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Topic: Roof Fiberglass & Gelcoat at Marine Repair (Read 1364 times) previous topic - next topic

Roof Fiberglass & Gelcoat at Marine Repair

Its a long way to drive to Nacogdoches.  In prep for new solar sometime this year I'd like to have the holes in the roof, currently patched with Dicor & Eternabond (satellite disk & solar panel rails), properly filled and have the roof recoated with gelcoat.  I'm also thinking I'll have the luggage rails removed since I'm unlikely to ever need them.

We have a number of boat manufacturers and both repair shops here on the Gulf in SW Florida.  A quick google found a number of well established fiberglass/gel coat shops that do boat restorations & repair.  I assume the roof on our Foretravel won't be difficult.  Is there anything in particular I need to be mindful of in having this type of shop do the repair?

How should the existing end cap covering and side drip rails be removed?  What about other through roof items like air horns, antennas, etc....should the be removed and re-installed?

I assume AC's should be removed as well?

Thanks
Randy (N4TDT) and Karen Crete
Sarasota, Florida
SOLD:  2000 U270 34' WTFE Build 5756 "Ole Red"

Re: Roof Fiberglass & Gelcoat at Marine Repair

Reply #1 –
Air horns and antennas are easy off. Our cap covering screws were steel and some broke off when I removed to paint the roof. I installed all stainless but had to drill a pilot hole next to the broken screw. AC should come off. Take photos as you remove so you get parts and plugs back in the correct location.

I removed every little vent, etc so the roof was clean.

I left the luggage racks on as they give protection for our solar panels from branches, etc.

I had to remove the rear antenna permanently for one of the solar panels. I made a plug and used glass cloth with epoxy resin to get the thickness I wanted. Sanded and you can't tell it was ever there.

Don't use Dicor to install anything.

Pierce
Pierce and Gaylie Stewart
'93 U300/36 WTBI
Detroit 6V-92TA Jake
1140 watts on the roof
SBFD (ret)

Re: Roof Fiberglass & Gelcoat at Marine Repair

Reply #2 –
I just Gel coated my coach roof last Saturday I took the luggage rack off as it was easier to gel coat and will put it back on. Everything
else I masked. I thought about leaving the luggage rack off but it is more protection when I go up to remove the snow. A few month ago I removed all the stuff I didn't want on the roof, there had been satellites which went I took them off it tore the fiberglass. They
had used some kind of epoxy. I also took the frig roof vent and fill it in. To fill the holes and repair the fiber glass I use fiberglass and fiberglass resin.
Peter and Frieda Morin
1999 36ft. U320 Foretravel
Build # 5436
1998 Suzuki Sidekick Sport

Re: Roof Fiberglass & Gelcoat at Marine Repair

Reply #3 –
Randy, check out some of these modern two part epoxy marine paints. Hatteras Boats doesn't even use gelcoat anymore due to its inferior performance compared to epoxy paints. Since my roof was painted I've not seen one speck of mildew and it's easy to keep clean.
2001 U320 40' #5884
WTFE 4010 IMG_2198.JPG

Re: Roof Fiberglass & Gelcoat at Marine Repair

Reply #4 –
Any experience with this stuff?

Fiberglass RV Roof Coating | Dicor Products
Randy (N4TDT) and Karen Crete
Sarasota, Florida
SOLD:  2000 U270 34' WTFE Build 5756 "Ole Red"

Re: Roof Fiberglass & Gelcoat at Marine Repair

Reply #5 –
Quote from: floridarandy –
Any experience with this stuff?

Fiberglass RV Roof Coating | Dicor Products

100% Acrylic fiberglass?  Last I checked acrylic was the prime component of house paint.  Polyester or Epoxy are the resins used with FRP.  (Fiberglass reinforced plastic.  The plastic is the resin, the fiberglass is the reinforcement.)

The big difference I see between these coatings, vs gelcoat, is the fact that paint, even fancy paint, bonds to the surface of the old gelcoat.  Re applying a coat of gelcoat, over a properly prepared old gelcoated surface, results in chemically bonded coating.  You've essentially renewed the gelcoat on top, and properly done, should get another 25 years out of it.
 
You might want to consider bond strength  when you're attaching your solar panels to the  top with  VHB tape.

"Not so  long ago we were a nation of risk takers, riding five million pounds of  thrust straight into space."  Joe Gresh
Chuck Pearson
1996 U295
2018 Can Am X3 TurboRS

Re: Roof Fiberglass & Gelcoat at Marine Repair

Reply #6 –
Chuck brings up a point I hadn't considered....VHB tape adherence.  We're considering rerouting our fall travel plans through Nacogdoches to have Xtreme or FOT do the top.  Anyone have any input on the VHB question given the work others have had at Xtreme or FOT on their tops?
Randy (N4TDT) and Karen Crete
Sarasota, Florida
SOLD:  2000 U270 34' WTFE Build 5756 "Ole Red"

Re: Roof Fiberglass & Gelcoat at Marine Repair

Reply #7 –

Randy, my rv had the roof coated by Xtreme in 2004, 16 years ago, with their reduced skid sand filled coating.  To this day, no peeling or flaking of the coating.  For two years I had two 60X40 solar panels I mounted with 3M 4950 vhb tape. I wash it once a year with a mild car wash soap, comes out looking like it was just painted, no yellowing.

Recently I moved these two, making room for 4 more panels.  While removing the vhb mounts I looked for and found no sight of adhesive letting go, just the opposite, solid, unaltered adhesion.

If your roof shows flaking, peeling roof coating, yes, I would not use vhb tape.

