Re-Gel Coating a little boat!

Zagato

Zagato

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It looks likely I will be selling my Drascombe Drifter for a smaller Cruiser or Coaster and as it will be my boat for life I would really like to go through it all and bring it back up to scratch as many are 30-40 years old. New ones are 20K+ so it's a cheaper option and most of the work can be done over time whilst still being used. I could paint/copper coat the hull it would be the cabin, seats, whole deck mould to re-gel as this is the worst bit on old boats.

I don't fancy painting it but would rather do a better job that is SHINY.

Has anyone got any experience of re gel coating their boat, costs and contacts. It's only a small boat so shouldn't cost too much. Happy to pay 2k or there abouts to bring it up to scratch.

Honnor Marine have done the work previously I think to a Cruiser but the owner is having a long winter break at present - good idea!

This one is 30 - 40 years old and has come up nicely...

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What's wrong with your existing gelcoat? I've no real knowledge of the Drascombe Drifter, but I think they have a couple of moulded chines along the hull? If so, it is likely to make the job significantly harder. Removing the gelcoat and then getting those lines back nice and clean and straight will be a really tough one. You can work miracles with a good buffer and some compound. I think I'd try that first. Personally, (if I was shopping for a second hand boat), I'd prefer to see some minor damage to the original gelcoat than worry about how good a job had done of replacing it.

I replaced most of the gelcoat on Avocet's topsides and it has been a nightmare. I ended up using epoxy and microballoons. It ought to be a better job than replacing with polyester gelcoat, but I'm not sure I'd ever do it again! Oldsaltoz, of this parish, has been extremely helpful throughout and hopefully, he'll be along at some point, but it really (REALLY!) isn't something I'd even consider unless I had exhausted every possible alternative! (especially in this weather).
 
Thanks but read my post. It's not for my Drifter. I really want to hear from people who have had experience/knowledge of proffesional re-gelling work. I know all about old cracked scruffy decks, cutting back, polishing, buffing etc etc. I'm not asking about the hull or doing it myself as a bodge job or even considering doing it in this weather.

I would like to hear from someone who has experience of re-gel coating the decks/cabin professionally. I have seen it done on a Folksong with great results but wasn't sure where he had it done. If anyone has any knowledge on this and/or can suggest a good company I would be thankful.
 
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Hi Zagato,

Flow coat is Gel coat but with a wax added so no need for a mold. applied in thin layers to build the thickness you need is not that difficult, but is time consuming.

Have a look on You-tube for applying flow coat to hull.

It,s much the same as the methods used to get a flawless finish with paint that looks like a spay job.

I did a transom last year for a client who made a right old mess trying to remove the boats name.

Good luck and fair winds. :)
 
Thanks Oldsaltoz, I wouldn't attempt to do it myself. I can get a half decent finish on Toplac for the hull but wouldn't attempt Flow Coat. I've read it can be tricky! If a pro can do it I am happy to pay. I've seen old caravans 're-gel coated' to a very good finish. The Folksong yacht was transformed with it's new gel coat. Once you have repainted the interior, the spars, hull it's always the 30 odd year old decks/cabin that let it down and as I will be keeping the boat for life I'm happy to get it done professionally.
 
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I recall there was a company offering this at Port Solent, I enquired about 8 years ago, but I went for two pack paint in the end.
So there ought to be people about with some miles on the clock.

If your new boat is trailerable, it opens up other possibilities.
A friend had a 20ft keelboat sprayed by a car place for a very good price and it looks really good IMHO.
 
Having just spoken to one guy in the South West it sounds as though spraying is going to be more professional (tricky getting a roller into the nooks and crannies!) and various products are avaialble including Awgrip/Seal etc. I think I would have the hull topsides done as well if it needed it.
 
