Hi, Naive question perhaps.
I am repairing the keel of a small skiff (8') for a friend. Previously someone used mat and tons of fiberglass resin and made a big mess. I have ground off the mess and would now like to use 2 x 6" 12oz tape and epoxy resin (System 3 Silvertip). The boat originally was finished in a green gelcoat. I have removed much of the gelcoat in the repair area and what remains is well sanded at 80 grit. Can I start the repair over this, even though I am not 100% back to the original glass, or should I keep sanding?
TLDR; Will epoxy resin bond over a well sanded bottom that may still have some gelcoat showing?
Better ask than find out the hard way. Thanks for any advice
Epoxy over well sanded Gelcoat?
- APLJaK
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Epoxy over well sanded Gelcoat?
Okanagan Valley, BC
http://gallery.bateau2.com/index.php?cat=22919
http://gallery.bateau2.com/index.php?cat=22919
Re: Epoxy over well sanded Gelcoat?
I’ve done it successfully. I don’t think I’m an outlier.
As long as you’re down to solid stuff with no blisters or adhesion issues, I’d say you’re golden.
Jbo
As long as you’re down to solid stuff with no blisters or adhesion issues, I’d say you’re golden.
Jbo
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Re: Epoxy over well sanded Gelcoat?
Isn't the Gelcoat more brittle than glass? If this area was under some bending stress that might be an issue.
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Re: Epoxy over well sanded Gelcoat?
Keep sanding. 90% glass is good...epoxy bonds best to about 40 grit
- APLJaK
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Re: Epoxy over well sanded Gelcoat?
Thanks
I'll put a bit more "tooth" into the surface with 40g and then proceed.
I appreciate the advice
I'll put a bit more "tooth" into the surface with 40g and then proceed.
I appreciate the advice
Okanagan Valley, BC
http://gallery.bateau2.com/index.php?cat=22919
http://gallery.bateau2.com/index.php?cat=22919
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Re: Epoxy over well sanded Gelcoat?
I've done the same and didn't have issues with it sticking but there's a lot of variables that could make it different, age, type of gelcoat, how the surface was prepared to begin with, etc. Also depends on how good of a finish you want I'd think.
Boats restored: 1973 Glastron CV16, 1990 Proline 17 CC, 1993 Bass Boat
Boats built: custom 15ft flat bottom skiff, Soon-to-be-built TX18 (originally dborecky's build)
Boats built: custom 15ft flat bottom skiff, Soon-to-be-built TX18 (originally dborecky's build)
- APLJaK
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- Joined: Fri Aug 21, 2009 12:39 am
- Location: Okanagan Valley, BC Canada
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Re: Epoxy over well sanded Gelcoat?
Glassed the bottom of the very old skiff including closing off the two giant holes in the keel yesterday. No issues.
The glass came out beautifully. I have lots of experience glassing on new glass/epoxy while building my CX19, but repairing an old boat, especially a polyester resin boat, was still new to me. I appreciate the advice!
Lucky, this is a small skiff that is used simply to transit from shore to an anchor point in the lake. Doesn't have to be beautiful, but I am very happy with how it turned out.
Might use up the last of my graphite and give it a new bottom coat while its on the sawhorses.
The glass came out beautifully. I have lots of experience glassing on new glass/epoxy while building my CX19, but repairing an old boat, especially a polyester resin boat, was still new to me. I appreciate the advice!
Lucky, this is a small skiff that is used simply to transit from shore to an anchor point in the lake. Doesn't have to be beautiful, but I am very happy with how it turned out.
Might use up the last of my graphite and give it a new bottom coat while its on the sawhorses.
Okanagan Valley, BC
http://gallery.bateau2.com/index.php?cat=22919
http://gallery.bateau2.com/index.php?cat=22919
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