Cal 39 gel coat match suggestions

I have a 1979 Cal 39 mkii and am looking for suggestions for a gel coat color match for the original gel coat for some cosmetic repairs. I haven't had much luck yet trying to mixing my own color. Anybody have a good product to suggest? --Mark Miller "Old Jack Rose" Boston, MA

Well, Mark, from my limited experience (I ultimately gave up), gel coat matching is a black art. There is a certain small number of people in our area who can do it well. I think the formula calls for patience and alcohol. The dried color is not the same as the wet color. I’m sure that others on the list with some boatyard experience can explain this better. One way to attempt the matching is to lay some equal dollops of mixed gel coat onto a board, and add bits of colorant (possibly yellow and black/grey) in different amounts (carefully measured) on the dollops till you think you are close to the color of the hull. Then let the dollops dry for several days with a cover like saran wrap over them (process is anaerobic). I do not know about the effect of sun or darkness on this process. Now compare the dried dollops to the hull and use the mix that comes closest. If it isn’t quite right, start over with slight mix adjustments. Oh, yeah, almost forgot. The surface probably needs to be prepped with Interlux 202 Solvent Wash Intoxicant. It removes old mold release left in the surface. Make sure you have a verrry good mask. You will then be sanding the repair area down to beyond 2000 grit (even micro mesh). I think wet sanding is better, but not sure. For only a few more $K (:)), you can Awlgrip the whole hull. The preparation of the hull is a story for another day. Take Care Charlie Annapolis From: Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com [mailto:Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com] Sent: Monday, July 24, 2017 7:56 AM To: Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com Subject: [Cal_Boats] Cal 39 gel coat match suggestions I have a 1979 Cal 39 mkii and am looking for suggestions for a gel coat color match for the original gel coat for some cosmetic repairs. I haven't had much luck yet trying to mixing my own color. Anybody have a good product to suggest? --Mark Miller "Old Jack Rose" Boston, MA

Mark, When we were prepping to redo the topsides of our Cal 39 I asked the yard if they could spray a whole new gel coat and they said that Awlcraft was almost as tough and would be much easier to do. I personally tried mixing up some gel coat on a previous boat and would agree complete with Charlie that it is much more art than science. Another way to put it is a complete failure. We became much better at applying Interlux Perfection by rolling and tipping. Greg On Monday, July 24, 2017, 9:24:17 AM CDT, 'Charlie Husar' hu… [at] gmail.com [Cal_Boats] <Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com> wrote: Well, Mark, from my limited experience (I ultimately gave up), gel coat matching is a black art. There is a certain small number of people in our area who can do it well. I think the formula calls for patience and alcohol. The dried color is not the same as the wet color. I’m sure that others on the list with some boatyard experience can explain this better. One way to attempt the matching is to lay some equal dollops of mixed gel coat onto a board, and add bits of colorant (possibly yellow and black/grey) in different amounts (carefully measured) on the dollops till you think you are close to the color of the hull. Then let the dollops dry for several days with a cover like saran wrap over them (process is anaerobic). I do not know about the effect of sun or darkness on this process. Now compare the dried dollops to the hull and use the mix that comes closest. If it isn’t quite right, start over with slight mix adjustments. Oh, yeah, almost forgot. The surface probably needs to be prepped with Interlux 202 Solvent Wash Intoxicant. It removes old mold release left in the surface. Make sure you have a verrry good mask. You will then be sanding the repair area down to beyond 2000 grit (even micro mesh). I think wet sanding is better, but not sure. For only a few more $K (J), you can Awlgrip the whole hull. The preparation of the hull is a story for another day. Take Care Charlie Annapolis From: Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com [mailto:Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com] Sent: Monday, July 24, 2017 7:56 AM To: Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com Subject: [Cal_Boats] Cal 39 gel coat match suggestions I have a 1979 Cal 39 mkii and am looking for suggestions for a gel coat color match for the original gel coat for some cosmetic repairs. I haven't had much luck yet trying to mixing my own color. Anybody have a good product to suggest? --Mark Miller "Old Jack Rose" Boston, MA

