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Author Topic:   Sources of Paint to Match Gel Coat Color

69whaler posted 10-16-2011 10:29 AM ET (US)
Want to do some small touch up on my 1975 Newport. Where I can get a paint match to my gel coat? It is a tan color.
dfmcintyre posted 10-16-2011 11:14 AM ET (US)
If your located anywhere close to an automotive paint retail or distributor easiest would be (assuming she's on a trailer) towing the boat over to the store. Check first, but many of those type of stores have a hand scanner that can exactly match the color of the hull. Then they can mix according to the readout. I've used a product by PPG called Concept. It's a two part acrylic urethane. Shot the small areas with a Preval disposable sprayer.
Other forum members have had good results in mixing certain gelcoats together for a match and then spraying. You have to have a good "eye" to properly mix. I believe Tom Clark has had real good luck with that process. I could never get the gel to match.
Regards - Don
Jeff posted 10-16-2011 11:43 AM ET (US)
How perfect do want it to be? Are you touching up the exterior which is the Light Grey / Outrage Grey, or the interior which is Desert tan? I have used Rustoleum Appliance epoxy paint before on a 1975 Project 13 hull I had. The biscuit was close to the exterior Light /Outrage Outrage Grey and the Almond was close to the Desert tan.
That said, is there a reason you are not wanting to use gelcoat for the repairs? You can buy some mail-order but, unless you are doing the entire interior and exterior of your hull I would not buy your gelcoat from spectrum nor mini craft as their light grey is not even close to what is likely on your Whaler. Their desert tan likely be a ways off as well. Neither have ever matched for my 1976 Newport.
Last Fall did repairs to my hull and instead of buying and trying to correct the spectrum color again I went to my local fiberglass shop and bought a quart of pure white gelcoat, about 3 variations of their tan and light grey color agents to mix the quart exactly to my color needs and all of my thinners, hardeners and finish waxes. Out the door for every thing I paid $38. It was easy to mix my own colors to get what I needed. Which because the spectrum and minicraft colors are so off your would have to do anyway.
69whaler posted 10-16-2011 12:53 PM ET (US)
Well I have some small screw holes in the deck, console, and stern. Nothing bigger then a nickel in diameter. I was going to fill with marine tex, sand, and paint just the repair. Doesn't have to be a perfect match. Unless you guys have an easier way. I'm not familiar with any other product other than marinetex for quick repairs. Input welcome.
Jeff posted 10-16-2011 04:51 PM ET (US)
For small jobs like you are doing most use the Spectrum Gel coat repair kits. I personally hate buying them as they go bad usally after the first use and there goes $40. So, I have stopped buying the patch kits and just buy a quart of the straight liquid gel coat like mentioned above.
Since the liquid is meant for spraying, using it to fill holes is impossible unless you can thicken it. This is how I use it when doing minor gel coat repairs for holes as well as filling larger scratches. I mix Evercoat polyster gel paste 60/40 mixed in with raw liquid Gel Coat. 60 Evercoat and 40 raw gel coat. Since the Evercoat product is clear it takes the color of the raw liquid product easily and provides you with a lot filler without running through a lot of the raw gelcoat to do the repairs.
http://www.evercoat.com/productDetail.aspx?pID=104
Since your base product is in liquid from this also allows you to have color matched agents that you can load in a gun and spray if needed. This is a big plus.
Here are some images of the liquid gel coat and evercoat product. Step one get your liquid gel coat base and Evercoat polyester gel:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v427/jeff_rohlfing/Misc%20Whaler/ gelcoat.jpg?t=1240589251
Step two mix them together, add your catalyst, surface wax and begin filling your holes:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v427/jeff_rohlfing/Misc%20Whaler/ gelcoatmix.jpg?t=1240589217
Once cured sand smooth and polish out.
If you are not a perfectionist, you can use the Marine Tex to fill the holes. Sand them flat and then coat with the Rustoleum "touch up" epoxy paint in almond or biscuit if to get a closer color match...
http://tinyurl.com/3hr4b98

Jeff posted 10-16-2011 04:52 PM ET (US)
Here are some images of the liquid gel coat and evercoat product. Step one get your liquid gel coat base and Evercoat polyester gel:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v427/jeff_rohlfing/Misc%20Whaler/ gelcoat.jpg?t=1240589251
Step two mix them together, add your catalyst, surface wax and begin filling your holes:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v427/jeff_rohlfing/Misc%20Whaler/ gelcoatmix.jpg?t=1240589217
jimh posted 10-16-2011 09:05 PM ET (US)
Jeff--The suggestion of the Rustoleum epoxy paint repair looks very interesting.
