Who does gel coat reasonably and quality work?

« **on:** December 10, 2015, 06:48:33 PM »

So I've been kicking around painting or gel coating my project...... I really want gel but I've never sprayed it. Also last time I painted a boat I had neighbors calling code enforcement.

So id like to ask who all does gel in SoCal that could do a nice single color with some pearl and maybe slight fade or shading around the rub rail area and such?

What should a single color gel top and bottom cost for a 19' tx?

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« **Reply #1 on:** December 10, 2015, 10:57:19 PM »

Quote from: BCouey on December 10, 2015, 06:48:33 PM

So I've been kicking around painting or gel coating my project...... I really want gel but I've never sprayed it. Also last time I painted a boat I had neighbors calling code enforcement.

So id like to ask who all does gel in SoCal that could do a nice single color with some pearl and maybe slight fade or shading around the rub rail area and such?

What should a single color gel top and bottom cost for a 19' tx?

Sent from my iPhone using SoCal Jet Boats

Honestly, if you ate going to do something with fades and pearls, stick to paint.

To do what you want to do requires clear and several steps, I feel it would be cost prohibitive.

You might consider going wroth a single gel color and then painting the graphics, still an awful lot of steps.

The gel coat, once sprayed, will need to be block sanded, wet sanded and polished to cove out right. Then scuffed to paint the graphics and pearls, cleared and color sanded and polished again.

That's a lot of man hours.

I'm doing a Carrera open bow that I am spraying the bottom below the chines with gel, then painting the rest.

I can do it in about a quarter of the time it would take to do what your taking about.

Food for thought.

GT

« **Reply #2 on:** December 10, 2015, 11:04:34 PM »

Quote from: GT Jets on December 10, 2015, 10:57:19 PM

Honestly, if you ate going to do something with fades and pearls, stick to paint.

To do what you want to do requires clear and several steps, I feel it would be cost prohibitive.

You might consider going wroth a single gel color and then painting the graphics, still an awful lot of steps.

The gel coat, once sprayed, will need to be block sanded, wet sanded and polished to cove out right. Then scuffed to paint the graphics and pearls, cleared and color sanded and polished again.

That's a lot of man hours.

I'm doing a Carrera open bow that I am spraying the bottom below the chines with gel, then painting the rest.

I can do it in about a quarter of the time it would take to do what your taking about.

Food for thought.

GT

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Yeah I figured that could be the case. Or even a solid color gel with a clear gel with some pearl in it. Just two steps. I am just not looking forward to the mess of doing any of it myself lol.

Worse case maybe I'll gel the bottom and paint the top. I'm a little worried about matching colors exactly though. I was also hoping to get out of the mess of doing it myself although I'll probably get sticker shock and bite the bullet

« **Reply #3 on:** December 10, 2015, 11:53:10 PM »

You can add a little bit of clear to the gel coat to make it spray less orange pealed. But, you will still sand your ass off no matter what.
I started with 400 grit to knock down the big stuff then worked my way up.

Sent from McIntyre Park

« **Reply #4 on:** December 11, 2015, 10:50:21 AM »

Quote from: jyeager on December 10, 2015, 11:53:10 PM

You can add a little bit of clear to the gel coat to make it spray less orange pealed. But, you will still sand your ass off no matter what.
I started with 400 grit to knock down the big stuff then worked my way up.

Sent from McIntyre Park

So you gelled your boat yourself Jake? Was it really a nightmare or what? Also how was the overspray compared to paint? As far as making clouds for my neighbors lol

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« **Reply #5 on:** December 12, 2015, 09:09:18 AM »

I would recommend against paint, it chips so easily over fiberglass. If you do go the paint route, make every effort to apply the coats as thin as possible and prevent unnecessary layering.

When I was manufacturing snowboards, I had the best luck with DuPont ChromaClear. It sticks really well to bare fiberglass, is extremely flexible and tough, and tolerates rapid extreme temperature changes.

I, by no means consider myself an expert, but I have sprayed a lot of paint and gel. It's all about gun settings and technique.

Todd (TRG) repaired a gouge in the side of a boat for us. The gouge went across multiple colors, including a fade. From where I was working, I was able to observe the entire process. By the end of the day, if I didn't know where the damage had occurred, I would not have been able to point it out.

If you're interested, I can PM Todd's contract info.

Cheers,

Joe

« **Reply #6 on:** December 12, 2015, 10:12:54 AM »

Quote from: Flusher on December 12, 2015, 09:09:18 AM

I would recommend against paint, it chips so easily over fiberglass. If you do go the paint route, make every effort to apply the coats as thin as possible and prevent unnecessary layering.

