Gel-coating or painting - Need help!!!

[joebricio]

Hello. I have been readin so many threads covering horror stories related to re-gelcoating a hull.

I have a 1998 Sea Ray 180BR. The bottom of the hull has some scratches and 1 set of hairline cracks (I am fixing them). The color is faded and in some of the scuffs I can actually see the darker (glass?).

I am contemplating either using paint or gelcoat color matched from spectrum color.

Questions:

1.) What is the difference between using gelcoat and a good paint?

2.) What would be the best paint (most durable)? The boat is trailer kept.

3.) Does anyone know of a good gel-coater tech in the Virginia Beach area? How much would re-gelcoating a Sea Ray 180 hull be?

Any advice that would support deciding between gel-coating/painting would be greatly appreciated! I will post some pics tomorrow to help evaluate the current state of the hull.

[marshmat]

Joe,

I can't tell you much about pricing or suppliers in your area.

I can tell you that, if I were in your position, I wouldn't be considering re-gelcoating the whole hull. A small gelcoat touch-up is tedious; lots of larger ones- or a whole hull- are just a pain (in the neck, the arms, the wallet....)

For a trailer-dwelling 18 footer, there's no need for anti-fouling bottom paint. On the underside, a good epoxy-based patching job should do the trick if you just want to keep the water out and get back to playing. There are various bottom coating systems available, ranging from a quick coat of paint to elaborate blister-resistant barrier coat systems, if you want to make a proper professional job of it. Minor damage to the topsides can be smoothed out and a polyurethane paint system (Awlgrip, some Interlux products, etc.) will have her looking smoother and shinier than the day she left the factory.

On a trailer-stored boat with a cover, even the cheapest marine enamel will hold its gloss for five years or more. A good polyurethane system, applied with care, might still look brand new ten years from now. I've never seen a gelcoat that doesn't begin to fade after a couple of years.

[joebricio]

Thank you for the prompt feedback!!! That was exactly the guidance I was looking for.

I will definitely take your advice. This is my first boat - bought it May this year and I am sure that I will try to move to a bigger boat next year.

If I paint it, does it negatively impact the resale price as opposed to re-gelcoating?

Again, thank you!!!

[rasorinc]

Use a quality paint, lots of sanding and a very good, compatable primer , let dry and highly wax and no one will know the difference.

[Dan H]

Some people believe that a boat that has been painted is hiding damage. To that extent some people will shy away from boats that have been painted.

[rwatson]

Yes - take some quality video of the hull before, and during the spray job, and keep the receipts for the paint finish to prove what quaiity it was if you care about resale value