Questions about restoration

[Jugfisher]

I have been reading this forum for a little while and I have a few questions.

Is the gel coat the same a a clear coat. And if so mine is just coming off completely. can I take of the clear coat and apply a new one instead of an entire re-paint?

The floor in my boat is about rotten. I was told that i would need to completely saw the floor out of it and put fiberglass on the bottom and the top of my new floor that I would install. Can I just put a 1/4 in piece of plywood over the old layer and cover it with fiberglass?

I dont want to put much money into it b/c it is just an old fishing boat and will never be worth what I pur into it. I have already spent $2000 gettting the motor rebuilt and tuned and it still doesnt run right. So every corner I cn cut will be great. I am not looking for a fantastic resoration. Just a way to make it appealing. It is a fiberglass 15.5 ft tidecraft. 1980 model

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Questions about restoration

if you want to save money, don't own a boat. but that said, sand it smooth and paint. yeah you can cover the floor, but remember you are just adding weight to a water soaked foam, rotted floor boat. will the transom even hold the motor, you just spent $2,000 on? or is it going to be on the bottom. if the floor is bad, 90% chance the transom is, or soon will be.

 

[sdunt]

Re: Questions about restoration

Cut corners = sunken boat

Gel coat is a layer of Vinyl ester resin that is applied to the boat mold before the fiberglass is built up, Fiberglass boats are actually built up from the outside in.

If the peeling layer is very thin, then it is probably automotive type paint clear coat. Also Gel coat is typically colored, what color is your boat vs what is peeling off? If the peeling layer is clear, its almost definitely clear coat.

The rotten floor is a structural problem. Would you put 1/4 plywood over a hole in your house floor or a hole in your wall? Also covering up that rotting floor is only going to cause your 1/4 inch ply to rot out and make the rest of the boat, transom - stringers rot out faster.

If you want to send that OB you just over hauled to the bottom of the lake in about 3 years, go ahead and put the plywood down and ignore the problem, it WILL go away -- To the bottom of the lake..

Read through my and others project blogs on share a project and you'll get a better idea of what you're up against.