When I was manufacturing snowboards, I had the best luck with DuPont ChromaClear. It sticks really well to bare fiberglass, is extremely flexible and tough, and tolerates rapid extreme temperature changes.

I, by no means consider myself an expert, but I have sprayed a lot of paint and gel. It's all about gun settings and technique.

Todd (TRG) repaired a gouge in the side of a boat for us. The gouge went across multiple colors, including a fade. From where I was working, I was able to observe the entire process. By the end of the day, if I didn't know where the damage had occurred, I would not have been able to point it out.

If you're interested, I can PM Todd's contract info.

Cheers,

Joe

Do you mind PM'ing me the contact info as well? I have a few things I want fixed up on the advantage that I didn't think were possible. Thank you!

« **Reply #7 on:** December 12, 2015, 11:31:33 AM »

Quote from: BCouey on December 11, 2015, 10:50:21 AM

So you gelled your boat yourself Jake? Was it really a nightmare or what? Also how was the overspray compared to paint? As far as making clouds for my neighbors lol

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It wasn't a nightmare, it was just a crap ton of work! I'll pay somebody next time for sure

Sent from McIntyre Park

« **Reply #8 on:** December 15, 2015, 09:52:17 PM »

Quote from: Flusher on December 12, 2015, 09:09:18 AM

I would recommend against paint, it chips so easily over fiberglass. If you do go the paint route, make every effort to apply the coats as thin as possible and prevent unnecessary layering.

When I was manufacturing snowboards, I had the best luck with DuPont ChromaClear. It sticks really well to bare fiberglass, is extremely flexible and tough, and tolerates rapid extreme temperature changes.

I, by no means consider myself an expert, but I have sprayed a lot of paint and gel. It's all about gun settings and technique.

Todd (TRG) repaired a gouge in the side of a boat for us. The gouge went across multiple colors, including a fade. From where I was working, I was able to observe the entire process. By the end of the day, if I didn't know where the damage had occurred, I would not have been able to point it out.

If you're interested, I can PM Todd's contract info.

Cheers,

Joe

Thanks for the info Joe!

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« **Reply #9 on:** December 15, 2015, 09:53:07 PM »

Quote from: jyeager on December 12, 2015, 11:31:33 AM

It wasn't a nightmare, it was just a crap ton of work! I'll pay somebody next time for sure

Sent from McIntyre Park

Ok thanks, what do you think a single color top and bottom should run at a fair price?

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« **Reply #10 on:** December 15, 2015, 10:14:33 PM »

Quote from: BCouey on December 15, 2015, 09:53:07 PM

Ok thanks, what do you think a single color top and bottom should run at a fair price?

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Just about equal to the value of the complete, running boat.

GT

« **Reply #11 on:** December 15, 2015, 10:26:37 PM »

Quote from: GT Jets on December 15, 2015, 10:14:33 PM

Just about equal to the value of the complete, running boat.

GT

Single color? No thanks

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« **Reply #12 on:** December 15, 2015, 10:37:17 PM »

Quote from: BCouey on December 15, 2015, 10:26:37 PM

Single color? No thanks

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It's A shit ton of work.

Your looking at about $1000 in materials, probably close to 120 man hours, this of course assumes no major repairs are needed.

I can't imagine that you would get a price for under $3,500, if you did, I would question who is doing the work for peace of mind.

When we had the Crusader painted (not gel coat) we were quoted $9,300, we ended up doing it ourselves and we're in it over $4,000. Came out really cool, but the amount of work and manual labor is insane.

GT

« **Reply #13 on:** December 16, 2015, 08:12:51 AM »

Quote from: GT Jets on December 15, 2015, 10:37:17 PM

It's A shit ton of work.

Your looking at about $1000 in materials, probably close to 120 man hours, this of course assumes no major repairs are needed.

I can't imagine that you would get a price for under $3,500, if you did, I would question who is doing the work for peace of mind.

When we had the Crusader painted (not gel coat) we were quoted $9,300, we ended up doing it ourselves and we're in it over $4,000. Came out really cool, but the amount of work and manual labor is insane.

GT

Id spend 3500, maybe a little more, but not 10-15k lol. Last boat i had i painted, even with House of Kolor materials it cost less than a grand to do it myself.

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« **Reply #14 on:** December 16, 2015, 10:10:48 PM »

Have you considered a wrap? I think most guys will guarantee it for 4 or 5 years. Just a thought.

« **Reply #15 on:** December 17, 2015, 08:38:34 AM »

Quote from: GlassCutter on December 16, 2015, 10:10:48 PM

Have you considered a wrap? I think most guys will guarantee it for 4 or 5 years. Just a thought.

I really haven't given much thought to a wrap, just out of curiosity How much do they typically run?

