Topside Repair

K

KED

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exMember
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Jun 1, 2006
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21568
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49
Hello All,
I am looking at repairing the many dings, scratches, spider cracks and extra holes on the top deck of my 1976 slickcraft. My plan is to repair the everything with polyester resin and fabric as needed. Then use surface puddy to smooth everything out. I am trying to find the best way to finish it out. I am looking at using interlux paint. I am not sure what to use. Should I use pre-kote or should I use Epoxy Barrier-Kote for the primer. I am thinking the Epoxy with make a better water barrier. I have no idea what type of paint to use. I am looking to paint the top side white. I want the finish to be as strong as possible. I would love to use gelcoat but I don't think I have the experience or arm strength to sand it all down. I would appreciate all the advice that I can get.

Thanks,
KD
 
Pictures!!! Unless we know what you're dealing with there's no way to to even make a logical guess.

Barrier coat isn't needed for topside...only below water.(and maybe splash areas.
 
Preferably you need to match the topside finish that is there now. If it's paint, then finish in paint. If it's gelcoat, finish in gelcoat. There is really very little difference other than the gelcoat needs to be built up higher as a finish and it gets a final finish of wet-sanding and compounding. If you go paint you will still need to be building up with gelcoat. The hardest part will be matching the color.
 
Thanks for the replies,

I am not to worried about matching the finish that is on the boat as I intend on re-painting the entire top side. I was wondering if the barrier would be worth the couple of extra dollars on the top side even if I don't need it. Here are some pictures of my project. OK, so I am not smart enought to figure out how to paste a photo, the copy and paste does not work for me for some reason. My plan is to repair all of the fiberglass damage with resin and puddy as required. I just am not sure on how to paint or gelcoat the top. Thanks for all of the help.

Thanks,
KD
 
You might find this helpful on basic gelcoat repair.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rcVOVMLvDwM

Now that I understand you intend to paint the boat, you only need to fill and achieve a uniform surface necessary before priming. Filling, sanding and a good primer/sealer should be sufficient. To assure a uniform surface for response to primer and paint you might want to use gelcoat as a sealer over any repairs.
 
The video on utube is for superficial gelcoat scratches. If your problems are more involved that that, get a book on fiberglass repair.
 
Yep - it's just for scratches in the gelcoat that don't extend into the glass beneath.
 
no barrier coat on the topsides. w/o pics, id say you could use Marine Tex to fill.
for a decent DIY paint, the perfection series from Interlux works well
 
Thanks for all the inputs,

I am OK with the fiberglass repair. I am repairing everything with polyester resin and fabric. Then using puddy for the minor imperfections. I was trying to find out what the best DIY primer and paint to use. I have a paint sprayer and respirator and have painted a few (very) few cars. Would I be better off with rolling a two part paint. What experience do others have.

Thanks,

KD
 
Your biggest problem will come from the wax in the fiberglass resin.It'll contaminate the surface so paint creator or fisheye. It's used to keep air out so the surface will harden. You can't sand it out. Get a fiberglass repair manual.

FWIW, trying to get fiberglass smoothe enough to look good for paint is a very involved job...depending on the size of the repair. Use marine bondo. I've been told not to use auto type bondo because it absorbs water.
 
Get some Evercoat Formula 27 from West Marine and follow the directions. It is poly putty.
 
I will be painting my topsides this year. I am using Interlux Perfection and the roll and tip method. I talked to an Interlux rep. about primers. He recommended 404/414 (Epoxy Barrier-Kote)also stated on the Perfection can, for bare gel coat and Multithane Primer for area's prev. painted. Hope to get started end of March early May. I was looking forward to it, not so sure any more!

Good Luck with your project
 
Thanks for the help,

I have marine body puddy for smoothing out the imperfections. I plan on jusing fiberglass solvent wash to prep the gel coat and bare fiberglass. I was planning on using 404/414 (Epoxy barrier-Kote) then changed my mind and was planning on using pre-kote. Now I think I am back to Epoxy barrier-kote with Perfection. I have read a bunch about this. I have a fiberglass book and have read the interlux web site several time. I am just looking for all input befor I start painting/gel coating. I am really leaning towards painting with interlux. Just wandering if anyone has painten their boat and how it turned out and what are some things to watch to make the job look good.

Thanks to all,

KD
 
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