GelPeel™ Pro vs. GelPlane: A Comparison of the Best Tools for Gelcoat Removal
The first major step in osmosis repair is removing the gelcoat to expose the laminate and enable deep drying. Anyone who has treated osmosis on their boat knows: specialized tools are needed for this job. Using a simple sander or grinder would not only take forever, but it would also be nearly impossible to achieve an even and consistent result. Both the GelPlane VI and the GelPeel™ Pro promise quick and efficient hull removal through innovative planing technology. But which of the two devices delivers on its promises? We compared the two and presented the hard facts.
GelPlane Mark VI
The GelPlane is definitely the top dog among the gelcoat removal tools. It has been on the market longer and has a wider reputation – partly due to its use in various osmosis repair shops in Germany and England. Weighing 4.2 kg, the Mark VI is still quite heavy and thus somewhat cumbersome to handle. The device is powered by a standard electric motor with 1,010 watts and 240 volts. This allows the cutting head, equipped with two 82 mm wide standard tungsten carbide blades, to achieve an impressive 11,000 revolutions per minute. Two adjustable guide plates at the nose allow free adjustment of the cutting depth up to 3.5 mm. This enables the GelPlane to cover an area of approximately 15 sqm per hour. Gelcoat removals, dust, and antifouling are extracted through a carbon-kevlar extraction hood. An industrial vacuum cleaner with at least 1,000 watts of power is recommended. It offers comprehensive training and maintenance service and meets the latest European health and safety standards. The scope of delivery includes an illustrated technical user and maintenance manual as well as an Allen key set.
GelPeel™ Pro
The GelPeel™ Pro has only been on the market for a few years and is therefore still relatively unknown. It was also specifically developed for osmosis treatment and repair of fiberglass boats and can remove both gelcoat and damaged fiberglass layers. The GelPeel™ Pro can be connected to a vacuum cleaner and can capture up to 90% of the removed material, significantly reducing cleaning effort. The device offers an adjustable cutting depth of 0 to 1.5 mm and, according to the manufacturer, removes one square foot in about 20 seconds. That's a little more than 16 sqm per hour. With a 50.8 mm wide cutting head that uses four indexable carbide blades, it can remove up to 200 square feet of gelcoat with one set of blades. The GelPeel™ Pro weighs only 3.6 kg, making it a true lightweight. Two 360-degree rotating handles allow ergonomic adjustment to different working positions. The device is significantly cheaper than the GelPlane and comes with a lifetime warranty. It is available in 120 volt and 240 volt models.
Direct Comparison
| Feature | GelPeel™ Pro | GelPlane |
|---|---|---|
| Weight | 3.6 kg | 4.2 kg |
| Cutting Width | 50.8 mm (100% usable) | 82 mm (50% usable) |
| Efficiency | approx. 16 sqm/h | approx. 15 sqm/h |
| Power Supply and Performance | 120 Volt and 240 Volt available | 1,010 watts, 240 volts |
| Dust Extraction | up to 90% of removed particles, any vacuum cleaner | carbon-kevlar extraction hood, industrial vacuum cleaner with at least 1,000 watts |
| Cutting Depth | 0 to 1.5 mm | up to 3.5 mm |
| Ergonomics | 360-degree rotating handles | - |
| Additional Features |
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| Cost | 1,500 € | > 2,500 € |
Conclusion & Personal Opinion
The GelPeel™ Pro is lighter, cheaper, and offers a slightly faster and more efficient method for removing gelcoat, with the additional feature of effective dust extraction and ergonomically adjustable handles. It also comes with a lifetime warranty. The GelPlane, on the other hand, offers a greater cutting depth and comprehensive support through training and maintenance services but is heavier and more expensive. Although both devices have clear advantages, we have a clear winner: the GelPeel™ Pro. The main arguments in our case were the lower weight and the lower price with the same efficiency. Although we were initially skeptical about whether a cutting depth of 1.5 mm would be sufficient to remove the entire gelcoat in one pass, we found this to be perfectly adequate in practice.
