Gelcoat Blisters... part 2

Once set up, I took a High Speed Grinder with 40 grit disc to "Seriously Remove the old/failed Gel coat".

Having spent many years doing 'body work, custom paint and custom car fabrication', I can handle this without much trouble other than this work is 'physically hard'.  I was a professional and 'very' good then, now I'm just good enough..... but better than I can hire.  'Nuff said!

. For those of you that don't want to try this, Fine!...but it is still GOOD for you to "KNOW" HOW IT IS DONE...or should be done..........................

Grinding Gel Coat down to real resin/fiberglass.  BLUE TAPE is 'registration marks'  6" above the Lower Boot Stripe line.   this way, when done with work, I can measure back Down 6" and then mark Tape Line for renewing the Boot Stripes bottom line.  "hope you get this...it saves tonnes of time".

 Ground off ALL of the damaged areas around the water line.

Then, sand with 80 grit to smooth out all rough edges.

 Anything that looks white or clear is "original UNSATURATED fiberglass strands in the Mat"  (NO RESIN)  I removed those many, many spots in the Mat with a quick scuff with a Rotary Rasp on a drill.  It is quick work. but leaves you with GOOD material ready to accept a few coats of Clear Epoxy resin as the next barrier coat.

Now, to go further,  When you get this far, make sure to add a barrier coat.  We gave this naked area 4 coats of West System resin.

Fill the ground out area with West System Epoxy and 407 filler then sand in preparation for Epoxy Barrier coats.

4 coats of clear resin to seal up old fiberglass.

Dorothy keeps up with keeping me stocked with materials and cleaning things between stages.  Often SHE is working much harder than I.

Once applied, the West 407 Fairing Compound needs to be sanded, clear coated for a barrier, then the Registration Marks from the Blue Tape Markings need to be dropped to remark the Bottom of the Boot Stripe.

 

It is difficult and careful work, but once you get the concept....the reapplication of tape lines 'flows'.

On the Post "Gelcoat Blisters, Part 1", this shot showed plenty of blisters.  Not Now!

Tape and sand for preparation of Boot Stripe Paint.

Don't forget to get under the keel..  We had scrapes that needed a smoothing out, from our "Rio Dulce Grind"...crossing the rivers bar.

Memory Rose, now 32 years of age,  looks better than many almost new boats.  Why? Well continual upgrades and attention to detail..  Do it right, don't take shortcuts and the results will not only show but  last.