reclearing the top ????

[atxwrangler]

i need to reclear the top on the cheyenne,i am thinking i will use a good imron clear.my question is,is it absolutely necessary to remove the rub rail?has anyone cleared the top of their boat and left it on? what were the results??i don't want it to peel or bubble!thanx in advance!!!

[IMPATIENT 1]

let me tell ya from my experience last summer, pull the rub rail! i didn't and that where it started peeling and just got worse from there. thought i could save alittle time and it bit me in the ass. :220v:

[IMPATIENT 1]

marty, i've seen you do gelcoat work, why don't you clear gel the top?? never would have to worry as much about chips and scratches.

[atxwrangler]

i have seen the imron clear hold up really well and easy to apply,i guess that answers my question tom.i will pull the stinkin rail off! :D

[Nucking futs]

Use a clear gel coat. It will hold up longer and is more durable. Use the simtec clear (prestec)It lays down flat and minimal sanding. Shoot it,let it dry and then a rub and a polish. turns out bitchen. Just did my seats and floor in the SWTD.

[atxwrangler]

Use a clear gel coat. It will hold up longer and is more durable. Use the simtec clear (prestec)It lays down flat and minimal sanding. Shoot it,let it dry and then a rub and a polish. turns out bitchen. Just did my seats and floor in the SWTD.
i really hadn't considered it,but,now you all have got me thinkin! :idea: your floor looked great,i thought it was flowcoat!

[atxwrangler]

hey futs,can you give me a little more on the details of what you used,exact name,product number etc ????

[FryJet]

From a previous post I wrote.........
Finally something I can help out with. I tried the colorsanding, buffing and waxing deal just to have it fall out over one weekend. I decided to go ahead and clear the brown metalflake and it was the best thing I did for it. I used Martin-Senor Urathane clear, applied it fairly heavy and wetsanded and buffed the crap out of it. Alot of people get skechy about sanding metalflake but I can tell you it takes alot to go through it and even if you do happen to do it the clear will hide alot of it. Hit it with 600 grit, mask it, hit it with wax and grease remover, shoot it, wet sand it, buff it, wax it and your done. I did it in 2 full days. Hope it helps.
F.J.
http://www.***boat.com/image_center/data/520/954upeF181.jpg
http://www.***boat.com/image_center/data/520/954upeF2E3.jpg
Oh ya, resist the urge to buy cheap clear, it wont last and isnt very tough. The UV protection is what really helps and you will pay for it. I used about half a quart, but when it was all said and done with reducer and all it was around 150.00, well worth it to me. I had to do the initial cut on mine with 600 just to get the orange peel out (my first time with a gravity feed gun ) so that tells you how tough this stuff is.

[Nucking futs]

Marty, The name of it is simtec (pestec coatings) product # 27x1a-18 super clear. I got it from Sher-Fab Unlimited
14629 Carmenita Road
Norwalk, CA.90650
562 921 5206
Call and talk to Don,he is the owner. I payed about 80 bucks for a gallon.
As soon as I lay down some graphic on the outside, I plan on shooting the whole thing with it. Its real easy to work with if I can do it.
http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b6cf25b3127cce8e3efd21732600000016101AZs2zdw5Zsd

[HammerDown]

I shot clear over this original 1983 Gelcoat, I also taped off and used black base coat on everything black.
Used PPG's version of Emron (sp)...from what I was told they use this clear on airliners...very tough!
I did remove the rub rail, actually everything except the engine.
http://www.***boat.com/image_center/data/500/1064Picture_045-med.jpg
http://www.***boat.com/image_center/data/500/1064Picture_049-med.jpg

[atxwrangler]

thanx everyone,i got the rub rail removed along with everything else,now i will start wet sanding and prepare to clear coat.futs,i had to patch a spot in the gel coat,{very small} i will have to color match and blend with paint,which is the easiest.will it hurt to gel over the painted area??? prolly a 1ftx2ft area!