If you're repairing gouges or scratches you'll want to carefully tape to keep clean edges, I find the least damage to good gelcoat is desired. Tape each time you change work, like sanding, cleaning of residue. Then after final coat and the plastic cover comes off, I find it's easier to sand and polish just the repair, rather than try to blend a big patch. Remember too, there's contour, not a flat spot. The gelcoat repair kit testing should consider the depth of the injury. The sealer and possible buildup can alter the finish, as it is not totally opaque. I have added color to the filler for depth. It does seem to blend better over time with uv effects. (Or maybe you get used to it,lol) Helen Sent from Yahoo Mail on Android On Mon, Jul 24, 2017 at 8:34 AM, Greg vanDalen no… [at] yahoo.com [Cal_Boats]<Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com> wrote: Mark, When we were prepping to redo the topsides of our Cal 39 I asked the yard if they could spray a whole new gel coat and they said that Awlcraft was almost as tough and would be much easier to do. I personally tried mixing up some gel coat on a previous boat and would agree complete with Charlie that it is much more art than science. Another way to put it is a complete failure. We became much better at applying Interlux Perfection by rolling and tipping. Greg On Monday, July 24, 2017, 9:24:17 AM CDT, 'Charlie Husar' hu… [at] gmail.com [Cal_Boats] <Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com> wrote: Well, Mark, from my limited experience (I ultimately gave up), gel coat matching is a black art. There is a certain small number of people in our area who can do it well. I think the formula calls for patience and alcohol. The dried color is not the same as the wet color. I’m sure that others on the list with some boatyard experience can explain this better. One way to attempt the matching is to lay some equal dollops of mixed gel coat onto a board, and add bits of colorant (possibly yellow and black/grey) in different amounts (carefully measured) on the dollops till you think you are close to the color of the hull. Then let the dollops dry for several days with a cover like saran wrap over them (process is anaerobic). I do not know about the effect of sun or darkness on this process. Now compare the dried dollops to the hull and use the mix that comes closest. If it isn’t quite right, start over with slight mix adjustments. Oh, yeah, almost forgot. The surface probably needs to be prepped with Interlux 202 Solvent Wash Intoxicant. It removes old mold release left in the surface. Make sure you have a verrry good mask. You will then be sanding the repair area down to beyond 2000 grit (even micro mesh). I think wet sanding is better, but not sure. For only a few more $K (J), you can Awlgrip the whole hull. The preparation of the hull is a story for another day. Take Care Charlie Annapolis From: Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com [mailto:Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com] Sent: Monday, July 24, 2017 7:56 AM To: Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com Subject: [Cal_Boats] Cal 39 gel coat match suggestions I have a 1979 Cal 39 mkii and am looking for suggestions for a gel coat color match for the original gel coat for some cosmetic repairs. I haven't had much luck yet trying to mixing my own color. Anybody have a good product to suggest? --Mark Miller "Old Jack Rose" Boston, MA On Mon, Jul 24, 2017 at 8:34 AM, Greg vanDalen no… [at] yahoo.com [Cal_Boats]<Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com> wrote: Mark, When we were prepping to redo the topsides of our Cal 39 I asked the yard if they could spray a whole new gel coat and they said that Awlcraft was almost as tough and would be much easier to do. I personally tried mixing up some gel coat on a previous boat and would agree complete with Charlie that it is much more art than science. Another way to put it is a complete failure. We became much better at applying Interlux Perfection by rolling and tipping. Greg On Monday, July 24, 2017, 9:24:17 AM CDT, 'Charlie Husar' hu… [at] gmail.com [Cal_Boats] <Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com> wrote: Well, Mark, from my limited experience (I ultimately gave up), gel coat matching is a black art. There is a certain small number of people in our area who can do it well. I think the formula calls for patience and alcohol. The dried color is not the same as the wet color. I’m sure that others on the list with some boatyard experience can explain this better. One way to attempt the matching is to lay some equal dollops of mixed gel coat onto a board, and add bits of colorant (possibly yellow and black/grey) in different amounts (carefully measured) on the dollops till you think you are close to the color of the hull. Then let the dollops dry for several days with a cover like saran wrap over them (process is anaerobic). I do not know about the effect of sun or darkness on this process. Now compare the dried dollops to the hull and use the mix that comes closest. If it isn’t quite right, start over with slight mix adjustments. Oh, yeah, almost forgot. The surface probably needs to be prepped with Interlux 202 Solvent Wash Intoxicant. It removes old mold release left in the surface. Make sure you have a verrry good mask. You will then be sanding the repair area down to beyond 2000 grit (even micro mesh). I think wet sanding is better, but not sure. For only a few more $K (J), you can Awlgrip the whole hull. The preparation of the hull is a story for another day. Take Care Charlie Annapolis From: Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com [mailto:Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com] Sent: Monday, July 24, 2017 7:56 AM To: Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com Subject: [Cal_Boats] Cal 39 gel coat match suggestions I have a 1979 Cal 39 mkii and am looking for suggestions for a gel coat color match for the original gel coat for some cosmetic repairs. I haven't had much luck yet trying to mixing my own color. Anybody have a good product to suggest? --Mark Miller "Old Jack Rose" Boston, MA On Mon, Jul 24, 2017 at 8:34 AM, Greg vanDalen no… [at] yahoo.com [Cal_Boats]<Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com> wrote: Mark, When we were prepping to redo the topsides of our Cal 39 I asked the yard if they could spray a whole new gel coat and they said that Awlcraft was almost as tough and would be much easier to do. I personally tried mixing up some gel coat on a previous boat and would agree complete with Charlie that it is much more art than science. Another way to put it is a complete failure. We became much better at applying Interlux Perfection by rolling and tipping. Greg On Monday, July 24, 2017, 9:24:17 AM CDT, 'Charlie Husar' hu… [at] gmail.com [Cal_Boats] <Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com> wrote: Well, Mark, from my limited experience (I ultimately gave up), gel coat matching is a black art. There is a certain small number of people in our area who can do it well. I think the formula calls for patience and alcohol. The dried color is not the same as the wet color. I’m sure that others on the list with some boatyard experience can explain this better. One way to attempt the matching is to lay some equal dollops of mixed gel coat onto a board, and add bits of colorant (possibly yellow and black/grey) in different amounts (carefully measured) on the dollops till you think you are close to the color of the hull. Then let the dollops dry for several days with a cover like saran wrap over them (process is anaerobic). I do not know about the effect of sun or darkness on this process. Now compare the dried dollops to the hull and use the mix that comes closest. If it isn’t quite right, start over with slight mix adjustments. Oh, yeah, almost forgot. The surface probably needs to be prepped with Interlux 202 Solvent Wash Intoxicant. It removes old mold release left in the surface. Make sure you have a verrry good mask. You will then be sanding the repair area down to beyond 2000 grit (even micro mesh). I think wet sanding is better, but not sure. For only a few more $K (J), you can Awlgrip the whole hull. The preparation of the hull is a story for another day. Take Care Charlie Annapolis From: Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com [mailto:Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com] Sent: Monday, July 24, 2017 7:56 AM To: Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com Subject: [Cal_Boats] Cal 39 gel coat match suggestions I have a 1979 Cal 39 mkii and am looking for suggestions for a gel coat color match for the original gel coat for some cosmetic repairs. I haven't had much luck yet trying to mixing my own color. Anybody have a good product to suggest? --Mark Miller "Old Jack Rose" Boston, MA

