Regelcoating boat???

[slippery73]

Has anyone here opted to just regelcoat their boat rather than awlgrip or other paints. It seems like the paint looks nice when new but isn't as durable as a gelcoat. I just cant see a paint finish being as durable as a gelcoat, and it seems like repairs are easier with a gelcoat as well. Any insight? I want to keep my boat for a long time, so I dont want to have to strip it down and repaint in 5+ yrs.

[RickK]

When it came time to do something with the hull of my 170 I thought the same thing.  I then priced re-gelcoating   and the decision was made for me.  I painted mine with Imron in 2000 and it looks as good today as it did the day I painted it.

[slippery73]

How much of a price difference was there? From what I've priced the gelcoat material cost is about 1/4 or less than imron or awlgrip. Is it just that much more labor intensive. I was planning on shooting it myself.

[LilRichard]

I would steer VERY clear of regelcoating an entire boat... it is VERY hard to get the finish you want.  Hop over to the ClassicMako site- there is a thread there about a gentleman who tried to just do a center console and had a tough time getting it right.

Imron is not as fragile as you may think.  It's not like spraying your car with sikkens... it is a very durable finish.  They have used it on planes for decades and it holds up well.

[Shine]

2 part LPU paints (Sterling, Awlgrip, etc..) are about as tough a coating as you can get.  They are used for painting jets, in fact most  were used for airplanes before being marketed for yachts.

Joel

[JimCt]

I agree with the others.  Imron or Perfection are much harder than gelcoat and are resistant (if not immune) to UV degradation.  Gelcoat is a lousy finish for anything exposed to the Sun.  Gelcoat finishes are for the convenience of the builder;  easy and much cheaper to apply color simply by spraying the mold.

[slippery73]

How do you repair the painted finish when it becomes scratched or damaged? Can you wet sand and buff the paint like you can gelcoat? Why wouldn't high end boat manufacturers use paint if it is such a better finish? Only manufacturers I know of that paint boats are gause builts. I want whatever finish I have to last, the gelcoat on my boat now is 34 years old and has some very light crazing. I imagine that has been from the past 10 yrs as it was sitting in a field roasting in the open sun for who knows how long with no wax or anything. Has anyone tackled regelcoating? There was a privateer redone on the florida sportsman forum and the guy that did it didn't have any problems. Seems like as long as you get waxed gelcoat theres not much to go wrong as long as your surface is cleaned and prepped properly.

[RickK]

It cost me about $70 to paint the hull of my 170 and I thought that was expensive back then.  Gelcoat is getting pretty expensive - it's tripled since I bought it in 2000.  I priced getting the boat re-gelcoated and almost fell over when told the cost (don't remember what it was exactly but it was a thousand+) - very labor intensive I guess, to get it smooth and shiny.

[Capt. Rick]

Ok guys, I just spent the last two weeks preping my boat for gel coat.  We sprayed the bottom, sides and inside this past week.  I posted some pics of the bottom and sides in my photo gallery.  My understanding is that if it is done right you will get many years of life out of it and still be able to sand out minor scratches, not to mention being able to gel drop the dings and sand them when they happen.  These are easy repairs to make with gel.  The reason for gel coat is that it fills in most voids and pin holes usually left after a rebuild.  I am in the process of finishing the gel now.  Starting with 320 grit dry sand, then 400 wet, then 600 wet, then 1000 wet and a final buff with compound.  Sounds like a lot of work but the last two steps should go very quick.  Should have a mirror finish when done.  Like any paint job the finish is only as good as the prep.  I did all the prep and Young Boats did the spraying.  I have 1500.00 in the job.

[slippery73]

What did you do to prep? Just degrease and sand? Did you do any fairing on your boat? How is the surface after gelcoat pretty smooth or really orange peely? Do you know if they used waxed gelcoat or if they shot pva over the gel?

[Shine]

Why wouldn't high end boat manufacturers use paint if it is such a better finish?

They do, here are just a a couple off the top of the head, and some even are made in a mold with epoxy/carbon/kevlar...

Hinckley - made in a mold, infused with epoxy, carbon kevelar, ZERO expense spared in construction, they use 2 part PU paint

MJM Yachts - (same)  made in a mold, infused with epoxy, carbon kevelar, ZERO expense spared in construction, they use 2 part PU paint

Rybovich
Whiticar
insert any other custom boat

and any other builder who want the best.

Gelcoat is easier - goes in the mold.  Its saves time/money over paint.

Does not mean that gelcoat is always bad - but the highest quality boats on earth are almost all painted  

[JimCt]

The 2 part finishes are orders of magnitude harder than any gelcoat.  Also, you can forget having to wax.

[Capt. Rick]

My boat was a complete rebuild, enclosed transom, new floor, deck, gunnel supports ect...lots of fairing.  The first coat of gel was a light coat just to show the areas that still needed gel putty After filling and sanding the next coat was applied.  We wiped her down with acetone and then mixed the gel with duratec at 50/50.  As expected it came out with a good bit of orange peel that I am sanding off with 320 at this time.  Not sure about the wax in the gel but will find out.  Sanding aid added to any gel or putty will get rid of the wax and make the work go easier.