[atxwrangler]

I shot clear over this original 1983 Gelcoat, I also taped off and used black base coat on everything black.
Used PPG's version of Emron (sp)...from what I was told they use this clear on airliners...very tough!
I did remove the rub rail, actually everything except the engine.
http://www.***boat.com/image_center/data/500/1064Picture_045-med.jpg
http://www.***boat.com/image_center/data/500/1064Picture_049-med.jpg
wow! that really looks nice!

[Nucking futs]

Im not sure, but the gell won't like the painted area. Might have to go automotive clear if you are blending with paint.

[atxwrangler]

Im not sure, but the gell won't like the painted area. Might have to go automotive clear if you are blending with paint.
thats what i was afraid of! thanks mucho! :eat:

[DUCKY]

If you are dead set on clearing the boat then use a polyester product like the simtec or duratec, but don't under any circumstances spray a clear polyester product (simtec, duratec, or clear gelcoat) over the white. It will be a nasty looking yellowed rendition of white within a summer. If there is already paint on the boat, then you are stuck with automotive paint unless you want to strip it off. I am a big fan of PPG's Concept urethane line and use their DCU 2021 quite a bit. It's not cheap though.

[TRG]

Im with the duck on this one!
If its gel,...use the prestex, product by semtek, that stuff is foolproof!

[atxwrangler]

If you are dead set on clearing the boat then use a polyester product like the simtec or duratec, but don't under any circumstances spray a clear polyester product (simtec, duratec, or clear gelcoat) over the white. It will be a nasty looking yellowed rendition of white within a summer. If there is already paint on the boat, then you are stuck with automotive paint unless you want to strip it off. I am a big fan of PPG's Concept urethane line and use their DCU 2021 quite a bit. It's not cheap though.
i'm not looking to go cheap by any means.i will have to go paint though as i am having to repair a small spot in the glass that would be too difficult to match with gel coat!greyish white!

[TRG]

If you are gonna re clear the top and need repair to the gel?? your colormatch is not as important as if you were to NOT be clearing! Hope that made sense! lol
you would be able to perform a blend as if you were to be blending a fender to a door on a car, same exact idea, and greys are not as difficult as you think! majority of them are white, black, midwatch blue and spanish gold!
Todd

[DUCKY]

Todd's right. Some of those colors on your boat would be tough (not impossible) without clear, but with clear they are completely do able. You will need the right pigments though...Don't expect to make that grey color just by mixing black and white. Once you get close to the right amount of black in the white (stay on the light side) then you will most like need to add some yellow oxide and maybe some blue, red or green to make it a home run. After covering you repair, blend out your repair by using neutral base with a very small amount of the color you made (that will make a very transparent grey) and blend it out. After all the colors are cleared, you won't find it if you did a good job.
oh yeah... and you NEED to remove the molding. You will be rewarded with a much nicer finished product.

[atxwrangler]

thanx guys! the repair to be made is on the white,but,it is an off white,almost a little grey.i got it all sanded today and i think i will just take it to a good local painter for the color match and clear coat.i will have them blend it,they are very very good.will the good imron clear work for this ,and hold up well?

[atxwrangler]

http://www.***boat.com/image_center/data/520/2686HPIM1146.JPG http://www.***boat.com/image_center/data/520/2686HPIM1145.JPG http://www.***boat.com/image_center/data/520/2686HPIM1144.JPG

[DUCKY]

Imron was/is a good quality and very tough product. I don't know where it can still be bought (not around here) due to it's extremely high VOC. It or any QUALITY hi-solids urethane will work, but it will never be as tough as gelcoat or a derivative therof. The only really good thing about the automotive clear is it's UV resistance. Gelcoat and sunlight are not good bedfellowes!! Good Luck!
PS, DAMN I love the lines of those Cheyenne's...Anyone got one they want to let me splash?

[atxwrangler]

ducky/todd thanx for y'alls help. i think i will go with the ppg concept 2021,that you reccomended.i want to use something that is proven!it's great you guys take the time to share what you know with someone in need!if you guys ever get to texas,look me up!thanx,marty