Amazon.com: 3M 4950/WI15 Scotch 4950 VHB Tape: 1" x 15 ft, White: Industrial...

In the closeup screenshot below  you can see the sand in the coating, and the outline about 5 inches above the corner of the old vhb mounting spot.

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97 U295 40, Build #5040, 6C8.3 325 HP
Oregon Continuous Traveler
Samsung Residential #RF20HFENBSR,
Xantrex SW2012, (3)AGM8D Hse, (2)AGM Grp24 Eng, Victron BMV-712, 1800w Solar 4 LG & 2 Sunpower
Extreme Full Body Pt w/hdlmps, new furn/floor, 4 down Lexus 2004 GX470 AWD curb weight 4,740 lbs
Prev: 1990 Barth, 10L 300 2 yrs; 91&92 Monaco Signature, 10 yrs, 10L C 300 &  6C8.3 300; 1997 ForeT 6C8.3 325 since May 2017.  Employed by Guaranty RV 14+ yrs.  Former VW New Car Dlr/Service Dlr, Sales Mgr, Rv Sales, and Service Adviser from 1968-2017
"Don't criticize what you can't understand" Bob Dylan

Re: Roof Fiberglass & Gelcoat at Marine Repair

Reply #8 –
Jack...perfect. Just what I needed to hear!  Thanks
Randy (N4TDT) and Karen Crete
Sarasota, Florida
SOLD:  2000 U270 34' WTFE Build 5756 "Ole Red"

Re: Roof Fiberglass & Gelcoat at Marine Repair

Reply #9 –
What material did Xtreme use to coat the roof?  Looks like sprayed gelcoat with non skid but hard to say.  Good durabiity.
"Not so  long ago we were a nation of risk takers, riding five million pounds of  thrust straight into space."  Joe Gresh
Chuck Pearson
1996 U295
2018 Can Am X3 TurboRS

Re: Roof Fiberglass & Gelcoat at Marine Repair

Reply #10 –
Quote from: Chuck Pearson –
What material did Xtreme use to coat the roof?  Looks like sprayed gelcoat with non skid but hard to say.  Good durabiity.
This was posted several years ago: Roof Coating

A pretty good discussion: Roof Coating

Dave and Nancy Abel
'00 U320 36' WTFE  Build #5669
'10 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Rubicon
Livingston, TX  SKP's Fulltiming

Re: Roof Fiberglass & Gelcoat at Marine Repair

Reply #11 –
Thanks Dave!
Randy (N4TDT) and Karen Crete
Sarasota, Florida
SOLD:  2000 U270 34' WTFE Build 5756 "Ole Red"

Re: Roof Fiberglass & Gelcoat at Marine Repair

Reply #12 –

Randy, I have been using 3M VHB Heavy Duty Mounting Tape 5952. There are a lot of different versions of this tape.  Thickness is important to how well it bonds to irregular surfaces, non-parallel surfaces and different types of surfaces (Aluminum and gelcoat).
Amazon.com: 3M VHB Heavy Duty Mounting Tape 5952, 1.5" width x 5yd length (1...

For best results is a primer/adhesion promoter on both the mounts and the roof.  Sand the bond area on the roof lightly with very fine sandpaper (400 grit) then clean well and attach the mounts.
Amazon.com: 3M 111 Clear Tape Primer - Liquid Bottle - For Use With 3M VHB...

I moved a panel.  It was a lot of work to get each mount off.  This stuff is very tough.

I would like to get my roof coated. I will remove the panels, leave the mounts where they are and paint around then an onto the base.  I would check with Extreme or whomever does it what they recommend if you (or I) want to add panels later. 

Get some spare coating for touch ups.

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Roger Engdahl and Susan Green
2001 U320 3610 #5879 (Home2) - 2014 Jeep Cherokee or 2018 F150
Hastings, MN

Re: Roof Fiberglass & Gelcoat at Marine Repair

Reply #13 –
New be to your group,  past history have possibly used 20 gallons of WEST SYSTEM EPOXY, boats, West,  they have a multitude of advise, plus guys U can talk to on the phone,
Some of my work has been pretty poor as far as prep, but not dead yet.  Nothing ever broke loose.
Although all my experience has been boats, plus a little rot at the hovel.
Another good  sourced Jamestown Distributing, sealants,.  SS fasteners,  bunch of other "strange" to u stuff.
As I see it,  these MoHo s are little different from boats, in many ways.
Wife was not up to another hurricane, On or with a boat, did both thus we still wander, but escape inland.
GOD I WISH I WAS SAILING AGAIN,  Jimmy B,  (not Warren)
Bill, Tricia, Sassy  Mostly poodle. Maybe
It,s. 5 o clock somewhere,  ?
MoHo has 3 happy days,  Buy, everything works, sell.
  Hopefully the rest are pleasant days.

Pull 05 Jeep Liberty.

Re: Roof Fiberglass & Gelcoat at Marine Repair

Reply #14 –
Quote from: Billbag –
New be to your group
As I see it,  these MoHo s are little different from boats, in many ways.
Wife was not up to another hurricane, On or with a boat, did both thus we still wander, but escape inland.
GOD I WISH I WAS SAILING AGAIN,  Jimmy B,  (not Warren)
You will find many kindred spirits on this site.  Many former (and several current) sailors.  Most of consider ourselves sailors of the asphalt seas.  In very many ways it is much less stressful but occasionally I miss the old sailing days. 

Richard
Jan & Richard Witt
1999 U-320  36ft WTFE
Build Number: 5478 Motorcade: 16599
2011 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited w/Air Force One
Jan: NO5U, Richard:KA5RIW
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