Refinishing a old Sunfish sailboat

[RickM101]

Hi All, new to the forum... I looked but could not find an answer in the forum.
I have an old sunfish with some good nicks in the gel coat down to the fiber glass and lots of stress cracks in the finish. My question is can I just prep and paint with Imron or do I need to repair the deep nicks? I just want to increase the integrity of the hull and protect it from further damage. Not concerned with a perfect look, just want a quick fix to get it in the water soon.

Thanks!

 

[Woodonglass]

Re: Refinishing a old Sunfish sailboat

For the BIG nicks I get some acetone and Gelcoat repair kit and wash em down with acetone an mix up a gel coat paste and fill em, and sand em smooth. the rest I'd sand, Prime with a high build primer and shoot it with Imron. She'll look great.

 

[ondarvr]

Re: Refinishing a old Sunfish sailboat

I just want to increase the integrity of the hull and protect it from further damage. Not concerned with a perfect look, just want a quick fix to get it in the water soon.

Thanks!

If the only thing you're concerned with is further damage, then you don't need to do anything at all, what you plan to do is only cosmetic, it won't do any thing to increase the integrity of the hull, or protect it from further damage.

If you do want it to look better, then it?s a little more work because any cracks in the gel coat that aren?t fixed correctly will show up again very soon.

 

[RickM101]

Re: Refinishing a old Sunfish sailboat

For the BIG nicks I get some acetone and Gelcoat repair kit and wash em down with acetone an mix up a gel coat paste and fill em, and sand em smooth. the rest I'd sand, Prime with a high build primer and shoot it with Imron. She'll look great.

Thanks Woodonglass. Is there a special high build primer that should be used with Imron?

 

[RickM101]

Re: Refinishing a old Sunfish sailboat

If the only thing you're concerned with is further damage, then you don't need to do anything at all, what you plan to do is only cosmetic, it won't do any thing to increase the integrity of the hull, or protect it from further damage.

If you do want it to look better, then it?s a little more work because any cracks in the gel coat that aren?t fixed correctly will show up again very soon.

Thanks ondarvr, Do I need to worry about the hair line cracks? If so what is the best way to repair.