Clearcoat over Gel Coat

[pjitty]

So whats the scoop with shooting automotive clear over Gel Coat. Will it give the Gel Coat extra life. Thinking about spraying Flag Blue Gel Coat on my boat that I'm building, than spray automotive clear. Anybody have any experience with doing this. Looking for Pro's and Con's to this system...

Joe D

 

[hntrss]

I used IMRON clear coat on my transom, just to make cleanup easier. Works like a charm, sprayed right over the vinyl lettering too. Its a great deal IMO. Everything comes off with a soft bristle brush

 

[pjitty]

Thanks for the reply. Seems like a no brainer to clear gel coat. Just looking to see if their are any adverse effects...

Joe D

 

[El Mar]

Seems to me clear coat would scratch easily from things like fenders and such making it harder to buff out.

Would like to hear more about it from others though. Good topic.

 

[hntrss]

I dont feel that it scratches any easier than Gelcoat itself, but that beings said, it does scratch. I only used it on the transome because I was tired of fighting the exhaust . I wouldn't bother shooting the whole hull because I don't see a need. On the transom, its a godsend, Its on there for 6 years, and it is scratched up, but still does its job fine. Could always take it down a bit and shoot her again too.

 

[pjitty]

Elmar:
Your probabily right about the scratches. Might look alot worse over Flag Blue. My only problem with Gel Coat is it's porous and stains easy [not to mention it gets chalky], white is a bitch to keep clean, so in my mind if I fill the pores with clear coat, it wont get as dirty and also be easier to clean. Don't know if the dirt will show up to easily on Flag Blue...

Joe D

 

[starrfish]

ever used the duratek high gloss additive in the gelcoat?.. it takes alot of the porosity out of the gelcoat, and clean up is easy.. (fish blood etc)
it turns the gelcoat into a much harder and less porus product.

 

[pjitty]

read about it a while back. Doing some research now and from what I've read some say the duratec is softer than Gel Coat and dose'nt hold up and others say it's great. Need to do more research...

Joe D

 

[jawz]

if you keep the gel waxed,nothing will stick to it...

gel coat with duratec gloss enhancer,it definatley looks better


dark colored gel coat - it's alot of work keeping it looking good


wax on/wax off...using a good soap,like orphine helps,some soaps strip wax - simple green will,so does dish detergent

colonite fleet wax is about the best wax on the market

 

[pjitty]

I use colinite on my boat, [not the boat I'm building] and I agree it's the best I've used. I dead set on Flag Blue gel coat. Still trying to figure out the best possible finish on or in the Gel...

Joe d

 

[El Mar]

Spot on advice Jawz!!

I love the Colinite fleet wax in liquid and paste.