Gelcoat (Wax/No Wax)

5 Benefits of Using Gel Coats on Boats

Gel coats offers many great benefits. Let's take a look at some of these benefits when you use gel coats on a boat.

1. Provides superior resistance to both abrasion and impacts due to its strong yet flexible nature. This feature helps to protect hulls from common bumps or scratches when out on the water.
2. The proper use of gel coats prevents infiltrations of water in the substrate, which helps to preserve the boat’s structure and keep it in good condition for many years.
3. Gel coats are low maintenance and easy to clean.
4. Gel coats are available in a variety of colors and textures, which lets you choose the ones that work best for your boat and your style. You will see in our selection the different types of gel coats available for purchase.
5. Gel coats can improve the overall performance of a boat. When properly applied, it makes your hull smoother and more resistant to drag, allowing the boat to move faster while consuming less power. This makes it easier to control your boat while also reducing fuel consumption.

Ultimately, a gel coat is an essential part of the construction of a boat, since it offers superior protection from water damage and corrosion. While also providing a unique look that will make the boat stand out on the water. Proper use of a gel coat can improve the overall performance of the boat by reducing friction and drag for faster speeds and greater control. With proper preparation and application, a gel coat can help to keep the boat in good condition for years.

Gelcoat Surface Preparation

When working with gelcoat, you will find its surfaces in four basic conditions:

1. New gelcoat and aged gelcoat which is sound and basically free of any crazing, damage or delamination.
2. Aged gelcoat with minor crazing and oxidation but no major cracking, crazing, damage or delamination.
3. Heavily crazed, cracked, broken and delaminated surfaces.
4. Raw fiberglass, laminating resin with no gelcoat.

Most projects involving molded gelcoat usually fall into categories 1 or 2 and require very little filling or fairing. Refinishing these
surfaces can be accomplished with these four steps:

1. Cleaning and de–waxing the surface
2. Sanding the surface
3. Applying 545 Epoxy Primer
4. Topcoat application

Surface conditions described in categories 3 or 4 need more extensive attention to abrading the surface and the use of fairing and surfacing products. Heavily crazed and damaged surfaces require thorough inspection and removal of all damaged or deteriorated materials. Cracking and crazing caused by excessive flexing of the surface may require structural reinforcement to reduce the flexing. Deep crazing and cracking must be ground out before filling to change the dynamics of the working surfaces. Raw laminating resin is very hard and slick compared to pigmented gelcoats and fairing compounds.

Both polyester and epoxy resins must be washed with household cleanser and water before sanding or grinding. Washing removes mold release materials, un-reacted styrene on polyester surfaces and amine residue on epoxy resins.

Gelcoat Wax & No Wax Supplier

Reinforced Plastics Lab is a trusted supplier of gelcoats for industrial use. We can provide this material in a fashion that best adheres to your specific needs. So whether you require is with or without wax, we are your best option. We have years of experience supplying and distributing these products and do so at a nationwide level. We have become a trusted name in the industry and have customers from coast to coast. If you have questions or concerns about this product, please contact us today. The number to call is (631) 249-5490. We will provide you with all the necessary information.