Gelcoat vs Regular Paint?
#11
Registered
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Austin, Texas
Posts: 565
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
![Default](/forums/images/icons/icon1.gif)
I have to agree with FX 10 here! In 85% of the cases, paint is the best option all around on a restore! With (reasonable care) it will outlast the gel! (Day Tripper) I think you would probably be happier with the results of a (GOOD) re-paint job from the chine up! I don't recommend painting the very bottom of the boat! You could get away with a good single stage white paint, but if you plan to keep the boat for a long time, I would recommend a good base coat clear coat system! To have someone do it (RIGHT) it will probably run somewhere between 5 and 8 grand, depending on what shape the gelcoat is in!! I am sure you can find people to do it cheaper but you will probably get what you pay for. Do your homework on the person or shop that paints it!! THERE IS A DIFFERENCE!!!!!! Hope this helps!
#12
Registered
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Lake Cumberland
Posts: 79
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
![Default](/forums/images/icons/icon1.gif)
Thanks to customtouch and FX10 for your comments. I don't mean to high-jack the thread but was curious about this topic. I have not been happy with my yellowed gel since I bought the boat used.
I have a friend with a shop big enough to paint the boat in but he has never done a boat. He has painted lots of hot rods and bikes and has had his paint on magazine covers including Easy Rider's bike of the year a couple years back. He is damn good with an air brush as well and is looking forward to doing this as his first try.
I'm comfortable with his skills we just have to adjust them for boats instead of cars by making the right choice on materials and steps in the process.
I have found lots of info on other threads here concerning this topic and feel we will be ready to give it a try soon.
Thanks again for all your help.
Tripper
I have a friend with a shop big enough to paint the boat in but he has never done a boat. He has painted lots of hot rods and bikes and has had his paint on magazine covers including Easy Rider's bike of the year a couple years back. He is damn good with an air brush as well and is looking forward to doing this as his first try.
I'm comfortable with his skills we just have to adjust them for boats instead of cars by making the right choice on materials and steps in the process.
I have found lots of info on other threads here concerning this topic and feel we will be ready to give it a try soon.
Thanks again for all your help.
Tripper
#13
Charter Member #232
![](https://www.offshoreonly.com/forums/images/icons/charter_member_star.gif)
![Default](/forums/images/icons/icon1.gif)
Daytripper:
If you plan to trailer then there is no doubt in my mind that you want to paint that thing. If you plan to leave it in the water because you are on a fresh water lake or what not then I would gell below the waterline and paint above. You will get a much easier to keep up finish IMO. I plan to leave my boat in from time to time so I went with Gell on the bottom and sides and will use paint for the deck and cockpit.
Jon
If you plan to trailer then there is no doubt in my mind that you want to paint that thing. If you plan to leave it in the water because you are on a fresh water lake or what not then I would gell below the waterline and paint above. You will get a much easier to keep up finish IMO. I plan to leave my boat in from time to time so I went with Gell on the bottom and sides and will use paint for the deck and cockpit.
Jon
__________________
Put your best foot forward!
Put your best foot forward!
#14
Banned
Join Date: Sep 2001
Location: Deland, Florida
Posts: 25,191
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
![Default](/forums/images/icons/icon1.gif)
Originally Posted by DayTripper
Thanks to customtouch and FX10 for your comments. I don't mean to high-jack the thread but was curious about this topic. I have not been happy with my yellowed gel since I bought the boat used.
I have a friend with a shop big enough to paint the boat in but he has never done a boat. He has painted lots of hot rods and bikes and has had his paint on magazine covers including Easy Rider's bike of the year a couple years back. He is damn good with an air brush as well and is looking forward to doing this as his first try.
I'm comfortable with his skills we just have to adjust them for boats instead of cars by making the right choice on materials and steps in the process.
I have found lots of info on other threads here concerning this topic and feel we will be ready to give it a try soon.
Thanks again for all your help.
Tripper
I have a friend with a shop big enough to paint the boat in but he has never done a boat. He has painted lots of hot rods and bikes and has had his paint on magazine covers including Easy Rider's bike of the year a couple years back. He is damn good with an air brush as well and is looking forward to doing this as his first try.
I'm comfortable with his skills we just have to adjust them for boats instead of cars by making the right choice on materials and steps in the process.
I have found lots of info on other threads here concerning this topic and feel we will be ready to give it a try soon.
Thanks again for all your help.
Tripper
I never held a spray gun in my life before I started this project. As you walk around the boat, you can see where I got better and better with the gun as I went. By the time I got to the transom, I swear you could not pay for a better job. In this picture, it still looks wet, but it is completely dry. It looks like you could stick your arm down in the paint. I was very happy how this turned out, and as I said, I am a complete amature, anyone that knows their way around a paint gun should have no problems. This is a polyurethane, no clear.
#17
Registered
Join Date: Aug 2012
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
![Default](/forums/images/icons/icon1.gif)
im in the process of painting my boat, im wondering if a gel coat is better than a clear coat. im new to this and i dont know if im getting the short end of the stick when asking paint booths her. Question im asking is if i paint a fiberglass boat then spray clear on it instead of gel, will it be ok or am i running the risk of failure?