Gel Coat...???

[Steward]

I've been cleaning up my sailboat this weekend... and just wondering if anyone has considered or used a Gel Coat type finish on a rocket?

Did it work? How was it?

I was thinking of building a small rocket to experiment with...

Thanks ahead of time...!!!
Steward

 

[cls]

yay, another sailor on TRF! what kind of boat do you have?


gelcoat is just polyester resin with pigment. it doesn't add strength, just weight. it's great for getting a pretty good finish with not much work if you don't care about weight. paint & primer stick nicely; another minus is it is very soft so gouges and scuffs easily. that said, all the Polecat / Skunkworks kits' nosecones are covered in it!

I really couldn't recommend it for LPR or MPR or any high performance HPR.

in fact, gelcoat is only used for high production female molded glassed item; custom built or low production boats (read: higher quality) these days are all 2-part LPU painted on glass.

 

[Steward]

I had pretty much figured that it would be on the heavy side...
still... I may try it on a small scale... I guess... if I can thin it down enough for an airbrush... I do know that the body shop has to push it through with alot of pressure....

The boat is nothing special...(he says)...
bought it '89.... NACRA 5.2 meter cat....

meow...

 

[sandman]

Real boats are made of wood and have hemp lines! That's me at the bow.

Yep I built that!

For absolute fun on the water my neighbor has a Hobie Magnum 21 that he just can't sail alone!

Better than owning one!

 

[cls]

hooray for catamarans! you can't beat the fun-per-dollar, not with any other toy. I have a bunch of sailboats including a Hobie 16, and a Hobie Trifoiler. but I haven't done much sailing for 2 years because of back trouble

oh yeah, wooden boats are cool too. nice job on yours, Sandman - you really are the Sanding-Man! is there a genetic disposition for extra elbow-grease in your family or something


back to gel coat - I wouldn't try it but you go ahead and try a thin coat and post some pix here, eh? you might be on to something, dunno for sure unless you try!