All clear coats are not the same.
I have used imron to spray paint engine parts etc in a 60 cad that I restored. Its wonderfully easy to use but VERY TOXIC! It was originally developed for airplanes and was used a lot on hot rods etc but now superceded by other urethane paints. One reason it is less suitable for cars is it "lifts" when trying to feather edge for repairs etc. On a boat hull, particularly if it was not originally thoroughly sanded and cleaned with solvent (to remove wax, chalk etc) it will tend to go the same way- nics etc lift and peel. It will not "flake" tending to be sort of rubbery. Because it is a two part catalyzed coating, Imron can only be removed by sanding or (on a metal car) by using a very strong (aircraft quality) paint stripper WHICH WILL DESTROY GELCOAT!!. The other person who mentioned the whole hull being covered in some sort of degraded clear coat might instead have had a water-based acrylic. If you suspect this, use an ammonia-based stripper to remove but wet sanding/compounding would still be necessary to remove material down in the pores. Another way to test is to try a little IG cleaner- it will soften and start to remove single part clear coats including water based acrylic (polyglow etc). If it does not yo uhave a two part and have to go the physical removal route already discussed. Hope this if of some help Jim Willis IGP
