Today at West Marine I went looking for something to fair 2 rudders with normal nicks and dings. After I told him waht I was doing he reccomended Finish Gel Coat by West Marine. Like an idiot I bought it without consulting this forum. Will it work or should I get some something else? I planned on gel coating after sanding but he says this is all in one.
Thanks
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Nacra 5.2
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Fairing rudders
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Posted: Mar 22, 2012 - 08:48 PM
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Posted: Mar 23, 2012 - 05:50 AM
It's always best to repair the nicks and dings with fiberglass first, then you can gelcoat. If you want to spray with a paint gun, you need to add 1/2 Duratec high gloss additive (it's $85 a gallon, but worth it) and 1/2 gelcoat. This will give you a much better finish and a lot less wet sanding to get it to a smooth high glass finish. When you add the MEKP...just catalyse the gelcoat not the Duratec. I use 10 cc's per 1 pint of gelcoat, so if you fill the quart cup, only put 10 cc's. If you decide not to use the Duratec, you can't use a paint gun, you will have to use a gelcoat cup gun or roll on a couple of coats, these methods require a considerable amount of sanding. Hope this helps.
Edited by KennyB on Mar 23, 2012 - 05:51 AM.
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Kenny Boudreaux
2010 C2 F18 USA 323
Goodall Design "Southern Area Rep"
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Posted: Mar 23, 2012 - 08:48 AM
Depends on how big your nicks and dings are. You can add filler to gel-coat and use that, it's just not quite as easy as other options. Gel coat brushed on can be pretty thick.
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Greenville SC
Offering sails and other go fast parts for A-class catamarans
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Posted: Mar 23, 2012 - 01:41 PM
golfdad75,
I use this on my rudders and centerboards.
http://www.solarez.com/productsnew/e_extreme.html
Structurally it is great. Cures hard in 5 minutes in the sun, but you can still sand and shape it easily. It is fiberglass impregnated epoxy, and dries translucent. Cover it with gelcoat afterward. After years of using MarineTex and other two-part puttys, this stuff is great. I fixed 30+ dings in rudders and centerboards in a weekend. Watch the videos about fixing the surfboard ding to get the process.
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Sheet In!
Bob
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Prindle 18-2 #244 "Wakizashi"
Prindle 16 #3690 "Pegasus" Sold (sigh)
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Posted: Mar 24, 2012 - 11:04 AM
That's cool stuff! I'm heading into town today to pick up bits for my boat. I'll keep an eye out for this stuff.
Thanks!
Tom
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Tom Benedict
Island of Hawaii
P-Cat 18 / Sail# 361 / HA 7633 H / "Smilodon"
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Posted: Mar 24, 2012 - 11:08 AM
Hey, quick question about this stuff:
I'm watching the video on fixing tail damage to a surf board. Just from watching this, it seems like you could use this stuff to build back a ground-off tip on a rudder blade. Is this one of the dings you've used it for, Bob? I haven't even started work on the rudder blades on my boat, but that's one of the issues I'm going to have to work on.
Thanks,
Tom
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Tom Benedict
Island of Hawaii
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Posted: Mar 24, 2012 - 02:10 PM
solarez looks interesting..
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Rob
OKC
Pile of Nacra parts..
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Posted: Mar 24, 2012 - 06:14 PM
If it is epoxy won't I have a problem gel coating over it?
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Nacra 5.2
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Posted: Mar 24, 2012 - 11:25 PM
i like the look of the Solarez stuff. Gonna gave to try some someday.
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Dustin Finlinson • Magna, UT
Member: Utah Sailing Association
1982 Prindle 18
1986 Hobie 17
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Posted: Mar 25, 2012 - 12:09 AM
Is is tough enough to stand and heal the bumps and indents on Nacra rudders when you smack them down and they contact with the housings near the pins up top of the housing that damages the blades?? Got a set that Chris brought in from the EAST COAST ( Canada) for me that need help there..) Not cheap either!! Yes East Cost $$.. And Yellow?? .. Have to gelcole them so nobody on the beach laughs after I fix them.. Was thinking that I would have to do a cloth repair to that area. Nice to do it with Solarez.. HELP !! Cheers Hal
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Hal Liske
Livermore CA
H 16 (6+ 1.. Friends) H 3.2 N 5.2 (2) H 17 (2) H-18
Nacra 5.8 (son's) H 20 (Friends)
It's a Sickness
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Posted: Mar 25, 2012 - 09:51 AM
I have good luck with 3M High Strength Repair Filler. I can across this when a guy at our yard was fairing his J24.
