Bottom work

[Rich Z]

I like to redo the whole bottom of my zx225. Filling all gouges, nick and chips and new gel coat from a good shop is about $3500. Or I can have it painted using DuPont Imron for half the price of gel. What can you guys tell me about this paint? Does the gel coat have to be completely removed to bare glass or does this paint work well over the gel? Is primer needed and should I have it clear coated also?

[BASSCAT7]

<table width="90%" cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 align=center><tr><td>Quote, originally posted by Rich Z &raquo;</td></tr><tr><td class="quote">I like to redo the whole bottom of my zx225. Filling all gouges, nick and chips and new gel coat from a good shop is about $3500. Or I can have it painted using DuPont Imron for half the price of gel. What can you guys tell me about this paint? Does the gel coat have to be completely removed to bare glass or does this paint work well over the gel? Is primer needed and should I have it clear coated also?</td></tr></table>

DuPont Imron is a good paint as long as your boat is not left in the water for more than a week at a time. It is an above the water line paint and not warranted for total in the water use.

It is not as hard as a good gelcoat finish and will scratch easier too.

The old gelcoat does not need to be removed. Cleaning completley with acetone, DA sanded with 220, wipe clean. fill any imperfections in the hull, sand with 320, acetone wipe.
You'll need to use a DuPont primer to get the best adhesion. Then a DuPont clear to get good UV protection.

[Rich Z]

Ok, thanks. Whats a good product to fill scrapes and scratches with easy application? Planning on doing all the prep work myself and having either gel coated or painted. So far I’m leaning toward gel coat.

[BASSCAT7]

<table width="90%" cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 align=center><tr><td>Quote, originally posted by Rich Z &raquo;</td></tr><tr><td class="quote">Ok, thanks. Whats a good product to fill scrapes and scratches with easy application? Planning on doing all the prep work myself and having either gel coated or painted. So far I’m leaning toward gel coat.</td></tr></table>

For best results on a re gel application you want to use a polyester based putty.

For shallow scratches, just standard gelcoat can be used. For deep gouges down to the glass layer, a putty with reinforced glass fibers can be used.
Something like the Duraglas on the bottom of this page :

http://www.uscomposites.com/polyprod.html

Prep work for either is the key.

[FlyinSooner]

sorry to get off topic but WTH do you do for a living BASSCAT??? Glass Shop?