'78 Ebko Lebaron - Therapy

'78 Ebko Lebaron - Therapy


  • Total voters
    13
  • Poll closed .

ondarvr

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Apr 6, 2005
Messages
11,527
Re: '78 Ebko Lebaron - Therapy

I hate to say this and don't take it the wrong way, but you have become the poster child for why I don't often recommend re-gel coating a boat.

It's not that it can't be done well, it's that people frequently have very little experience with gel coat because it's not as common and nothing like paint, and trying to follow internet instructions can be difficult, if you had done it hands on with someone else that had experience prior to this attempt it would be much easier. There are just so many steps involved it creates many opportunities for setbacks that can be very frustrating. Even experts run into problems like this fairly often.

The finished thickness of the gel coat needs to be around 20 mils, so depending on how much orange peel you have it may need to start at 40 mils before sanding. You can get mil gauges that can be used to measure the thickness as you spray.
 

saginawbayboater

Senior Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Mar 8, 2012
Messages
677
Re: '78 Ebko Lebaron - Therapy

Troop your on the virg of getting it. Full Steam Ahead!!!! If it was easy everyone would do it!!! :encouragement:
Git 'R' done
 

djpeters

Lieutenant Commander
Joined
Jun 9, 2010
Messages
1,824
Re: '78 Ebko Lebaron - Therapy

It's been a while since Troop has posted...hope it's not all cut up by now!

Keep up the good work. Your determination is inspiring....
 

Trooper82

Commander
Joined
Nov 21, 2011
Messages
2,648
Re: '78 Ebko Lebaron - Therapy

Had another Dover, DE trip last week, so no more sanding till last night and this weekend.

I've decided to sand it to a finish and see what I have, almost finished with the one side and only 3 low spots so far.

I figure I can scuff and spray each of those then refinish. Heck the Admiral didn't even see them and she inspected paint for 10 yrs., but she was looking for things like fisheyes back then....

and yes TC - my arms are feeling rather sore...my biggest hold up is the bearings on the sander..not sealed so I have to keep pulling apart and oiling it.
 
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jbcurt00

Moderator
Staff member
Joined
Oct 25, 2011
Messages
25,155
Re: '78 Ebko Lebaron - Therapy

Too bad you can't pull your shoulders out & oil 'em every now & again, it'd probably help them too :watermelon:

As SagBay pointed out, if it were easy everybody would...

At this point, why not spend the extra time getting it EXACTLY how you want it. Cool weather will be here soon enough this year. You can touchup & shoot gel in the heated & insulated man cave all winter long.

It's gonna be a 2014 splash anyway.

Soldier on.

Hope you're getting the mid fall weather this weekend we are here. Be out in it :)

Have a great weekend!
 

Decker83

Commander
Joined
Apr 5, 2011
Messages
2,593
Re: '78 Ebko Lebaron - Therapy

What I can see from here, it's looking great..
I think your right, finnish all the sanding and then see whats else needs to be done.
Hang in there.. Your getting closer with every stroke of the sandpaper..
 

Trooper82

Commander
Joined
Nov 21, 2011
Messages
2,648
Re: '78 Ebko Lebaron - Therapy

Some progress...spent too long trying to find a replacement sander today...30 miles to the nearest store that should have had what I was looking for...but they didnt, nor did their competition...

DSCF0561.jpg


80 grit by hand is doing a quick job of knocking the highspots down...I just keep hitting the areas with more blue than white...then when there is more white than blue I trade off to something like 220 on the 1/3rd sheet sander till the blue spots feel close to same height as the white..then it is 400 grit..back half of sides here is getting close...as is the first area up to the first strake..getting late and I need to leave the windows and doors open to get a little air to carry the finer dust out..so only hand sanding now, so back to crawling on top with the 80 grit...
 
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saginawbayboater

Senior Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Mar 8, 2012
Messages
677
Re: '78 Ebko Lebaron - Therapy

Troop U my friend are an inspiration!! Your trials and tribulations are out there for all of us to learn from and thanks for that!!! I have a new respect for the gel coat technicalities... I would have otherwise not have a clue.
Thanks SBB

I can certianly now sermise it's a PITA
 
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Trooper82

Commander
Joined
Nov 21, 2011
Messages
2,648
Re: '78 Ebko Lebaron - Therapy

Troop U my friend are an inspiration!! Your trials and tribulations are out there for all of us to learn from and thanks for that!!! I have a new respect for the gel coat technicalities... I would have otherwise not have a clue.
Thanks SBB

I can certianly now sermise it's a PITA

Glad I could be of some assistance in your sermation...it isn't all that bad...just do your homework...
 

