Restoring Gel Coat Finish
Thread Starter
3rd Gear
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
Restoring Gel Coat Finish
This isn't a corvette question, but I was referred to your forum's via a boating forum, so I hope you don't mind me asking.
I have a 1986 Ranger Fish/Ski boat that has the metallic flake and the top side of the boat is getting an oxidation look to it. I've tried to wax it, but that only seems to make things worse.
I was told to come here, because some of the older vette's had similar finishes. Does anyone have a good solution for this? I was toying with the idea of scuffing the top side and spraying several coats of clear on things, but I'm not sure if that would help. I am not setup to do gel coat work and I don't really want to re-do the entire graphic layout. I would just like to keep it from getting worse and try to make it shine again!
Thanks for any ideas/suggestions!!
I have a 1986 Ranger Fish/Ski boat that has the metallic flake and the top side of the boat is getting an oxidation look to it. I've tried to wax it, but that only seems to make things worse.
I was told to come here, because some of the older vette's had similar finishes. Does anyone have a good solution for this? I was toying with the idea of scuffing the top side and spraying several coats of clear on things, but I'm not sure if that would help. I am not setup to do gel coat work and I don't really want to re-do the entire graphic layout. I would just like to keep it from getting worse and try to make it shine again!
Thanks for any ideas/suggestions!!
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 6,329
Likes: 415
From: Seattle Area WA
Sorry to hear about the boat but you have been misguided. Corvettes were never Gelcoated from the factory. Some guys use it for sealing repairs but there are better materials like epoxy sealer that is becoming very popular. It sounds like a bad case of oxidation. You may be able to wet sand it down and then shoot clear over it. Have you tried calling the boat manufacturer for ideas? Also West Systems has a great tech line, maybe they could help out with ideas.
Thread Starter
3rd Gear
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
Sorry to hear about the boat but you have been misguided. Corvettes were never Gelcoated from the factory. Some guys use it for sealing repairs but there are better materials like epoxy sealer that is becoming very popular. It sounds like a bad case of oxidation. You may be able to wet sand it down and then shoot clear over it. Have you tried calling the boat manufacturer for ideas? Also West Systems has a great tech line, maybe they could help out with ideas.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 8,918
Likes: 27
From: New Hill NC
Hey Scott, some 54s were gel-coated. It was an attempt to get a gel-coat colored body just like the boats have. The gel was white and some places was nearly 1/2 inch thick. Some early parts in the 63 change over were also gelcoated and hand layed.
Thread Starter
3rd Gear
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
So, the sanding with 320 and spraying with a good quality clear urethane should be ok, over the metal flakes in the gel coat that is still there?
The guy fixing a crack in my hull, said not to use auto paint, because it would turn out worse than it currently is after about a year. Is that not totally true?
Will the urethane stick to gel coating??
Thanks again for all the replies....
The guy fixing a crack in my hull, said not to use auto paint, because it would turn out worse than it currently is after about a year. Is that not totally true?
Will the urethane stick to gel coating??
Thanks again for all the replies....