Do you think the color of the epoxy will be durable when exposed to ultra-violet light?
jechura posted 10-16-2011 10:19 PM ET (US)
jimh, read this,,,

Acrylic Lacquer
Like NC lacquers acrylic lacquers feature fast drying. However, the acrylic polymer back bone contributes to improved lightfastness and gloss retention vs NC lacquers. Acrylic lacquers are typically applied in many layers often with polishing between layers to get a beautiful deep gloss finish that lasts...well a little while when used outdoors. Acrylic lacquer was indeed an improvement over NC lacquer but still does not have durability comparable to urethane single stages. Acrylic lacquer is still used today by some for mainly for restoration of vintage vehicles or those wanting to purchase something really cheap.
pros: vary fast dry, easy to spray, no activator required, usually very low cost
cons: poor flex leads to cracking, fast gloss loss requires constant polishing
Powergroove803 posted 10-18-2011 11:07 AM ET (US)
I have used Krylon Appliance Epoxy paint on sailboat rudders and daggerboards for many years and recommend it for small repairs or jobs like I have used. It is strong, UV resistant, and stays white(or whatever color you want) for a long time. Blending colors may be a challenge.
I usually sand to 220 and get a pretty good finish, not Gelcoat pro finish, but good enough for me.
TommyWhaler posted 10-18-2011 02:47 PM ET (US)
Why you can't match whaler gel coat/paint perfectly.
Having friends who work or have worked at Whaler, you would be amazed at the stories they tell. Regarding, gel coat/paint, sometimes it is mixed on the production floor on the fly. "Approximately Correct" is the term they use. So, just get it "Approximately Correct".
TommyWhaler posted 10-18-2011 02:47 PM ET (US)
Why you can't match whaler gel coat/paint perfectly.
Having friends who work or have worked at Whaler, you would be amazed at the stories they tell. Regarding, gel coat/paint, sometimes it is mixed on the production floor on the fly. "Approximately Correct" is the term they use. So, just get it "Approximately Correct".
69whaler posted 10-18-2011 05:51 PM ET (US)
Picked up the newport last winter and polished it up as is and put her in the water. I just started pulling extra's off that aren't original and finding drill holes everywhere. This is nuts. Why would someone want to drill holes into a perfectly good whaler. But then again, why would they get rid of the bow hatch cover, the pilot seat, the bow and stern lights, the console windshield and handrail...CRAZY. What disrespect disrespect.
lakeman posted 10-23-2011 12:40 PM ET (US)
Having been around boats for 65 years, and have seen what many people do to butcher boats, I can feel your pain.

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Author	Topic: Sources of Paint to Match Gel Coat Color
69whaler	posted 10-16-2011 10:29 AM ET (US) Want to do some small touch up on my 1975 Newport. Where I can get a paint match to my gel coat? It is a tan color.
dfmcintyre	posted 10-16-2011 11:14 AM ET (US) If your located anywhere close to an automotive paint retail or distributor easiest would be (assuming she's on a trailer) towing the boat over to the store. Check first, but many of those type of stores have a hand scanner that can exactly match the color of the hull. Then they can mix according to the readout. I've used a product by PPG called Concept. It's a two part acrylic urethane. Shot the small areas with a Preval disposable sprayer. Other forum members have had good results in mixing certain gelcoats together for a match and then spraying. You have to have a good "eye" to properly mix. I believe Tom Clark has had real good luck with that process. I could never get the gel to match. Regards - Don
Jeff	posted 10-16-2011 11:43 AM ET (US) How perfect do want it to be? Are you touching up the exterior which is the Light Grey / Outrage Grey, or the interior which is Desert tan? I have used Rustoleum Appliance epoxy paint before on a 1975 Project 13 hull I had. The biscuit was close to the exterior Light /Outrage Outrage Grey and the Almond was close to the Desert tan. That said, is there a reason you are not wanting to use gelcoat for the repairs? You can buy some mail-order but, unless you are doing the entire interior and exterior of your hull I would not buy your gelcoat from spectrum nor mini craft as their light grey is not even close to what is likely on your Whaler. Their desert tan likely be a ways off as well. Neither have ever matched for my 1976 Newport. Last Fall did repairs to my hull and instead of buying and trying to correct the spectrum color again I went to my local fiberglass shop and bought a quart of pure white gelcoat, about 3 variations of their tan and light grey color agents to mix the quart exactly to my color needs and all of my thinners, hardeners and finish waxes. Out the door for every thing I paid $38. It was easy to mix my own colors to get what I needed. Which because the spectrum and minicraft colors are so off your would have to do anyway.
69whaler	posted 10-16-2011 12:53 PM ET (US) Well I have some small screw holes in the deck, console, and stern. Nothing bigger then a nickel in diameter. I was going to fill with marine tex, sand, and paint just the repair. Doesn't have to be a perfect match. Unless you guys have an easier way. I'm not familiar with any other product other than marinetex for quick repairs. Input welcome.
