Painting topside/deck

[MaryLynn Barnwell]

I would like some advice about painting an older boat (1975) and the resale value that it may add. At this point the boat is dingy and dirty, but for the cost of redoing the gel coat, would it be cost effective? I am near Venezuela where the cost of labor is cheap and my boat is a 1975, 38 ft. Camper-Nic. Thanks

 

[danknoxsf]

Probably not a good idea.

MaryLynn--It almost never works out financially to fix-up a boat and sell it. If you are reading this you are probably just like me and love boats; but let's face it if you purchased a boat for it's financial value you probably need a new financial advisor. Certainly a well cared for boat with sell for more than one in poor condition but the difference will almost never cover the costs of the needed repairs.Still a new well applied gel coat is a wonderful thing. Afriend of mine just had it done to his Islander 36 and it really looks great! I think it cost him more than he actually paid for the boat!Good Luck with your boat.--Dan

 

[Paul Zetlmaier]

Wait a minute

Dan is right but; I was looking at boats like yours on the web and they have a high value."Venezuela" and "Cheap Labor" are the key words here. You have to pencil it out... Anyone who says he breaks even on a fix up isprobably deluded much less make a profit!!

 

[Mark]

Sellable rather than not

There are a lot of boats that just sit on the market for months and months (sometimes years). Many are over priced since the owner want's to get back the investment. Other boats sit because they are in such awful shape. Not everyone wants a fixer-upper. Your deck repair would help make the boat more sellable. It kind of depends on how much you want to get rid of the boat. Final note: If the repair is done in VZ, is that where you intend to try and sell it? Location with respect to the buyer is a factor also.

 

[Mike Meer]

Clean don't paint

My boat was dirty and I used a product sold by Davis called FSR Fiberglass Stain Remover. I think it is basicly Oxilic Acid (spelling?) It bleaced my hull perfictly white. It works realy well on rust stains. I then buffed the hull and waxed it up sweet!

 

[Greg Pecaut]

Why Paint

If fixing for resale, if the decks are in good shape, paint would work. If keeping it, re gelcoat. Paint scratches too easily. If the deck needs chips filled ect. then paint or regel is it. If the decks are ok then just clean them. Cheapest rust stain remover that works on fiberglass is CLR, you can find it at hardware stores/Walmart/etc. A good fiberglass polish will take out small scratches and clean up a lot of stains. Coat with a good wax. A lot of elbow grease will be needed but not expensive. To spray a new coat of gel coat on is about as easy as painting, but you have to clean up the equipment fast before the gel starts setting with acetone. Good prep work is the key for either paint or gel coat.