Gel coat over bottom paint

If there is enough gel on there then yeait could work. 18 mils is approximately the thickness of a matchbook cover.

Bottom paint can be applied directly to bare fiberglass.

Gel coat over bottom paint. Basically you want to remove the scratches they put in there for the bottom paintand no more. Your using the stained scratches as your guide coat for sandingjust enough sanding to take them outthen buff it. Soda blasting will take too much off to make it safe to sandbuff.

If there is enough gel on there then yeait could work. All Gel Coats from Bottom Paint Store come with MEKP with each gelcoat purchase. Refer to the catalyst chart located on the product page for the gelcoat you are using or follow the label guidelines.

As a general rule. The catalyst level MEKP should not exceed 30 or fall below 12 for proper cure. Ideal range is 18 77F.

Remove all residue and let dry. Apply 1 coat of Bottom Paint Primer sHAWKocon or 1283 Island Primer see respective technical data sheet Apply minimum of two coats of antifoulant. Allow 3 to 6 hours between coats and a minimum overnight dry.

See the specific Technical Data Sheet for antifoulant being used. I tested Soy Strip on a small area of bottom paint and found that it took off the anti-fouling very easily and did not harm the gel coat. My problem is that a previous owner had painted over the gel coat and it DID remove that.

I also bought their Soy Gel which is a bit less powerful. Glad I tested a small area. Why are Barrier Coats and Bottom Paint necessary.

Gelcoat is a porous material and will absorb moisture when your boat is left in the water for an extended period of time. The water entering the hull chemically reacts with the glass fibers and uncured resins. This reaction produces pressure which causes blistering and cracking in the surface.

Gel coat is just thickened and pigmented polyesterfiberglass resin. But the real issue is UV damage which has broken down the resin and make for a chalking - porous - not good bonding surface. The fix is a solvent thinned eopxy primer like esp 155 which will firm up the surface and provide a good fresh bonding surface.

Gelcoat is pretty thick and you may be pleasantly suprised at how well the shine comes back. As for the bottom removing the old antifouling will be a problem. If you sand it off it will be difficult to compound out the sanding scratches.

It will take a minimum of two coats of gelcoat if you are changing colors. If this is going over a patch we recommend 2 coats at least to get a nice uniform surface. Otherwise one coat will do.

Gelcoat needs to be applied relatively thin. We recommend 18 mils thick to properly cure. 18 mils is approximately the thickness of a matchbook cover.

Barrier coats are applied prior to a new boats first coat of bottom paint or if a boat has had issues with osmosis and blisters in the hull below the water line. The process is as follows. After identification of blisters on the hull the entire hull is then sand blasted to pop all of the blisters.

We explain the difference between these two boat bottom paints. What is a Gelcoat Finish. Gelcoat is a resin-based finishing material often used on newly manufactured yachts.

Once applied onto a hull this adhesive-like material dries into a hard shell-like casing. You can paint the boats bottom over the old gelcoat if the gelcoat is in good condition. It will give an added layer of protection to your hull and revive shine for a while.

If youre not getting your desired color options in the gelcoat then you can paint your favorite color on the bottom of the boat. You can buy a gelcoat spray gun online or at your local paint store. Then use small circular motions to rub the polish into the gelcoat.

2-3 coats of that followed up with a couple coats of bottom paint and it will look like new. Both have their individual advantages and shortcomings. Sure You can put Epoxy bottom paint over Ablative bottom paint.

But please tell me you wont do it. So now you believe that if one guy jumps off the prove. The gel coat is often used to seal the paint in place and to offer an extra layer of resistance that ensures that the paint is durable and that the bottom of the boat is well protected.

It is also recommended that you apply two layers but its up to you and it depends on the paint youve used. Best thing to do is apply whats called a barrier coat its an epoxy coating that you roll on. 2-3 coats of that followed up with a couple coats of bottom paint and it will look like new.

Check out Pettit Protect for the barrier coat and this calculator to see which bottom paint would be best for your location. Gel coat is a resin that you can usually find on new boats. It is generally less expensive material-wise compared to marine paint and is formulated to be UV protective.

Therefore the owner might not use add-ons. Gel coat is more conducive to small repair areas compared to paint but the area where gel coat really excels is in its longevity. Ablative bottom paints or sloughing bottom paints are designed to wear off slowly to prevent harmful arthropods like barnacles from destroying the hull.

Antifouling paints are typical marine-grade paints that are designed to go on the outer-most layer of the boat. Interlux is a recommendable antifouling paint. Painting Over Existing Paint.

If the existing bottom paint is in good condition you may want to just recoat the bottom with a maintenance coat. At this point the gel coat on the bottom of. Bottom paint can be applied directly to bare fiberglass.

It should be noted that even though bottom paint can be applied to bare fiberglass and have great adhesion it is very highly recommended to apply an epoxy barrier coat product to the fiberglass prior to applying bottom paint. Wet sand the area to be painted with the 400-grit sandpaper. This roughs up the surface of the gelcoat and gives the paint a surface for adherence.

Mask off the areas you will not be painting. Use the masking tape and the bundle of newspaper. Painting over the gel coat is good because the gelcoat acts as an adhesive for the paint to stay on the place.

However you will have to inspect the condition of the gel coat before proceeding. The process of painting the boat depends on the gel coats condition. If the gel coat is wearing off it must be taken care of first.

In the worst-case scenario the gel-coat might need removal to apply a fresh layer. How to Prepare your Boat for Painting a Gelcoat If the gelcoat is in good condition with no major cracking or crazing the job is relatively straightforwardclean and prepare the surface apply an epoxy primer sand the primer remove the sanding residue and then apply the topcoat. Gel coat is not compatible with epoxy resin systems.

Unless your project will be below the waterline or constantly submerged paint may be a better choice. In these cases our ChromaGlast Paint is a more suitable option. For assistance in deciding which coating to use read our Learning Center Article ChromaGlast Paint vs.