Paint or Gel-cote large area?

[agprice22]

I have purchased a project boat. It is a Telstar 28, trimaran. Mechanically, the boat is great. Cosmetically, the boat looks like hell. It has many stress cracks and chips in the decks and gunwales.

I am planning to change the color of the hulls while leaving the decks white. I plan to grind these out and re-gel-cote them.
My questions are:
1. Should I gel-cote the entire deck or paint it?
2. Should I gel-cote the hulls or paint them?
3. Will there be a huge cost difference?
4. Will colors be a problem to acquire or apply with gel-cote?
5. Are there questions about gel-cote I should be asking?

I have done small repairs in gel-cote. They turn out fine.
I have roll-tipped epoxy paint with fine results.
I have not gel-coted an entire deck or hull.

I plan to remove all the deck fittings and re-pot / re-bed them, so I will have an opportunity to spray or roll-tip the decks.
I do not mind purchasing a sprayer if it will significantly ease or improve the application of either paint or gel-cote.

Alright ladies and gentlemen... I know you have what I need: expertise!
Let it rip!

Oh, by the way... this boat replaces the J/30 I was hoping to bring home (on an undersized trailer... if you read that thread.) Thanks for you help there! This boat is really cool. We had a little sea trial in it, and it moves nicely! I just cannot stand to have a beat-down looking boat! I have to make her proud again.

Thanks,
Andrew

 

[dlochner]

Take a look at this video from Boatworks Today on YouTube. Andy has a couple of other videos on the topic too.

Dave

 

[31seahorse]

Hello Andrew,
Thumbs up for your ambition, however two thoughts came to mind as I read your post. (1) Sounds like you change boats almost as often as people change underwear. Not that there's anything wrong with that. (2) The last line of Rudyard Kipling's poem Gunga Din.

My skill would not extend to gelcoat on more than a small area. We have done that a few times and have worked our butts off to get a smooth, blended look, and the same color where the repair was done. Large area.....not for us. There is a company that will send you a booklet of color choices to pick from and then mix the color you choose. I think the company was in Ohio, but after choosing and ordering we had to return the booklet, so I do not have their name/address. Perhaps someone else can help with that.

We have seen boat projects in which the entire gelcoat surface was removed to be replaced. (for blister repair I think) Long, messy project that is not for the faint of heart!

After crack repair I would paint. We have had good result several times with the non-skid micro bubbles in the paint for the deck surface. Likewise, roll and tip has worked well for me when painting a dinghy. Doing anything to a large surface will be a challenge to reduce sags, bug landings, and other nuisance imperfections.

Best wishes on your decision and your project, Phil

 

[dlochner]

There is a company that will send you a booklet of color choices to pick from and then mix the color you choose. I think the company was in Ohio, but after choosing and ordering we had to return the booklet, so I do not have their name/address. Perhaps someone else can help with that.

Color Gel Coat Ships Same Day - 100s of Colors | Fibre Glast

These folks will rent the color book for $5 for 30 days.

 

[agprice22]

Take a look at this video from Boatworks Today on YouTube. Andy has a couple of other videos on the topic too.

Dave

Thanks!

 

[rgranger]

Be very careful if you decide to spray epoxy... it is deadly harmful to your health to breath in aspirated epoxy. Make sure you have a good respirator.

 

[CloudDiver]

Andrew,
Most DIY folks turn to paint immediately because it is easier to apply than gelcoat is. I painted my entire boat except the interior... happy with the results but it is easy to recognize that paint is NOT nearly as tough as gelcoat. I've got eyesore scratches already and haven't even launched yet!
If you have the equipment to spray... gelcoat for sure. For me it breaks down to finishing; gelcoat is easier to wetsand and buff to get rid of any imperfections. With the Interlux single polyurethane I used I am stuck with any blemishes.
Check out the Spectrum Color website first. Try the Gelcoat Paste repair kits just for filling and leveling the scratches and chips. $25 for a 2 oz jar goes a long way. That might actually do the trick nd all the rest of the gelcoat can be wetsanded and buffed. If not, sand everything smooth with 120 to 220 and spray new gelcoat.
Check out TCP Global online for affordable sprayers. If you have a compressor, even a smallish one, it can work well enough as long as you have a good filter set up (2 in line driers).

 

[rgranger]

CloudDiver mentioned the eyesore of paint gouges.... which is why I use Rustoleum when I paint boats... you can find an exact color match many years later.

 

[rardiH36]

Be very careful if you decide to spray epoxy... it is deadly harmful to your health to breath in aspirated epoxy. Make sure you have a good respirator.

Ditto this warning. I've posted the attached photo on a few occasions over the years when the topic comes up. From Don Casey's sailboat repair manual. I also have read that besides the vapors being much more chemically harmful than standard oil based enamels, two part paints can harden fast. Any of the stuff that is inhaled can't be expelled.

 

[31seahorse]

Thanks, dlochner. Those are the people we used. The book was rented.

 

[agprice22]

DLochner, the video series was perfect. Tha ks! (Oops. I spilled some white paint on the 'n')

 

[agprice22]

Ok. I am thinking CloudDiver has it right: fix the gelcoat and see whether I want to go further on the deck.
I think I will paint the hulls because I think we want to use some cool colors!

 

[Crazy Dave Condon]

Have you tried compounding the hull first with a finishing compound. I would try a test spot first using a buffer with max speed of no more than 1000 going back and forth without stopping on the gel which you could burn it first?

 

[njlarry]

Crazy Dave is spot on. Gel coat is seldom beyond repair. I would wet sand with 600 then 1000 grit first. Then compound. You have to sand before another finish anyway. Try just the transom area first.
Btw, the pro on Boatworks does demo a technique to apply gelcoat by brush.

 

[agprice22]

I agree! Yes. I have certainly brought back some rough gelcoat, but we have decided to change the color of this boat, so we will be painting it.