Gelshield 200

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rushers

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I have recently had the hull sandblasted back down to the Gelcoat, it had previously had Gelshield 200 applied by the builder but on hauling out we noticed that the antifouling had extensive crocodile crazing which on blasting was shown to extend thro the antifouling and thro the Gelshield!!! to the Gelcoat.
Question: Can I reapply gelshield if so what do I need to be aware of, I would presumably then need to put an antifoul primer on then the anntifoul ? Seajet 33
Would really appreciate any advice from someone more experienced than I!!!
 
I think you need to talk to the manufacturers helpline for professional advice. To me, cracking suggests poor adhesion , could well have water behind, and requires removing to ba safe. Verylikely overcoating with the same again would crack again.
 
I take it the crazing did not extend beyond the applied paints and into the gell coat?

I suspect you will receive the advice that to be aboslutely sure (you know how this sort of advice runs..) you should remove all gellshield and and and..Just a megaslog for no quantifiable gains, but very quantifiable costs!

I would be very tempted to let the present cleaned gellshield surface dry, and key with the necessary abrasive paper, then do the 5 coat gellshield thing and anitfoul. I reason that the protection will be restored by this and the subsurface crazing will not be material to the protection.

I should say I did the gellshield thing on a previous boat and am persuaded it's worth the effort.

You know you have to get each further layer of gellshield on before the previous one has gone off which means being on site for a couple of days.

Hope your elbow is up to it!

PWG
 
Just a line of thought here.
Are you 100% sure of what you are seeing.
I do not know the age of your boat or condition but I had a similar problem some years ago with my last boat, older boats when first built had a 'Resin' coating directly put ontop of the original gelcoat,(gelshield was not around)it is normaly brown in colour and crazing is what it looks like in age with craters here and there.
I agree with others you need to now coat with gelshield (use differant colours between coats).
Your problem is when you do it, below 5 deg it will set faster than you can get it on, above 15 deg it will still start to set.
"Do not mix a lot at one time", I found International was easier to put on with a roller than Blakes.
Good luck
 
With reference to application. With international Gelshield 200, I believe that you do not need another primer coat before the antifoul with most of the International antifouls. Check out the website for more details www.yacht-paint.com
 
Sorry Dave99 but if the Gelshield is fully cured you MUST use a primer before antifoul or the antifoul will just fall off. I know - I've done it.

The only way round it is to add your first coat of antifoul before the Gelshield has fully cured so they form a che,mical bond. I posted a full report about my experiences recently - see here:

http://www.ybw.com/forums/showflat.php?C...rue#Post1374215
 
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