On 7/24/2017 7:55 AM, mi… [at] yahoo.com [Cal_Boats] wrote: > > > I have a 1979 Cal 39 mkii and am looking for suggestions for a gel > coat color match for the original gel coat for some cosmetic repairs. > I haven't had much luck yet trying to mixing my own color. Anybody > have a good product to suggest? > I read the other suggestions with amusement. One option is to use paint over the repair. This may depend on where it is and how large an area is affected. You could buy some Brightsides or your preferred marine enamel and take a chip of the gelcoat to your paint store for color matching using the computer device. They will warn you that they don't guarantee the match when it's an unknown white base--whites are all different--but I did that and got a very close match on the interior color for my Cal 20. Also did it to match some hardboard siding on a house, and it was quite close but not exact, probably because my sample chip was darkened slightly. My other boat has an Imron paint job on the hull that is maybe 30 years old now and failing. It is an off-white color. Each spring I have been painting the peeled and peeling areas with Brightsides that I had color matched at Ace Hardware. It was a bit too dark so I added some more white and got a very good match in color. The only issue is the higher gloss of the new Brightsides. The boat is in her 57th season now so I figure that we can apply the 40-foot rule to the degree of perfection required. And she has pretty varnished mahogany and spruce to distract attention from the wrinkles and age spots. Chris Campbell > > >

Thanks everyone for the input.. I probably should have specified that the repairs I'm trying to make are to mostly just fingernail-sized chips and gouges and a few longer scratches here and there that have accumulated over the years. Just little patches needed, maybe I shouldn't even worry about it, but figured someone on here might have found a gel coat repair product that matches reasonably well. Thanks, again!