Have used it to repair rudders, dagger board and the hulls of my I 20. A lot easier that mixing up the West Systems and filler, and sands out real nice....no air bubbles.
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John Schwartz
Ventura, CA
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Posted: Mar 26, 2012 - 10:50 AM
Exactly what I used it for, and it worked really well to replace two corners on my rudders. Use the Solarez Extreme product. It's the hardest.
Sheet In!
Edited by klozhald on Mar 26, 2012 - 10:20 AM.
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Bob
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Posted: Mar 26, 2012 - 11:10 AM
Apologies!
Sorry, it is not epoxy, it is a fiberglass impregnated polyester resin. Once it cures, it can be prepped (sanded/shaped) just like fiberglass and takes gelcoat well.
What I like best about his stuff is that you don't have to mix anything, there are no bubbles so long as you pay attention when you put it in place, and in good sun you are ready to do your final sanding in 5 minutes or less.
I have used three of their products, one specifically for an old windsurfer that had a part of the deck missing the size of my palm. I thought I was going to have to throw that board out.
Edited by klozhald on Mar 26, 2012 - 11:40 AM.
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Sheet In!
Bob
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Prindle 18-2 #244 "Wakizashi"
Prindle 16 #3690 "Pegasus" Sold (sigh)
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(Way) Past Commodore of Prindle Fleet 14
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Posted: Mar 26, 2012 - 11:43 AM
The Solarez Extreme is stronger than fiberglass or gelcoat. Will it stand up to being hammered in the situation you describe? I don't know. Would anything withstand that? I did repair the pivot hole on both my centerboards and the top of my rudder where it used to strike the metal sheaves in the casting (until I learned how to adjust the rudders in the casting). Both of these areas are high stress, and I am very happy with the outcome.
Sheet In!
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Sheet In!
Bob
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Prindle 18-2 #244 "Wakizashi"
Prindle 16 #3690 "Pegasus" Sold (sigh)
AZ Multihull Fleet 42 member
(Way) Past Commodore of Prindle Fleet 14
Arizona, USA
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Posted: Mar 26, 2012 - 11:49 AM
Hey Tom, They have dealers world-wide, including one in Hawaii.
http://solarez.com/distrib.html
Pa'u Hana
Bob
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Sheet In!
Bob
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Prindle 18-2 #244 "Wakizashi"
Prindle 16 #3690 "Pegasus" Sold (sigh)
AZ Multihull Fleet 42 member
(Way) Past Commodore of Prindle Fleet 14
Arizona, USA
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Posted: Mar 26, 2012 - 12:51 PM
Hey John,
Does it have any effect on the foam sandwich layer on old catamarans?
I can't find a good FAQ on it.
Bob
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Sheet In!
Bob
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Prindle 16 #3690 "Pegasus" Sold (sigh)
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Arizona, USA
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Posted: Mar 27, 2012 - 10:28 AM
Cool! Thanks for the pointer, Bob. I went looking over the weekend and couldn't find any. I'll give this guy a call today and see if I can order some.
Tom
P.S. Man, I'm looking forward to being pau on this boat. I want to get it in the water!
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Tom Benedict
Island of Hawaii
P-Cat 18 / Sail# 361 / HA 7633 H / "Smilodon"
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Posted: Mar 28, 2012 - 08:57 AM
Alright I have ordered the solarez, I don't have a lot of nicks. My next question is spraying gelcoat. I read somewhere that the boards should lay flat to keep the gel coat from running. Let dry and flip over.Or do I even want to gel coat? paint? Any advice?
Edited by golfdad75 on Mar 28, 2012 - 09:57 AM.
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Nacra 5.2
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Posted: Mar 28, 2012 - 12:59 PM
look for my recent thread in the technical help forum on refinishing epo rudders. Two great links for
refinishing. apparently most people apply epoxy with a foam roller and wet sand.
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Pete Knapp
Schodack landing,NY
Goodall Viper,AHPC Viper,Nacra I20
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Posted: Mar 28, 2012 - 01:24 PM
Do you really need to spray it? I looked at spraying when I had to do big hull repairs but it was cost prohibitive to equip myself properly (cup gun, HVLP Compressor, etc) so I just applied with a foam brush, sanded, wet sanded, and polished. Turned out great IMHO. Use of Prevail sprayers may be possible if the area is small enough.
