Bilge Gelcoat Repair

[eweise]

So I finally bit the bullet and pulled the engines. Now I need to repair the gelcoat in the bilge. I would assume there is a specific process. Recommendations anyone? Thank you in advance for your responses.

 

[NotHerDecision]

I have used interlux bilge kote paint and am impressed.

 

[ttmott]

I have used interlux bilge kote paint and am impressed.

Agree - excellent product however with any coating preparation of the surface is everything.

 

[BlewByYou88]

Interlux Bilge coat is not gelcoat FYI, just paint basically.
You need to sand the surface really well. Chip out alll the old broken and cracked gelcoat. (Scraper would work best.) Wipe everything down with acetone.
Just get some cheap white gelcoat from west marine or a local fiberglass shop. Get it with wax in so it will cure off and you wont need PVA or anything like that. And just brush it or roll it on enough to cover the bare fiberglass. Getting too thick will cause it to crack again like it did from the factory. (Im currently dealing with this same thing on a 290 SLX)

 

[eweise]

Interlux Bilge coat is not gelcoat FYI, just paint basically.
You need to sand the surface really well. Chip out alll the old broken and cracked gelcoat. (Scraper would work best.) Wipe everything down with acetone.
Just get some cheap white gelcoat from west marine or a local fiberglass shop. Get it with wax in so it will cure off and you wont need PVA or anything like that. And just brush it or roll it on enough to cover the bare fiberglass. Getting too thick will cause it to crack again like it did from the factory. (Im currently dealing with this same thing on a 290 SLX)

Have you already done this method? I was thinking after scraping all the loose pieces off and then sand with maybe 60-90 grit sandpaper then use the acetone to prep. Would like to get the gelcoat to match the original color though.

 

[ttmott]

eweise - just so you know, Gelcoat does not lay out to a nice smooth flat finish when applying with a brush. Spraying is the only real way to make it look good unless you block sand it down and polish it which is a lot of work. Gelcoat is polyester resin (same used for fiberglass layup) with solids and color added. Spraying Gelcoat is another level of equipment and technique. Realistically, for the labor involved, paint like from Interlux or Awgrip would be the best choice. That is my experience from building and restoring several boats.

 

[BlewByYou88]

You are not trying to get a perfect finish in an engine compartment. You can roll it out and it will look just fine. To get a uniform color, you would have to re-gelcoat the entire compartment. If you wanna match it, you will most likely have to get some tints to make it really match....way more trouble than its worth for an engine compartment.

Ive done this method a couple times. Ive done both bilge coat, and gelcoat. If the boats a keeper, and you want it to last, then gelcoat. You want cheap and easy to hold you over for a few years....then bilgekote.

For getting the old stuff up, you want the grittiest sand paper you can get. I use a flapper wheel on a grinder, and disks, but it makes a ton of dust, and a big mess.

Its all about effort at this point.

 

[eweise]

You are not trying to get a perfect finish in an engine compartment. You can roll it out and it will look just fine. To get a uniform color, you would have to re-gelcoat the entire compartment. If you wanna match it, you will most likely have to get some tints to make it really match....way more trouble than its worth for an engine compartment.

Ive done this method a couple times. Ive done both bilge coat, and gelcoat. If the boats a keeper, and you want it to last, then gelcoat. You want cheap and easy to hold you over for a few years....then bilgekote.

For getting the old stuff up, you want the grittiest sand paper you can get. I use a flapper wheel on a grinder, and disks, but it makes a ton of dust, and a big mess.

Its all about effort at this point.

Yay! Can't wait to get started.

 

[eweise]

Well, it has been quite some time since this project started. Life got in the way. June 2018, brought us a 8 year old family member that was destined to be in foster care. After 2 years of court dates, fast forward to 2021 and we have adopted her. Jenna has changed our lives so greatly. Back to the boat project. After a nearly full refit I am just a
few weeks away from reinstalling the engines.

 

[Blueone]

Well, it has been quite some time since this project started. Life got in the way. June 2018, brought us a 8 year old family member that was destined to be in foster care. After 2 years of court dates, fast forward to 2021 and we have adopted her. Jenna has changed our lives so greatly. Back to the boat project. After a nearly full refit I am just a
few weeks away from reinstalling the engines.

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What was it you used and the process?

 

[eweise]

What was it you used and the process?

Scraped, sanded, scraped, sanded several times. 80 grit paper. Wiped down with Interlux 333 and used the Interlux Bilgekote white. I put down 3 coats with using 3m scotch pads to scuff and wipe down with the 333 each time. The white did turn to an off white after a few weeks. I’m happy with the results.

 

[ttmott]

Nice job on both fronts!

 

[carterchapman]

Looks great! Congratulations on your new daughter.

 

[tdschafer]

Well done!

 

[Darrenfon]

Looks absolutely amazing!!

 

[OllieC]

Bravo

 

[eweise]

Thanks everyone. Like most boating enthusiasts, I really enjoyed the process. Once I got the engines out I realized there was much more to do than I expected. I could not get the transom assemblies apart due to corrosion so I replaced with new ones and ordered new Mercruiser drives to put on after engines are installed. Replaced trim tab actuators since I had access and wired to helm for Bennett Auto Trim Tab kit I have had for a while. Replaced trim pump brackets with Stainless ones, bilge blowers, new water system pump, new steering gear, added 7 LED lights (Scandvik) so I will never have to worry about lighting, rebuilt vac generator and waste tank systems and replaced all hoses, new carburetor - choke assembly - sea water pump - new exhaust hoses and tune up for generator, all new fuel lines - fuel fill and vent hoses, new bilge pumps and Ultra bilge pump switches and hoses, new engine fuel lift pumps and hoses, new batteries. Engines are almost completed with new starters, alternators, water pumps, t/stats, plugs, wires, caps and rotors, manifolds and risers, engine mounts, pulleys and tensioner, new paint on engine while I had things apart, new flywheel couplers. These are the main items that I can remember at this point. I did all the work myself so I know it was done right. So looking forward to getting back on the water soon. I’ll send more pictures as things come to completion.

 

[redlightning]

Very Nice!