Jeff	posted 10-16-2011 04:51 PM ET (US) For small jobs like you are doing most use the Spectrum Gel coat repair kits. I personally hate buying them as they go bad usally after the first use and there goes $40. So, I have stopped buying the patch kits and just buy a quart of the straight liquid gel coat like mentioned above. Since the liquid is meant for spraying, using it to fill holes is impossible unless you can thicken it. This is how I use it when doing minor gel coat repairs for holes as well as filling larger scratches. I mix Evercoat polyster gel paste 60/40 mixed in with raw liquid Gel Coat. 60 Evercoat and 40 raw gel coat. Since the Evercoat product is clear it takes the color of the raw liquid product easily and provides you with a lot filler without running through a lot of the raw gelcoat to do the repairs. http://www.evercoat.com/productDetail.aspx?pID=104 Since your base product is in liquid from this also allows you to have color matched agents that you can load in a gun and spray if needed. This is a big plus. Here are some images of the liquid gel coat and evercoat product. Step one get your liquid gel coat base and Evercoat polyester gel: http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v427/jeff_rohlfing/Misc%20Whaler/ gelcoat.jpg?t=1240589251 Step two mix them together, add your catalyst, surface wax and begin filling your holes: http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v427/jeff_rohlfing/Misc%20Whaler/ gelcoatmix.jpg?t=1240589217 Once cured sand smooth and polish out. If you are not a perfectionist, you can use the Marine Tex to fill the holes. Sand them flat and then coat with the Rustoleum "touch up" epoxy paint in almond or biscuit if to get a closer color match... http://tinyurl.com/3hr4b98
Jeff	posted 10-16-2011 04:52 PM ET (US) Here are some images of the liquid gel coat and evercoat product. Step one get your liquid gel coat base and Evercoat polyester gel: http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v427/jeff_rohlfing/Misc%20Whaler/ gelcoat.jpg?t=1240589251 Step two mix them together, add your catalyst, surface wax and begin filling your holes: http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v427/jeff_rohlfing/Misc%20Whaler/ gelcoatmix.jpg?t=1240589217
jimh	posted 10-16-2011 09:05 PM ET (US) Jeff--The suggestion of the Rustoleum epoxy paint repair looks very interesting. Do you think the color of the epoxy will be durable when exposed to ultra-violet light?
jechura	posted 10-16-2011 10:19 PM ET (US) jimh, read this,,, Acrylic Lacquer Like NC lacquers acrylic lacquers feature fast drying. However, the acrylic polymer back bone contributes to improved lightfastness and gloss retention vs NC lacquers. Acrylic lacquers are typically applied in many layers often with polishing between layers to get a beautiful deep gloss finish that lasts...well a little while when used outdoors. Acrylic lacquer was indeed an improvement over NC lacquer but still does not have durability comparable to urethane single stages. Acrylic lacquer is still used today by some for mainly for restoration of vintage vehicles or those wanting to purchase something really cheap. pros: vary fast dry, easy to spray, no activator required, usually very low cost cons: poor flex leads to cracking, fast gloss loss requires constant polishing
Powergroove803	posted 10-18-2011 11:07 AM ET (US) I have used Krylon Appliance Epoxy paint on sailboat rudders and daggerboards for many years and recommend it for small repairs or jobs like I have used. It is strong, UV resistant, and stays white(or whatever color you want) for a long time. Blending colors may be a challenge. I usually sand to 220 and get a pretty good finish, not Gelcoat pro finish, but good enough for me.
TommyWhaler	posted 10-18-2011 02:47 PM ET (US) Why you can't match whaler gel coat/paint perfectly. Having friends who work or have worked at Whaler, you would be amazed at the stories they tell. Regarding, gel coat/paint, sometimes it is mixed on the production floor on the fly. "Approximately Correct" is the term they use. So, just get it "Approximately Correct".
TommyWhaler	posted 10-18-2011 02:47 PM ET (US) Why you can't match whaler gel coat/paint perfectly. Having friends who work or have worked at Whaler, you would be amazed at the stories they tell. Regarding, gel coat/paint, sometimes it is mixed on the production floor on the fly. "Approximately Correct" is the term they use. So, just get it "Approximately Correct".
69whaler	posted 10-18-2011 05:51 PM ET (US) Picked up the newport last winter and polished it up as is and put her in the water. I just started pulling extra's off that aren't original and finding drill holes everywhere. This is nuts. Why would someone want to drill holes into a perfectly good whaler. But then again, why would they get rid of the bow hatch cover, the pilot seat, the bow and stern lights, the console windshield and handrail...CRAZY. What disrespect disrespect.
lakeman	posted 10-23-2011 12:40 PM ET (US) Having been around boats for 65 years, and have seen what many people do to butcher boats, I can feel your pain.