Question for Glassdave
 

Dave, I do not know if you remember my project where I have converted my 35' Cigarette Awesome into a 28' center console. I have put three coats of gelcoat on the top sides, first coat no thinner and no wax, second coat the same 24 hrs later, and third coat the same plus wax three days later. The underlying laminate is vinylester, and the gel has been rolled on with foam rollers. My warehouse is a constant 70 degrees. The gel is from US Composites and the gel and catalyst are one year old. I know that USC says six months on shelf life! The two components have been stored at 70 max, and the gel appears as new. I know that MEK peroxide can degrade. My problem is that the gel appears to cure normally, but the three coat application is somewhat soft in that my fingernail can push into it and leave a mark just barely perceptible. Also wiping the surface with acetone leaves a sticky surface almost as if no wax had been added to the last coat. I have built three boats with epoxy so my gel coat experience is limited. It just seems that my gel has not cured completely, and I know that the chemical crosslinking can not be restarted. Any advice or an answer to the anomaly would be greatly appreciated. I am looking at wet sanding the gel off and starting again with new gel and catalyst. Many thanks. Bob N. Colorado.

because you did not apply no pva of wax in the first 2 coats then you burried the first and second coat with wax and gel you may have to wait about a month for it to fully cure,,you may want to try a post cure it with a heat lamp and see what that does..

Not to Hijack or anything, but where can I see pics of this project?

I had a thread under Cigarette last fall, I think, on 28' Cigarette center console conversion. I just did not have time to finish the hull on my original schedule.

The unwaxed first two coats had plenty of time to out gas any styrene and cure as there is no neccessity to restrict air until the final coat of gelcoat the same as the procedure for spraying gel into a mold. There is something else going on here I believe. It is somewhat of a mystery to me so I appreciate any input. Thanks. Bob N.