Honestly I'll probably paint or gel just because we have already capped it and fixed a bunch of stress cracks. Doesn't seem right to just cover it with a sticker. Plus I want the bottom side done as well. Thanks for the idea though

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« **Reply #16 on:** December 17, 2015, 08:46:34 AM »

I'm almost done with the gel on my boat and it's been a complete pain. Been working on it for months. Getting ready to spray the clear. I know the build is going to turn out nice but I wish I would have just sat back and found a hull I liked to drop power into.

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« **Reply #17 on:** December 17, 2015, 10:33:36 AM »

Looks good! Yeah I spent months painting a boat last winter, not really trying to do it again. That's why I'd like to find someone who will do it reasonably

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« **Reply #18 on:** December 17, 2015, 12:37:56 PM »

Quote from: SkankyTheClown on December 17, 2015, 08:46:34 AM

I'm almost done with the gel on my boat and it's been a complete pain. Been working on it for months. Getting ready to spray the clear. I know the build is going to turn out nice but I wish I would have just sat back and found a hull I liked to drop power into.

That's looking really good

« **Reply #19 on:** December 17, 2015, 04:57:20 PM »

Quote from: BCouey on December 17, 2015, 10:33:36 AM

Looks good! Yeah I spent months painting a boat last winter, not really trying to do it again. That's why I'd like to find someone who will do it reasonably

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Not sure how many referrals you got, but,

Give Todd at TRG a call, 626 991-9031. Great painter and will work with you to help you do stuff on your own.
He did my bow eye repair and price was better than reasonable.

Sam, 19 Cheyenne-SCJB member, is a painter and has done some AWESOME stuff. Not sure if he is doing whole boats ,but his scoops are nice.
Definitely worth contacting him and see what he says.

I think Orange County Boat Repair is pretty reputable.

Other than the main boat repair shops, I don't have any more referrals for you. $:-\$

Have you contacted anybody yet and got any prices?

« **Reply #20 on:** December 17, 2015, 05:39:38 PM »

Quote from: TrollerDave on December 17, 2015, 04:57:20 PM

Not sure how many referrals you got, but,

Give Todd at TRG a call, 626 991-9031. Great painter and will work with you to help you do stuff on your own.
He did my bow eye repair and price was better than reasonable.

Sam, 19 Cheyenne-SCJB member, is a painter and has done some AWESOME stuff. Not sure if he is doing whole boats ,but his scoops are nice.
Definitely worth contacting him and see what he says.

I think Orange County Boat Repair is pretty reputable.

Other than the main boat repair shops, I don't have any more referrals for you. $:-\$

Have you contacted anybody yet and got any prices?

Thank you! The only price I have gotten so far was from Martinez marine over the phone, it was like 7500 multi color and around 5k single color I believe. Top and bottom. I may see if they would just give me some money off for bringing it in primed and prepped.

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« **Reply #21 on:** December 17, 2015, 08:13:26 PM »

$7500, GOOD LAWD!

How many colors is considered multi-color? All of them?

Definitely call around and get some different quotes.

Just for reference, I was quoted between $5500 and $4800 about 20 years ago for a gelcoat on my 18' tahiti.

What does your TX-19 look like now?

« **Reply #22 on:** December 17, 2015, 08:28:29 PM »

Quote from: BCouey on December 17, 2015, 05:39:38 PM

Thank you! The only price I have gotten so far was from Martinez marine over the phone, it was like 7500 multi color and around 5k single color I believe. Top and bottom. I may see if they would just give me some money off for bringing it in primed and prepped.

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Don't take this the wrong way.

If I was still a shop, I would not touch it if it was "primed and prepped".

You don't prime for gel anyway.

You simply cannot guarantee the results of the prep was not done by the shop.

GT

« **Reply #23 on:** December 17, 2015, 08:40:08 PM »

Reasonably = not qaulity... quality = not very reasonable. But Todd at trg is qaulity!!!!

« **Reply #24 on:** December 17, 2015, 09:59:42 PM »

I understand the quality versus price thing trust me, I preach that to my customers all day every day. But there are also some guys who charge much more than necessary for the exact same thing and being I have never done this before I don't know what the price should be. What I do know is I'm not spending 7500 when I could have a whole new hull laid up for 9500. I also know that gel should stick well over a polyester primer which I am using, and if my prep work is good enough for paint to come out tits, it should be much more than adequate for gel.

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BCouey

GT Jets

BCouey

jyeager

BCouey

Flusher

JordanDangerfield

jyeager

BCouey

BCouey

GT Jets

BCouey

GT Jets

BCouey

GlassCutter

BCouey

SkankyTheClown

BCouey

Flusher

TrollerDave

BCouey

TrollerDave

GT Jets

Towtruk69

BCouey