Gelcoat Paint?

M

Mason-Dixon

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Joined
Jul 24, 2007
RO Number
27707
Messages
2
I have a 1999 Rinker 330 in which the gelcoat has seen better days (Scratched and oxidized). I'd like to restore it and know it won't be cheap.

Has any of you painted over your gelcoat? What were the results? concerns? etc?
 
I have never painted over gelcoat, but I've seen 2 boats who have. It looks great if done correctly, but if you scratch the paint, you can't repair it easily like gelcoat. I'd get a lot of extra paint and keep it stored away for future touch up as you probably will have a difficult time matching the paint later on. This one guy in my marina bought his boat that had been painted a really nice metallic aqua color, but he lives with any scratches because he can't get touch up paint to match. Any touch up will have to be sprayed to make it look good. Have you tried wet sanding and compounding out the existing gelcoat? I would try that first before going the paint route. You may be pleasantly suprised at the results if you're willing to put the elbow grease into it. Try a small area first and see what happens before going for paint. BTW, small gelcoat scratches can be wet sanded out and deep scratched can be filled. Try Spectrumcolor.com for matching gelcoat repair kits. Also, keep in mind that gelcoat is much tougher and more durable and thicker than paint. A boat can be regelcoated, but you're talking thousands of dollars...usually not worth it.
 
I have a hard time believing that the gelcoat on a 1999 boat is so bad it can't be restored via polishing or wet sanding and polishing. It's work, but not as much work and nowhere near the cost, as painting.
 
I've considered wet sanding, but from what I've heard, it may not bring back the original brilliant white color. As the boat gets older, it gets a little more yellow. I've had it professionally detailed and compounded, but it's not getting whiter.

My aluminum radar arch and my boat are two totally different shades now. So, I've been considering painting. Possibly even painting the hull Blue from the rub rail down.

The idea of getting extra touch-up paint is a good idea...thanks!
 
An Imron job on a boat that size is going to run you around 18-20K.
 
The reason your painted alum. arch and boat are different shades is because gelcoat oxidizes and fades darker and paint oxidizes and fades lighter. Gelcoat is the only coating I can think of that fades to a darker color, but this is the unique quality of gelcoat. Why don't you try wetsanding/compounding a 3x3 area and see what happens. BTW, when compounding, you must use a polishing machine. You will never get good results compounding by hand.
 
What really IS the difference between gelcoat
and paint ? Also application-wise ?
Is'nt gelcoat (often) just excellent quality, synthetic mostly 'transparent' or
coloured 'paint' ??
Axel
Fiji Islands
 
Gelcoat is not paint in any way. It is a poyesther or vinylesther resin catalyzed with a hardener. It is a Thermoset plastic resin. It is applied much thicker than paint (20-30 mils) and much tougher than paint. It can be clear, but usually its white or some other color. Paint is just a coating,like the stuff you put on your walls at home. It is put on much thinner (5-10mils) and no where as tough.
 
I had the same thing on the gel coat on my 1997 deck boat. I tried POLI-GLOW and had great results. You may want to try a small section. Much easier than wet sanding and buffing. Apply 3 coats of POLI-GLOW and the boat looks like new.
 
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