My Offroad Tear Drop Plan/Build.

[indiedog]

WB, like your timing on coming back to this thread. I am interested to know about the gelcoat as a finish. What's it like cost wise as opposed to other finishes (paint/bedliner) or do you have it freely accessible due to working with boats? And how is it standing up to stone chips and general wear and tear? I'm looking to build a ply storage box trailer and trying to work out how exactly I will coat it. Was interested to read your comments below, seems at odds with what I've heard about building ply boats locally. Might send you a PM with the details rather than hijack here.

Thing to remember about fiberglass is without gelcoat it is porous needs gel to seal it. The whole trailer is coated with a 1.5 oz woven roving like a water tight box. The reason i use vinyl ester resin is it has a far superior adhesion to wood than polyester does. polyester is about 45-55 % adhesion where vinyl is 85-95 %. On a side note if you want to wax your resin or gelcoat it is a mixture of styrene and paraffin wax added to the resin/gelcoat.

I agree with you on wood boats being better than production glass for quietness and ride. just alot of maintenance.

Thanks, Brad.

 

[VanIsle_Greg]

I had the pleasure of driving behind it for a good couple of hours that night...in the dark, with my headlights firmly affixed to the rear of your trailer. It did indeed sort of "waddle" from side to side on the bumps. I remember watching mine in the rear view mirror and thinking it was very planted compared to yours. Mine of course on stock leaf springs and new OEM shocks. I think the new air bag suspension will be a winner.

Trip photos!





Mikes kitchen was the center of the party (why does every party always end up in the kitchen anyways)?

 

[Septu]

Mikes kitchen was the center of the party (why does every party always end up in the kitchen anyways)?

Closer to the beer!!

 

[VanIsle_Greg]

Closer to the beer!!

Yerp.

 

[Rabidawise]

WB, like your timing on coming back to this thread. I am interested to know about the gelcoat as a finish. What's it like cost wise as opposed to other finishes (paint/bedliner) or do you have it freely accessible due to working with boats? And how is it standing up to stone chips and general wear and tear? I'm looking to build a ply storage box trailer and trying to work out how exactly I will coat it. Was interested to read your comments below, seems at odds with what I've heard about building ply boats locally. Might send you a PM with the details rather than hijack here.



Thanks, Brad.

I'm in the planning stages as well and had the exact same question. I'm no stranger to using fiberglass, but I've never messed with gel coating it. Short of a spray set up, is there any special tools/materials needed?

 

[Wavebreaker]

Combo Answer : Gelcoat when applied properly is a very hard surface harder than paint by far. Easy to repair if necessary, can be cut polished and will gloss up well.
That being said there are a number of ways to apply. It can be brushed, rolled and sprayed. There are additives for gel as well the primary one being a gloss additive normally used in Spraying for repairs to polished surfaces. When going for a smooth surface finish apply your gel in a series of coats to get a thick build to allow sanding and polishing (10 to 20 mil.) . Using a un-waxed product to start and finishing with a waxed one.

Spraying: this is the hardest method of application. leave this one for the pros.

Rolling: can be rolled with most general purpose roller sleeves, use a short nap roller and try not to roll it out to much. The roller sleeve can only be used once.

Brushing : Use natural bristle brushes (some synthetic dissolve with styrene ) same as with rollers try not to work it to much.

Overall it is a lot like using very thick paint that dries real fast.

Just remember this is a chemically activated product and proper health and safety precautions must be used, good rubber gloves not cheap throw away's , and a respirator as well. Don't use in an enclosed space the fumes can be explosive.

 

[Heifer Boy]

I've only seen gelcoat used in a mold before chopped fibre and resin is blown in. Then the whole thing is removed from the mold as a finished piece.

What you are describing is using it as a 'paint' over the top of a finished product. Is that correct? If so, what's the working time and what size batches can you make up?

I'm guessing it's just like working with epoxy when 'glassing something and if you need a lot for a big job you just prepare pre-measured batches of resin and add hardener as you use each batch.

 

[Wavebreaker]

I've only seen gelcoat used in a mold before chopped fibre and resin is blown in. Then the whole thing is removed from the mold as a finished piece.

What you are describing is using it as a 'paint' over the top of a finished product. Is that correct? If so, what's the working time and what size batches can you make up?

I'm guessing it's just like working with epoxy when 'glassing something and if you need a lot for a big job you just prepare pre-measured batches of resin and add hardener as you use each batch.

A lot depends on temperatures it is applied in. Normally mixed at manufacture specs, 20 minutes of working time.

I normally on large projects do a half gallon a mix. small projects half a quart. In metric 1 liter , and 250 mil.

Cheers

 

[Heifer Boy]

OK thanks. You've described applying it with a brush or roller. Does it pretty much go on as easy as paint? It it thicker or thinner or drag or run more? And does it settle flat and glossy or need a cut an polish to get the final finish?

Sorry for all the questions but I'm currently doing some bolt hole repairs on my Tvan and have been researching gelcoat repairs. Everything I read (mostly boat forums) talked about filling with gelcoat and then lots and lots of sanding with reducing grits followed by cutting and buffing. It seemed like a lot of work compared to a paint repair but I guess it it make the repair invisible. Just wondering if starting from scratch is as much work.

 

[Wavebreaker]

Well summer is here time to do some mods for the upcoming season. After towing it last year I find I did not like the way it handled with the timbren suspension. Decided to go with and airbag system.

have all the jigs made and parts cut time for assembly.

 

[Titanpat57]

Well summer is here time to do some mods for the upcoming season. After towing it last year I find I did not like the way it handled with the timbren suspension. Decided to go with and airbag system.

have all the jigs made and parts cut time for assembly.

We need a Like button dammit...:ylsmoke:

Never a dull moment with you!

 

[VanIsle_Greg]

I was over last night for tea and chats and had a look at this setup. I must say, it is going to be one sweeeeet set of swing-arms when done. I wonder how much effort it would take to switch a CDN M101 from leafs over to bags?

Hmmm.....

 

[Wavebreaker]

So with a damaged shoulder the suspension change is on hold. At least it is usable the way it is.

One thing in the usage lately I discovered a Easy Up awning is not easy up alone. I looked at fox wing awning before but the fit for what I wanted is not quite right so I decided to make my own.

More along the lines of what is referred too as a bat wing. with a 7foot 6 inch rectangle room of off the main door. the finished awning will span 15 feet down one side and 7 foot 6 inch wide over back.

main frame is built and the base fabric is sewn.

Frame for awning is a combination of aluminum and steel. Fabric is weather max a lighter version of sunbrella.

here is some shots.

 

[fireball]

Wow can't wait to see the execution of this! I've watched the video of Paul May setting up the bat wing awning a number of times it is such a clever slick setup.

Will you have separate poles of will they be integrated like the bat?

From your first picture it looks like you are emulating the Manta with the larger rectangular coverage before going to our shaped. Is that correct? In that configuration I'm not sure how the fabric gets attached?

 

[VanIsle_Greg]

The transformation of Mike's shop from wood shop to welding shop to fabric shop is amazing. Almost as amazing as this whole design!

Looking forward to this being done Mike! It will be handy this winter for our annual camping trip!
Greg