Bass Boat Gel Kote Preparation?

Question

I'm in the process of restoring my 1999 pro craft bass boat and have never tried this before. The surface of the boat is very rough and the sun has taken its toll on the gel kote. Can anyone offer any advice on how i need to prepare the surface to have it gel koted ex. what grit of sand paper can i use an orbital sander, and so on. once i get the prep work done i will be apply a clear gel kote with flakes in it. well i will be having that done i wont be doing the spraying myself any one how has any ideas or knows the best way to tackle this their help would be appreciated.

Answer 1

sand it all out with 220 grit dry sand paper.

  Make sure there are no shiney spots at all

Then use a 800 grit wet sandpaper, use a clean bucket with warm dishoapy water, keep it wet, you will also want a foam wet sanding block. This is all available at any body supply store and most auto paint supply shops

Answer 2

That is clear coat flake not gel coat>All the old flake has to be removed down to the gelcoat > With out gouging or leaving flat marks in the gelcoat and if you go threw and the glass shows you have to re gelcoat as the paint will cause the fibers to lift and will show> It a very long an hard job to make it smooth and prepared for painting> The base coat and flake has to be perfect and laying down the clear coat will not fill the flake and will be as ruff as when you started>So practice on something first or have some 1 spray it for you>

Answer 3

Ive only ever done this on canoes, and to take on a bass would be way beyond my work experance level. to tell the truth Id go ahead and sand it out and take it to a fabrication shop to have them finish the gel. they prob. have a way to vacum bag it. Vacume bagging spreads the gel evenly and gives the best penatration into exposed glass matting