SoCal Jet Boats

Tech Talk => Gelcoat / Paint / Fireberglass Repair => Topic started by: 86caribbean on December 26, 2014, 05:21:53 PM

Title: Advice on Filling through transom exhaust holes
Post by: 86caribbean on December 26, 2014, 05:21:53 PM
Hey guys, I want to do a nice job filling in the exhaust holes in my transom. I get the basic procedure by cutting two plywood dowels, coating them with resin and glass them in. I’m just looking for some more input as far as whose products I would want to use, and the recommended steps. It’s the original gel coat from 1986, would the new gel be allot whiter?,  if it is, would I have to color sand and buff out the entire transom to blend the colors and make it look decent?...any advise would be helpful…thanks
Title: Re: Advice on Filling through transom exhaust holes
Post by: mobboss on December 26, 2014, 06:00:46 PM
I will let you know once i finish mine. i plan on doing the same thing.
Title: Re: Advice on Filling through transom exhaust holes
Post by: Your Mom on December 27, 2014, 06:04:44 AM
Any good gel coat provider/maker will scan a piece of your original to match it... You have to call em to see what size of sample they need. I brought in a spray paint cap to match my engine paint (ford blue) an it was perfect. You can apply it with a small roller/squeegee then wet sand/buff. Just want to prep the area well... an gel will not dry over epoxy.
Title: Re: Advice on Filling through transom exhaust holes
Post by: 86caribbean on January 04, 2015, 05:07:21 PM
I'm going to get going on my transom project after the Tom Papp Memorial next weekend. Got some pretty good advice and ideas from people, and I have worked with fiberglass before, shouldn't be too bad. I want to ditch the fiberglass swim steps in favor of some billet ones that are powdercoated blue. I do enjoy sitting back there and having a few frosties... :beer:... :thumbup:
Title: Re: Advice on Filling through transom exhaust holes
Post by: GT Jets on January 04, 2015, 05:38:54 PM
and gel will not dry over epoxy.

100% complete myth.

I have been doing it since 1996. The problem is that the mixing ratio of the epoxy used has to be dead nuts and completely cured before polyester products are introduced.

I have made several fairly large repairs on old and newer boats using West Systems and the Tap Plastics epoxies. Never one time did I have an adhesion issue or a gel coat repair problem.

The issue has to do with the hardener off gassing if it was mixed too "fat". The ratio on epoxy resins is an exact science, very different from polyester.

As long as the ratio's were correct (I use a paint mixing scale) and the epoxy is fully cured, you can block sand, clean and directly apply poly gel coat as a finish. The advantage IMHO is that there is zero "shrinkage" on the epoxy resins unlike that of polyester. So no bleed through will ever be realized.

Not a poke, just laying down some facts....  ;)

GT
Title: Re: Advice on Filling through transom exhaust holes
Post by: GT Jets on January 04, 2015, 05:40:59 PM
The word I was searching for in my head was "amines"... They are present in all epoxy resin hardeners.

GT
Title: Re: Advice on Filling through transom exhaust holes
Post by: jimpen on January 04, 2015, 08:20:14 PM
Gt is it better to apply primer over the epoxy.  I have done some work with the west systems and live the stuff. However I thought I had to primer be for I applied flow coat


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Title: Re: Advice on Filling through transom exhaust holes
Post by: GT Jets on January 04, 2015, 09:26:01 PM
Gt is it better to apply primer over the epoxy.  I have done some work with the west systems and live the stuff. However I thought I had to primer be for I applied flow coat


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I have used a filler/surfacer on some occasions, it is polyester based. It really helps to let the flow coats flatten out. But I have been told over and over again that it is not necessary. As long as you trust the surface... That is where they normally lose me LOL.

GT
Title: Re: Advice on Filling through transom exhaust holes
Post by: jimpen on January 05, 2015, 06:27:48 AM
Thanks for the info GT


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Title: Re: Advice on Filling through transom exhaust holes
Post by: jimpen on January 05, 2015, 06:30:06 AM
Thanks for the info GT


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Title: Re: Advice on Filling through transom exhaust holes
Post by: 86caribbean on February 10, 2015, 09:24:05 PM
All finished with the transom project, turned out nice for my first time shooting gel coat, thanks for the input and suggestions.
Title: Re: Advice on Filling through transom exhaust holes
Post by: rush1 on February 10, 2015, 09:34:01 PM
That looks great👍
Title: Re: Advice on Filling through transom exhaust holes
Post by: GT Jets on February 10, 2015, 09:35:33 PM
All finished with the transom project, turned out nice for my first time shooting gel coat, thanks for the input and suggestions.

That came out amazing... Nice work.

GT
Title: Re: Advice on Filling through transom exhaust holes
Post by: jetjunky101 on February 10, 2015, 10:04:58 PM
What exhaust holes ....? Nice work !
Title: Re: Advice on Filling through transom exhaust holes
Post by: cmayer on February 10, 2015, 10:21:27 PM
Looks great, good job!
Title: Re: Advice on Filling through transom exhaust holes
Post by: jyeager on February 10, 2015, 10:38:09 PM
All finished with the transom project, turned out nice for my first time shooting gel coat, thanks for the input and suggestions.
What transom holes? Nice work bud!!!!
Title: Re: Advice on Filling through transom exhaust holes
Post by: ka0tyk on February 10, 2015, 11:45:54 PM
All finished with the transom project, turned out nice for my first time shooting gel coat, thanks for the input and suggestions.

well hot damn.  that looks better than new.  can i get some details on what products you used, etc?  i have to reshoot quite a large area in my boat and curious as to prep, etc. 
Title: Re: Advice on Filling through transom exhaust holes
Post by: 86caribbean on February 11, 2015, 11:35:54 AM
Thanks for all your complements guys, I'm just trying to clean up my barge a bit so if I happen to beach it next to some of your nice rides  I won't feel too bad...LOL 8)
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