New gelcoat restoration and oufitting pics

[Brian Nystrom]

I've added some new pics to the "Gelcoat Repair and Restoration" and "Kayak Outfitting" albums I have on Webshots. These are of my recently renovated red/white Anas Acuta. I tried a few new things that people may find interesting.

If the weather ever cooperates, the boat might actually see the water some day. ;-)

http://community.webshots.com/user/brian_nystrom

[markstephens]

Wow, the Anas looks better than brand new! Valley should see this boat! And the tread tape is a great idea. I had tried clear packing tape to protect my deck surfaces from paddle scratches, but after a couple of months it peeled off. The black textured tape on the smooth red deck looks snazzy.

I love these albums, they are great.

Thanks!

[Brian Nystrom]

Thanks Mark. The reason for the better surface finish is that the factory finish texture is not very smooth, but rather mottled and lumpy, albeit shiny. It's probably due to uneven application of the release agent used in the mold. Wet sanding evens out the surface, so once it's polished, it gives it that almost glass-like or "liquid" look. Also, the photos hide the flaws. ;-)

The tape is available in black and clear. I purchased the black for a car-related project and thought it would make a nice contrast with the red/orange gelcoat, while matching the hatch covers and deck rigging. Overall, I'm quite pleased with the look, but we'll have to see how well the tape works over time. Considering its intended use, I expect that it will hold up well.

I'm a bit surprised that boat manufacturers don't offer custom cut protective patches for their boats. It seems like a missed opportunity for add-on sales. The material is available in custom widths that could easily be die cut for specific boats. That would be easier than piecing it together as I did.