Best Way To Apply Gelcoat!!! Boat Console Restoration!!!

[@lowbloodprsure]

Nice job. Looking wonderful.

[@perfectfitboating]

Thank you man we appreciate it! 🤙🛥️🌊

[@diywaterworld]

Wow!!!! This came out absolutely awesome! You the boat a serious makeover. Great walking us through everything too. Thank you for taking us along the way! FGCI rocks!!!! 😎💪🏼

[@perfectfitboating]

Thank you buddy! Trying to get on your level! I need more reps!😂🤙

[@oceanairbrush]

Another great video my man, if you want that gel coat perfect, you're going to need to wet sand it with an 800, then $1,000, then 2,000 grit. After that, hit it with your polishing compounds and it will shine like nobody's business

[@perfectfitboating]

Thank you brotha! I patched up a couple holes I left and I’m gonna go back over the console again. In doing it exactly how you recommend! Thanks man! 🤙🛥️🌊

[@oceanairbrush]

@@perfectfitboating You can take it down on a wet sand with $2,500 in all the way up to 3,000 grit. The higher you go, the better your finish is going to be, of course the trade-off is way more work

[@choimdachoim9491]

I did my first application ever of gelcoat last week, brushing it on the helm, and was surprised that the gelcoat does not level out like normal paint. So I did the next 3 coats with a cheap plastic $40 HVLP sprayer and was extremely pleased with the results. I was impressed by how simple cleaning the sprayer was...basically 3 little plastic parts after spraying acetone through the system. I am liking the slightly bumpy finish the sprayer gave (plus hid the brush-strokes) and am thinking of not sanding it all smooth.

[@perfectfitboating]

Spraying is definitely the way to go. You’ll always get the orange peel with gelcoat but if you like that look, keep it! 🤙🌊🛥️

[@stevhaniemccallum2371]

Wow looks like a professional did it. You saved a ton of money for this project. I’m impressed 💯. Thank you for sharing. Cheers 🥂 to the next adventure

[@perfectfitboating]

Thank you steva!♥️

[@SalvatoreFeudi]

Looks beautiful. It's always a better finish when you use the sprayer. Brushes leave streaks and rollers leave "stipple". Great video.

[@perfectfitboating]

@@SalvatoreFeudi youre absolutely right! I just need to get more reps in with the sprayer to gain some confidence! I’ll get better! 🤙🛥️🌊

[@flnative7553]

to give myself a little more working time I always put my gelcoat in the fridge before opening the container. especially when working in this Florida heat. it gives you a few minutes more working time. not much but it allows you to slow down a little. Also, if you ever want to upgrade your wind shield and framing. Taylor made in Sarasota makes those wind shields

[@perfectfitboating]

That’s a fantastic tip! I’ve thought about using a cooler with ice to cool down the Gelcoat before using it. I keep my boat at my parents house and my mom would absolutely m*rder me if I put Gelcoat in her fridge! 😂🤙🛥️🌊

[@flnative7553]

@@perfectfitboating cooler will work. or cold packs

[@duartepaintinghandymanservices]

Also depending on the temperature you can use less hardener

[@TheHemiphil81]

I build boats for a living. 25 plus years. I would love to have a project like this to refit and work on. Nice

[@perfectfitboating]

Wow that’s alot of experience! What type of boats do you build!?

[@TheHemiphil81]

@perfectfitboating I built sea rays for a few years and now mastercraft up to 40 foot and hydra sports up to 62 foot.

[@perfectfitboating]

@TheHemiphil81 incredible! 😳

[@alemanbrothers]

Brother quedó de primera. Saludos

[@perfectfitboating]

Gracias mi bro! Me falta terminar el resto del cap más el piso. Tú sabes que siempre es algo con los barcos 🙄 un abrazo mi hermano! 🤙🌊🛥️

[@jonnooney7102]

I've tried everything with gel coat and I will always use duratec in mine. It just behaves so much better. I've had all kinds of problems when I try to thin with styrene and adding the wax. Doesn't want to cure in rainy humid weather.

[@perfectfitboating]

I totally agree. I’ve shot gelcoat without thinning and it’s not terrible but it does orange peel like crazy. Duratec really does lay down close to paint like and makes for much easier wet sand and polish! 🤙🛥️🌊

[@larryjohnson5597]

Beautiful job a lot of work but worth it

[@perfectfitboating]

Thanks Larry! Definitely gave the boat a facelift! 🤙🌊🛥️

[@freedomwanderer91]

Great job.

[@perfectfitboating]

Thank you buddy! 🤙🛥️🌊

[@kwhp1507]

You seem less distracted when the wife is away lol

[@perfectfitboating]

@@kwhp1507 🤣she’s the best distraction though! 😍

[@davelawrence6777]

Great job buddy gel coating is not easy. I fo have a question from your last post do you remember the name of the AC unit your friends used it sat on the cockpit floor and had a flexible hose that ran into the cabin. Also was it my imagination or dud I see it connected to some sort of battery

[@perfectfitboating]

@@davelawrence6777 Dave! Thank you so much my man! Gelcoat is tough and I’m still learning. I believe the unit is called an icey breeze or icey cove? @2bearsoutdoors can chime in or you can check his channel. It has a battery pack it attaches to giving it 4-6 hrs of use! 🤙🌊🛥️

[@duartepaintinghandymanservices]

Did that duratech help, did it make it easier when you did the wet sanding and polishing?

[@perfectfitboating]

100%. Made it much easier. I’ve shot gel coat before straight out of the van and it leaves a lot of orange peel. This stuff lays down close to paint. Still gotta learn to adjust the gun and how to actually paint. Too slow too fast etc. Thanks for commenting brother! 🤙🛥️🌊

[@duartepaintinghandymanservices]

@@perfectfitboating awesome I will get some for deck, I'm getting it ready to gelcoat, thanks

[@josefernandez6226]

How do the first two layers of gel coat cure without wax to block the oxygen?

[@perfectfitboating]

They don’t fully cure. Once you do the last layer of waxed gel coat the under layers fully cure. Hope that helps.

[@josefernandez6226]

@@perfectfitboating Thank you.

[@jasonvoris521]

Is there a reason you don't dish out the screw holes and all the holes you filled

[@perfectfitboating]

Some holes will be re used

[@calypsofishing1516]

Why didn't you just paint it with awlgrip why did you choose to re gel coat

[@perfectfitboating]

1. I don’t have enough skill in surface prep nor in actually spraying paint. 2. It’s more expensive. Even though we don’t pay for the materials, I don’t feel right asking for an expensive product from our partners knowing I’m prob gonna screw it up. 3. Gelcoat is more durable. 4. Easier to fix dings and scratches. This boat is a constant project and it’s our first boat. We’re learning how to not bang it up. 5. We can still paint it in the future if we want to. 6. Gelcoat is more forgiving for beginners like myself. I think that covers it. Awlgrip is awesome and one day I’ll paint a boat with it. Nothing like a nice paint job on a boat!

[@josenunez2661]

I am a boat builder myself give me a message for any questions I would love to help you guys out

[@perfectfitboating]

Jose, we really appreciate that! Thank you so much your willingness to help us!🤙🛥️🌊

[@clam741]

Scary