Gelcoat Vs Paint??? - Moderated Discussion Areas

  ContinuousWave
  Whaler
  Moderated Discussion Areas
  ContinuousWave: Whaler Repairs/Mods
  Gelcoat Vs Paint???

search | FAQ | profile | register | author help

Author Topic:   Gelcoat Vs Paint???

kentupps posted 01-18-2003 06:45 AM ET (US)
I'm currently fixing up a 1966 17 foot Montauk. I will only be using this boat 20 days a year max. It will it will be in the water (salt and fresh) only the time I will be using it (otherwise on a trailer the rest of the time, maybe 3 overhights max).
Painting it will cost maybe $700 (once I finish preping it myself) versus $2000 (max) to gelcoat it. WHICH WAY WOULD I GO?
DaveNJ posted 01-18-2003 07:25 AM ET (US)
How bad is the gelcoat ? You can bring almost any horribly oxidized surface back with elbow grease and McGuiers 44, 3M finesse it II and Colonite Boat wax. $60-75 for these bottles, a buffer and lots of towels.
Search the repair forum as there is tons of information on restoring gelcoat, gelcoating and painting.
kentupps posted 01-19-2003 12:35 AM ET (US)
Thank you DaveNJ. The gelcoat is that bad, and there are a lot of dents, "spider web cracks" and faded gelcoat. I have started to sand the coat to accept either gelcoat or paint
witsendfl posted 01-20-2003 11:04 AM ET (US)
Please review past posts on this subject
A good pressure cleaning. then use Acetone. I use Pettit Polypaint bimiki blue
It take 2 quarts for a 13 footer @ about $23 per quart. Very close to the original color and works great, much less of a headache. Costs alot less too.
witsendfl Jim K
SaintGeorge posted 01-28-2003 06:02 PM ET (US)
As a gift to me, my 16 Sakonnet was refinished with paint, by professional who does only boats. Most of his jobs are on large sail yachts, and these hulls are all finished with a spray-up system, not relying on any molded in gel coat system. Good idea probably for 'osmosis' protection.
Anyway, this same shop did my whaler, I assume with a urethane two part system, but I did not ask.
Stands up well and looks good.
vinay posted 12-30-2006 10:32 PM ET (US)
if the boat is in the water 20 days a year, and if the hull is made of fiberglass than you do not need paint, ... even! Glass is not spongy. It suffers from blisters due to osmosis but that is a slow process. Think of it as a life ring made of fiberglass. They are trown in the water but do not necessitate painting!
Your problem is an aestetic one. You like shiny surface? Than paint it.
This said, thinks of the next guy who is going to buy the boat one day! If you do, then paint it with expoxy or urathane (urathane is generally not recommended bellow the water line and epoxy is not recommended above the water line)

Hop to:

Contact Us | RETURN to ContinuousWave Top Page

Powered by: Ultimate Bulletin Board, Freeware Version 2000
Purchase our Licensed Version- which adds many more features!
© Infopop Corporation (formerly Madrona Park, Inc.), 1998 - 2000.

Author	Topic: Gelcoat Vs Paint???
kentupps	posted 01-18-2003 06:45 AM ET (US) I'm currently fixing up a 1966 17 foot Montauk. I will only be using this boat 20 days a year max. It will it will be in the water (salt and fresh) only the time I will be using it (otherwise on a trailer the rest of the time, maybe 3 overhights max). Painting it will cost maybe $700 (once I finish preping it myself) versus $2000 (max) to gelcoat it. WHICH WAY WOULD I GO?
DaveNJ	posted 01-18-2003 07:25 AM ET (US) How bad is the gelcoat ? You can bring almost any horribly oxidized surface back with elbow grease and McGuiers 44, 3M finesse it II and Colonite Boat wax. $60-75 for these bottles, a buffer and lots of towels. Search the repair forum as there is tons of information on restoring gelcoat, gelcoating and painting.
kentupps	posted 01-19-2003 12:35 AM ET (US) Thank you DaveNJ. The gelcoat is that bad, and there are a lot of dents, "spider web cracks" and faded gelcoat. I have started to sand the coat to accept either gelcoat or paint
witsendfl	posted 01-20-2003 11:04 AM ET (US) Please review past posts on this subject A good pressure cleaning. then use Acetone. I use Pettit Polypaint bimiki blue It take 2 quarts for a 13 footer @ about $23 per quart. Very close to the original color and works great, much less of a headache. Costs alot less too. witsendfl Jim K
SaintGeorge	posted 01-28-2003 06:02 PM ET (US) As a gift to me, my 16 Sakonnet was refinished with paint, by professional who does only boats. Most of his jobs are on large sail yachts, and these hulls are all finished with a spray-up system, not relying on any molded in gel coat system. Good idea probably for 'osmosis' protection. Anyway, this same shop did my whaler, I assume with a urethane two part system, but I did not ask. Stands up well and looks good.
vinay	posted 12-30-2006 10:32 PM ET (US) if the boat is in the water 20 days a year, and if the hull is made of fiberglass than you do not need paint, ... even! Glass is not spongy. It suffers from blisters due to osmosis but that is a slow process. Think of it as a life ring made of fiberglass. They are trown in the water but do not necessitate painting! Your problem is an aestetic one. You like shiny surface? Than paint it. This said, thinks of the next guy who is going to buy the boat one day! If you do, then paint it with expoxy or urathane (urathane is generally not recommended bellow the water line and epoxy is not recommended above the water line)