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Author Topic:   To Paint or Gel Coat?

Jeff Kubu posted 02-25-2004 10:58 AM ET (US)
I have a 1978 17' Montauk. I have completely stripped the inside and filled all the holes and have sanded in inside with 150 grit paper. I am filling in some of the small spider cracks that are on the bottom. My next decision is wether to Paint the inside with an Awlgrip type product or to Gelcoat the inside. I have a lot of time and work in the boat and do not want to have to do this againg in
5-7 yrs. I have sprayed some 2 part paints in the past with some success. Which is easier and least expensive? I am not concernd about the fact of it being an Original Whaler.
Any help would be great.
Thanks
keltonkrew posted 02-25-2004 01:40 PM ET (US)
Jeff,
Here is MY opinion. I was wrestling the paint/gel coat issue for quite a while. I finally decided on gel-coat....
The prep time is the same, the work after spraying can be more labor intensive with gel depending on how well you spray it.
The pros for gel are:
1) cheaper
2) more durable
3) not as hazordous as a catalyzed paint
4) original to your boat
The cons for gel are:
1) little more difficult to spray
2) more work required after spraying
The pros for paint are:
1) easier to spray
2) less work after spraying
The cons for paint are:
1) Extremely hazordous
2) Very Expensive
3) Will probably have to repaint in 7-10 years
with that said, I'm doing gel on the exterior of my boat and since I'm not worried about original, I'm spraying Ultra-Tuff rubberized coating on the inside (they even have the whaler blue). This will cover all spider cracks, non-slip, cheap and easy to apply but IT IS PERMANENT. Do do this route if you ever want to go back to original.
here is a site that I've put together depicting my boat's work
http://www.keltonkrew.com/whaler-restore.htm

Good Luck
keltonkrew posted 02-25-2004 01:48 PM ET (US)
Forgot to mention, gel-coat is easier to repair than paint if you do have a mis-hap.
John W posted 02-25-2004 10:24 PM ET (US)
Jeff, keltonkrew's reasoning for gel coat is well thought out (although I've chosen to paint my whaler). If you do a search on "gel coat" you'll find a lot of opinions on this topic; mine are outined in the "AWLCRAFT 2000" thread below.
John
thewad posted 02-26-2004 08:23 AM ET (US)
John
what kind of paint did you use. are you painting the inside with ultra tuff.
thewad
Fitz posted 02-26-2004 10:40 PM ET (US)
Keltonkrew:
Great job. You're a real craftsman.
Did you have any experience with fiberglass repairs before tackling this one?
keltonkrew posted 02-26-2004 10:54 PM ET (US)
none..I used to do bodywork on oldsmobiles...but that was a long time ago
David Jenkins posted 02-27-2004 12:06 AM ET (US)
If it is true that gelcoat will last 25 years and paint will less a third that long, and if it is true that these Whalers may be around for many, many years, then can we assume that after 50 years or so a Whaler that has been painted and repainted and repainted and repainted will weigh more than a Whaler than has been re-gelcoated only once?
How much weight do we add to a boat when we prime it and paint it?

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Author	Topic: To Paint or Gel Coat?
Jeff Kubu	posted 02-25-2004 10:58 AM ET (US) I have a 1978 17' Montauk. I have completely stripped the inside and filled all the holes and have sanded in inside with 150 grit paper. I am filling in some of the small spider cracks that are on the bottom. My next decision is wether to Paint the inside with an Awlgrip type product or to Gelcoat the inside. I have a lot of time and work in the boat and do not want to have to do this againg in 5-7 yrs. I have sprayed some 2 part paints in the past with some success. Which is easier and least expensive? I am not concernd about the fact of it being an Original Whaler. Any help would be great. Thanks
keltonkrew	posted 02-25-2004 01:40 PM ET (US) Jeff, Here is MY opinion. I was wrestling the paint/gel coat issue for quite a while. I finally decided on gel-coat.... The prep time is the same, the work after spraying can be more labor intensive with gel depending on how well you spray it. The pros for gel are: 1) cheaper 2) more durable 3) not as hazordous as a catalyzed paint 4) original to your boat The cons for gel are: 1) little more difficult to spray 2) more work required after spraying The pros for paint are: 1) easier to spray 2) less work after spraying The cons for paint are: 1) Extremely hazordous 2) Very Expensive 3) Will probably have to repaint in 7-10 years with that said, I'm doing gel on the exterior of my boat and since I'm not worried about original, I'm spraying Ultra-Tuff rubberized coating on the inside (they even have the whaler blue). This will cover all spider cracks, non-slip, cheap and easy to apply but IT IS PERMANENT. Do do this route if you ever want to go back to original. here is a site that I've put together depicting my boat's work http://www.keltonkrew.com/whaler-restore.htm Good Luck
keltonkrew	posted 02-25-2004 01:48 PM ET (US) Forgot to mention, gel-coat is easier to repair than paint if you do have a mis-hap.
John W	posted 02-25-2004 10:24 PM ET (US) Jeff, keltonkrew's reasoning for gel coat is well thought out (although I've chosen to paint my whaler). If you do a search on "gel coat" you'll find a lot of opinions on this topic; mine are outined in the "AWLCRAFT 2000" thread below. John
thewad	posted 02-26-2004 08:23 AM ET (US) John what kind of paint did you use. are you painting the inside with ultra tuff. thewad
Fitz	posted 02-26-2004 10:40 PM ET (US) Keltonkrew: Great job. You're a real craftsman. Did you have any experience with fiberglass repairs before tackling this one?
keltonkrew	posted 02-26-2004 10:54 PM ET (US) none..I used to do bodywork on oldsmobiles...but that was a long time ago
David Jenkins	posted 02-27-2004 12:06 AM ET (US) If it is true that gelcoat will last 25 years and paint will less a third that long, and if it is true that these Whalers may be around for many, many years, then can we assume that after 50 years or so a Whaler that has been painted and repainted and repainted and repainted will weigh more than a Whaler than has been re-gelcoated only once? How much weight do we add to a boat when we prime it and paint it?