GT1000000

Rear Admiral
Joined
Jul 13, 2011
Messages
4,916
Re: '78 Ebko Lebaron - Therapy

Troop, it may seem like this gel thing is a lot of work to get the desired result, and it is!
However, three things to keep in mind...
1- You will have learned and shared a wealth of knowledge that very few possess...
2- You will have applied a tough, long lasting finish to your boat...
3- You forget, that when I began prepping my hull, just for paint, it too, seemed like it was taking forever and I kept finding things that I had to go back and add or redo, etc...
That being said, You are doing an incredible job and your dogged determination and perseverance are second to none!
Happy Sunday and Carry on, Soldier...:D
 

sphelps

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Nov 16, 2011
Messages
11,475
Re: '78 Ebko Lebaron - Therapy

I agree with all of the above Troop ! If you think back at all the set backs and obstacles like floods, storms , blender and acetone mishaps, kidney stones :eek:, filleting when all you could find was a square spoon, moving all your stuff to another state , turning an ordinary garage into the garagmahall , and I'm sure I have left many things out ... You have handled it like the " Trooper " you are !
We have no doubt that you'll get this puppy knocked out and looking sweet before ya know it !
As GT said " Carry on " Troop ..
 

Lakeshadow

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
May 29, 2012
Messages
205
Re: '78 Ebko Lebaron - Therapy

Keep at it and carry on. All the calm pleasure will be worth it when she's in the drink. Steady as she goes...
 

djpeters

Lieutenant Commander
Joined
Jun 9, 2010
Messages
1,824
Re: '78 Ebko Lebaron - Therapy

...and just think how easy the next boat will be to restore!!!
 

Trooper82

Commander
Joined
Nov 21, 2011
Messages
2,648
Re: '78 Ebko Lebaron - Therapy

Thanks for the encouragement guys...I'm not going anywhere or doing anything rash just yet...
 

Trooper82

Commander
Joined
Nov 21, 2011
Messages
2,648
Re: '78 Ebko Lebaron - Therapy

I agree with all of the above Troop ! If you think back at all the set backs and obstacles like floods, storms , blender and acetone mishaps, kidney stones :eek:, filleting when all you could find was a square spoon, moving all your stuff to another state , turning an ordinary garage into the garagmahall , and I'm sure I have left many things out ... You have handled it like the " Trooper " you are !
We have no doubt that you'll get this puppy knocked out and looking sweet before ya know it !
As GT said " Carry on " Troop ..


All that has happened to me? lol, it's a wonder I'm still kickin'
 
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Trooper82

Commander
Joined
Nov 21, 2011
Messages
2,648
Re: '78 Ebko Lebaron - Therapy

Not perfect by a long shot...but good enough....needed some inspiration for all this sanding...

besides this is just for fishing, no one is paying me for all this work, I am not a PRO...good enough for me :)

DSCF0562.jpg
 

Pmccraney

Lieutenant Commander
Joined
Jul 26, 2011
Messages
1,734
Re: '78 Ebko Lebaron - Therapy

Looks better than "good enough" from here... In fact, it looks great. Keep in mind its the bottom of the boat and it will get scratched from use - In fact, I almost hit a log yesterday that was floating in the middle of the main lake channel... (Good thing my motor was dead and I was "trolling" on speed "5" or I might have hit it... :facepalm:
 

GT1000000

Rear Admiral
Joined
Jul 13, 2011
Messages
4,916
Re: '78 Ebko Lebaron - Therapy

Not perfect by a long shot...

Even brand new cars from the factory are not 'perfect'...Trust me, I work on them everyday...:facepalm:
We as humans are far from it...
And a past boss used to like to say, "Perfect is the enemy of Good Enough!"

BTW, from this distance it looks...

"Freaking AWESOME!!!:D
 

saginawbayboater

Senior Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Mar 8, 2012
Messages
677
Re: '78 Ebko Lebaron - Therapy

Not perfect by a long shot...but good enough....needed some inspiration for all this sanding...

besides this is just for fishing, no one is paying me for all this work, I am not a PRO...good enough for me :)

DSCF0562.jpg

That's what I'm talkin about! Very nice Trooper!!
 
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