanding or blasting, never directly to the laminate. It rolls on pretty thin so I don't know if you could build up enough layers (its time dependent between layers) if applied directly over the laminate. Regarding primers and 2000, everyone around here including me puts VC 17 directly over the 2000. Kevin
Chris, I have never done a peel job myself but I have seen one guy at our club who peeled his gelcoat off and exposed the FG laminate. He used System 3 epoxy over the exposed laminate to build it up, and as the barrier coat. He claimed that System 3 was better and cheaper than the West and Interlux epoxy products. He did all the work himself, both the peeling and the fairing and epoxy work. Around my club (Lake Ontario) all the DIYs use Interlux 2000 as a barrier coat. But I have only seen it applied over gelcoat after it has been exposed by sanding or blasting, never directly to the laminate. It rolls on pretty thin so I don't know if you could build up enough layers (its time dependent between layers) if applied directly over the laminate. Regarding primers and 2000, everyone around here including me puts VC 17 directly over the 2000. Kevin
- Status