Refinishing a carbon/kevlar boat

[cottagecreep]

I purchased a racecraft ASR last year to get back into racing, was curious about stripping it down and refinishing it a different non red color. Is it at all possible to expose the CF again with a series of clears or something after stripping?. I'm willing to spend a few bucks on it, but would like to do it at my shop as I can spray there. Just not sure what to use, and what methods to go use with this material. Thanks.

Jordan

[Dave M]

Sure is Possible

Get your gloves on and a breathing mask, and sand away. Bob Trolian built his mold boats using vinylester resins for the most part. Might want to check with him on your particular boat. He is good at remembering each one. He used a Gel Coat in the molds, then the cloth and resins. So, depending if he used a clear gel coat or a pigmented gel coat will tell you how you can proceed. If the gel coat is colored, I would suggest you being VERY cautious in sanding. Go through the Gel coat, but not the resin. If you go through the resin the boat goes limp. It will be very easy to go right through a layer of cloth before you know it.

If clear gel coat was used, simply sand the red paint off to the clear gel coat and you should be able to clear coat with Automotive clear coat to bring out the carbon look. Also, some of Trolian boats used fiberglass cloth rather than carbon, so you may want to give Bob a call just to see if he can help. If you need his contact info let me know.

One more tip, do not use FIberglass Resins to recoat the boat. Vinyester and Polyester resins do not bond real well to each other. It is best to use West System Epoxy resin if you need to recoat, it sticks well to the both poly and vinylester resins.

[cottagecreep]

Thanks for the tips, by chance could you pm me his info, I think I'll take you up on your advice and get in touch with him just to be sure.