When my boat was in at Mylor for Awlgrip I spoke to a few of the blokes there. To a man, they all said re-gelcoating would be a nightmare. The finish they got on my boat is superb. Lots of preparation needed, then spray finish in the right environment. They spend ages cleaning and decontaminating the spray booth between jobs. Not cheap, but looks the business.
 
Unless you have bad hull damage:-


Think long and hard about recoating any GRP hull - and then don't do it.


Certainly don't consider it for a boat you have not seen.
 
You will find a man called Spencer Fleet in the Plymouth area who has done many a boat and the finish is excellent. Decks etc are always more time consuming because of the work that has to be done by hand. Also getting a non slip finish is quite difficult without pressing in a pattern so you need to consider carefully the extent to which you wish to go. I was involved in the process on a 43ft boat and we were frequently asked if the boat was new after it was done. You are paying for labour because of the time to work through the grades of wet and dry which is what gets you the finish. I had my coachroof and area between rubbing strake and toe rail done on the last boat and it looked fantastic when done. Spencer can be hard to get hold of but if you send me a PM it will remind me to dig out his number for you.

Yoda
 
Mavanier said:
Can we quote you on that :D
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Lol, definitely YES. Er unless I see something else I can make money on ;)

Thanks for the replies, it all looks possible. I have seen one boat re-done at Blagdons boat yard and it still looked superb after 5 years.... Could be your man Spencer, he may have been the very chappy I spoke to yesterday. Thanks for the other leads folks.
 
Zagato said:
Lol, definitely YES. Er unless I see something else I can make money on ;)

Thanks for the replies, it all looks possible. I have seen one boat re-done at Blagdons boat yard and it still looked superb after 5 years.... Could be your man Spencer, he may have been the very chappy I spoke to yesterday. Thanks for the other leads folks.
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We watched a Swedish couple re-gelcoat a 38 ft boat in Preveza. it took many hours but was not technically difficult. They ground the old gel coat off with an angle grinder, flattened it with belt and orbital sander, then applied about 6 coats of flow coat using rollers. Finally finished by fine wet and dry sanding, then polishing. Looked superb when they had finshed it.

He told me it was far easier to work with than two-pack paint, with which they were simultaneously doing the cockpit, as when there were any runs or blemishes they could be repaired and flattened very easily.
 
Zagato said:
Lol, definitely YES. Er unless I see something else I can make money on ;)

Thanks for the replies, it all looks possible. I have seen one boat re-done at Blagdons boat yard and it still looked superb after 5 years.... Could be your man Spencer, he may have been the very chappy I spoke to yesterday. Thanks for the other leads folks.
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Zagato - have a chat with Chris Murch at Northney http://www.northney-yacht-repairs.co.uk/

He did a superb job on a mates boat this summer - looked like new when they'd finished - very much impressed....
 
itchenseadog said:
A professional spray job with Awlgrip is the answer. Try Desty Marine at Hamble they even spray brand new Sunseekers for F1 drivers.
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I thought Berthon did that? Certainly seemed like it when we had the tour in their spray booth earlier in the year and there was a huge new sun seeker in there!
 
lustyd said:
I thought Berthon did that? Certainly seemed like it when we had the tour in their spray booth earlier in the year and there was a huge new sun seeker in there!
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Maybe they both do? I know that Destys do some of them; they come out of the yard at Poole, ferry / test run to Hamble Point, painted up by Destys, then up to the docks to be loaded onto the freighter for delivery.

Pete
 
prv said:
Maybe they both do? I know that Destys do some of them; they come out of the yard at Poole, ferry / test run to Hamble Point, painted up by Destys, then up to the docks to be loaded onto the freighter for delivery.

Pete
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Probably right, amazing there is enough demand for two paint sheds that size though!
 
Some people seem to be confusing a little filler and a repaint job - Interspray if really keen and throwing money around - compared to gelcoat stripping & replacement which is usually way unnecessary - even on aged Hollywood actresses !

Boats get dinged into even when one is not there, in marinas, ashore or on moorings; only Brittania had a mirror finish.
 
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