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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

General Sailing Forum

Rudder paint or gelcoat?

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Steve Blackburn
Master Marine Consultant

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Canada
1091 Posts

Initially Posted - 11/18/2007 : 19:23:36

Hello,

I'm in the process of givng my rudder a makover. Small gelcoat cracks and sanded off the old blue chalky bottom paint. Some small 1" X 1" areas I sanded a little too much off the gelcoat and the smooth bottom fiberglass is showing through. Was wondering if once the whole rudder is smoothed out and repaired if I should just repaint the whole thing instead of gelcoating? Spray painting is much easier than gelcoating from my experience. Or maybe I can roll gelcoat on with a small 3" roller thinning my gelcoat with acetone?

What would you recommend? (BTW: I'm not familiar with the VC interlux paints).

Steve Blackburn, Calgary, AB
C250WB - 1999 - Hull 396

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John Russell
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3444 Posts

Response Posted - 11/18/2007 : 19:43:01

Didn't I read somewhere on this forum about spray gelcoat or, was I just imagining it? This would be a great place to practice with gelcoat. Assuming, like me, that practice would be a good thing.

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dlucier
Master Marine Consultant

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Virgin Islands (United Kingdom)
7583 Posts

Response Posted - 11/18/2007 : 20:07:01

Or you could use aerosol gel coat.

[url="https://www.minicraft.com/retail/catalinayachts.htm"]Minicraft[/url]

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Nautiduck
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3704 Posts

Response Posted - 11/18/2007 : 20:23:26

I'm going to bookmark that site! Thanks!

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bbriner
Captain

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349 Posts

Response Posted - 11/18/2007 : 20:43:05

Somewhere on the forum I described what I did with my rudder last summer... I forget where but but basically I sanded everything down to gelcoat. I then put two coats of two-part epoxy barrier coat, then two coats of bottom paint on the bottom part and two coats of glossy top coat paint on the top part. Lots of painting but it looks good.

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Derek Crawford
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3321 Posts

Response Posted - 11/18/2007 : 20:59:09

Anyone have any experience with their gelkote?

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britinusa
Web Editor

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USA
5404 Posts

Response Posted - 11/18/2007 : 21:42:57

[url="http://www.createspace.com/Store/ShowEStore.jsp?id=218821"]found this[/url]

paul

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Steve Blackburn
Master Marine Consultant

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Canada
1091 Posts

Response Posted - 11/18/2007 : 23:09:26

Wow I had no idea an Aerosol gelcoat could even exist!

In fact my rudder is winter project #2, project #1 was repairing my pop top roof. An earlier mast drop on the pop top roof made a 2" hole in it and some cracking in the front. I successfully repaired the area last spring but wanted to do a better job this winter. Had to redo parts of the non skid which was complicated (all gelcoat) and "painted" the top roof with thinned out gelcoat. I paid great attention to mathing the roof's top gray color. Today I installed the "new" roof and found that my top gray color is way to pale and is a complete mismatch. Even though I was under a good spot light, I guess it wasn't true to natural light.

According to Don's site anyone know what color our non skid gray is?

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piseas
Former Treasurer

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USA
2017 Posts

Response Posted - 11/19/2007 : 00:10:09

Here is Bill B's link to his rudder job. Great work Bill.
http://www.pbase.com/bbriner/rudder_repair
Steve A

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Steve Milby
Past Commodore

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USA
5902 Posts

Response Posted - 11/19/2007 : 10:13:24

I've sealed my rudder two different ways. I've used two part barrier coat (Interlux 2000), like Bill, but I gave it 4 coats. I also have given it 3-4 coats of VC Tar, which gives it a little smoother finish than Interlux 2000, but it's a little hard to sand, because the tar tends to load up your sandpaper quickly, and to roll up in little balls that you have to keep brushing off the surface.

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Steve Blackburn
Master Marine Consultant

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Canada
1091 Posts

Response Posted - 11/19/2007 : 13:51:08

What if I would to use only gelcoat?

I think the Interlux products are a better water barrier than gelcoat right? You all seem to have painted yours.

Edited by - Steve Blackburn on 11/19/2007 13:51:32

Steve Milby
Past Commodore

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USA
5902 Posts

Response Posted - 11/19/2007 : 15:02:34

To the best of my knowledge, gelcoat is there mostly for aesthetic reasons. Over the long term, a boat's rudder stands a considerable risk of deteriorating as a result of moisture intrusion. That's what happened to the original rudder on my C25. The best way to protect it is to barrier coat it. I barrier coated my C25 rudder and the rudder on my present boat. I don't think you should wait until the rudder shows signs of a problem. If you barrier coat it now, you might save yourself future problems.

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jaclasch
Navigator

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USA
104 Posts

Response Posted - 11/20/2007 : 12:39:17

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by John Russell
 Didn't I read somewhere on this forum about spray gelcoat or, was I just imagining it? This would be a great place to practice with gelcoat. Assuming, like me, that practice would be a good thing.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
The West System publication, Fiberglass Boat Repair & Maintenance, Catalog Number 002-550 published by Gougeon Brothers, Inc., has this information on page 72, Appendix B, titled Gelcoat Sprayers:

“For small areas of gelcoat or paint finishing, as described in Section 2.2, The Preval® Auto Sprayer is a handy, self-contained, reusable sprayer. Holds up to 16 oz. of custom mixed paints or gelcoats. It can be purchased at automotive paint supply stores. Precision Valve Corporation, Yonkers, NY 10703.”

I have not yet checked out availability of this product but I like the sound of it, especially “reusable.” Seems like this could be a more economical approach than the Minicraft aerosol cans although color match might be a real problem.

This publication, by the way, is full of great information for understanding and repairing fiberglass boats.

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