Repair the gelcoat (from Practical Sailor)
Enter the Preval Sprayer. It's quick to set up and clean, and provides adequate coverage in a single application. Best of all, it's available in auto supply stores and hardware for just $7, so when you are done with it, you can just throw it away.
The Preval Sprayer is not a new product. It has been used for many years by boatbuilders and boatyards to do spot repairs to gelcoat. It's not economical even for a yard to do minor cosmetic repairs with a big, compressor-driven industrial spray gun. Not only is the setup and cleanup time-consuming, but large spray guns require a relatively large quantity of gelcoat to operate, which is wasteful when doing touch-up work. For an extra $3, the Preval comes with its own 16-ounce paint jar that screws onto the base of the propellant can. However, we don't recommend buying the paint jar. It is too big for gelcoat work, as it requires nearly 2 ounces of liquid to keep the stem of the propellant can immersed. This is 2 ounces that you cannot afford to waste.
Instead, use an unwaxed paper cup. Just stick the stem of the propellant can in a corner of the cup as you spray. You must be careful to keep the stem immersed in gelcoat, or the sprayer will sputter and splatter. You must also be careful not to tilt the propellant can more than 60 degrees, or the spray will come out in large droplets. As long as these two precautions are followed, the Preval appears to do just as good a job as the more expensive and time-consuming Badger Air Brush.
The Preval will spray 16 ounces of liquid with a full can of propellant. This means you can re-use it for several gelcoat repairs before you toss it.
However, you must carefully clean it after every use. Cleaning is a quick three-step procedure: First, stick the stem in acetone and spray for a few seconds. Then clean the strainer on the bottom of the stem by inverting the propellant can, putting your finger over the spray button orifice to create back pressure, and give it a few quick bursts.
As a final precaution, stick the stem back in acetone and spray it through the system for a few more seconds. When buying gelcoat, it's best to check first with the builder of your boat, because he is most likely to have colors that match, or give you the information you need to make a match. Mini-craft of Florida offers an extensive supply of gelcoats and pigments, as well as its own color-matching service. You can also find pigments at retailers like West Marine, Defender, or Jamestown Distributors or your local boatyard. Be aware that some of the so-called "gelcoat repair kits" sold at retailers are not formulated in the same way as your original gelcoat, and will not deliver the same finish. Mini-craft or a local fiberglass supply house is a better source.
As with any gelcoat job, the surface must be perfectly faired with auto body and/or lacquer putty, or fairing compound before spraying. The gelcoat must be thinned slightly with reducer to spray evenly (although acetone is often recommended from thinning, it will cause the finish to more quickly lose its brightness, color, and gloss).
You can't forget to coat the wet gelcoat with PVA (polyvinyl alcohol) or it won't dry tack free. PVA is available from Evercoat and others and is easily sprayed over your repair with the Preval. It cleans with water.
After the gelcoat is dry, you must sand it with 260-grit wet/dry paper, then with 400 and 600 grit, and finally, buff it with polishing compound.
For more on gelcoat repair and fixing just about anything else on your old boat, Don Casey’s "This Old Boat," is a great resource. And my recent blog post on fiberglass polishing links to various Practical Sailor tests of articles on cleaning, protect, and maintain gelcoat.
Shopping list:
- Unwaxed paper cups
- Gelcoat and catalyst
- Pigments
- Gellcoat thinner
- PVA
- Preval sprayer
- Paper towels
- Acetone
- Fairing compound
- Wet/dry sandpaper 260, 400, 600
- Polishing compound
- Wax - Collinite Heavy Duty Paste Fleetwax
Note to self: Re-watch the process in this West Marine video
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