Gel Coat for Dummies

I use Prestec made by: Simtec Coatings
16666 Smoketree St.
Bldg A, Units 3-5
Hesperia, CA
92345 760-244-2774
Super white 2781 #3. They sell it in quarts. If your ship is quite
yellow, you can tint the Prestec with poly compatable tinting agent. Go
easy and stay on the lighter side of a perfect match. It will dry
darker and after a year or two the new paint will age and may become
darker than the origional.

Painting problems can drive one to drink. Driving while drunk can lead
to jail. Jail can lead to probation. One must check in with ones
probation officer every week or he will come looking for you on ras.
Happy, Happy to all on ras,
JJ


T o d d P a t t i s t wrote:
John Sinclair wrote:

+ Mask off and brush on several coats of gelcoat. Use
heat gun to make it dry faster (hair dryer works)

Where do you buy your gelcoat? Brand? Color?

Just a point of clarification - Technically the Simtec products, including
Prestec, are not gel coats, but rather top coats.

There are significant differences in the formulations of gel coat (made to be
applied in a mold) and top coats (designed to be applied as a secondary
coating).

With that said, these are good products for the purpose... they're just not gel
coats.

Bob

Having used both 2781 and 2481, I prefer 2481 for touch-up and small jobs, a
bit thicker, doesn't flow real nice like 2781, but I find it builds up
better. Gelcoat is heavy and if I had to do it all over again, I'd use
polyurethane or some other durable paint. I used insignia white Aerothane
brand polyurethane on the elevators to keep the weight down after filling in
the undercamber - it matches the 2781 on the horizontal perfectly - still
matches after 3 years. Unless you're doing a re-finish, you'll be
hard-pressed to use a fraction of an entire quart on touch-ups - but that's
the minimum quantity. The Simtec guys are very helpful and responsive in my
experience.

Jim

wrote in message
ups.com...
I use Prestec made by: Simtec Coatings
16666 Smoketree St.
Bldg A, Units 3-5
Hesperia, CA
92345 760-244-2774
Super white 2781 #3. They sell it in quarts. If your ship is quite
yellow, you can tint the Prestec with poly compatable tinting agent. Go
easy and stay on the lighter side of a perfect match. It will dry
darker and after a year or two the new paint will age and may become
darker than the origional.

Painting problems can drive one to drink. Driving while drunk can lead
to jail. Jail can lead to probation. One must check in with ones
probation officer every week or he will come looking for you on ras.
Happy, Happy to all on ras,
JJ


T o d d P a t t i s t wrote:
John Sinclair wrote:

+ Mask off and brush on several coats of gelcoat. Use
heat gun to make it dry faster (hair dryer works)

Where do you buy your gelcoat? Brand? Color?