Failing clear gel

**CharlieN** · 10-27-2022, 06:34 AM

Recent purchase of a 1976 Glastron CVX Jet hull has guess what, failing gel coat.
This one interestingly has no failure into the flake/colored gel. Just affecting the clear.
There are regions of good clear, regions with non existent clear and areas where I can scratch the failed clear off with my fingernail.

My other blue hull has failed gel to the point that major portions of flake are well above the resin, it is consistently bad.

In this case I am not sure what type of abrasive process to remove failed clear, or all clear to the point where I can spray new clear coat?

**WaterZebra** · 10-27-2022, 08:18 AM

Walnut mix

**CharlieN** · 10-27-2022, 09:04 AM

I have some plastic bead here, I will order in some walnut shell, thank you.

**rgsauger** · 10-27-2022, 11:19 PM

I used a flat razor blade to get a bunch of my dried up clear coat off. Used soapy water, too. Super glued a couple of razor blades to the end of wooden paint stir sticks. Perfect.

**CharlieN** · 10-28-2022, 05:19 AM

Originally Posted by rgsauger

I used a flat razor blade to get a bunch of my dried up clear coat off. Used soapy water, too. Super glued a couple of razor blades to the end of wooden paint stir sticks. Perfect.

I think that is allot better than my honed scraper and the blade holders do not really allow the blade to lay flat enough, Thank you.

**rgsauger** · 10-29-2022, 12:07 AM

Originally Posted by CharlieN

I think that is allot better than my honed scraper and the blade holders do not really allow the blade to lay flat enough, Thank you.

what you said about not being able to get the blade flat enough is exactly why I did that. Started out with a traditional holder and it was not effective. Held it in my fingers for a while and then they gave out. Lol. That’s when I used the paint stirs!

**kellytheaker** · 10-30-2022, 07:09 AM

Your on the right track just using a razor blade - then go to an orbital sander and finish off the removal process . I doubt this is gel but rather cheap automotive clear that is de;laminating from the gelcoat .
Be aware that when you sand the actual gel - you will run into the metal flake and it will sand the flake edges "silver ' - but its easier to do this vs actually spraying out metal flake and then clearing .
The correct way is to simply spray metal flake - bury the flake in clear then sand,buff, wax.Now it will pop like new for just a small bit more work or effort .

**CharlieN** · 10-31-2022, 04:43 AM

This is the original factory gel from 1976 I will not sand over the flake. I know better than that.

**OnPad** · 11-03-2022, 04:14 PM

I also used a razor blade on the top cap of my Bullet bass boat. Took about 10 hours to remove the clear coat paint.
Had a buddy offer to clear coat it afterwards. I said, no thanks.