Should I paint or re-gelcoat?

[Guy G]

Lets get something straight. Anyone who knows how to do quality repairs on a boat doesn't use duratec. It's pretty and it shines, but does it hold up the the abuse of hitting things. NO! The best thing is doing it right if you want quality, take the time to do it right.

[Mikey]

So, what if time is not an issue at all.

You have a 50 foot fibre glass sailing boat and you simply want to apply a bottom coating that gives you the longest time possible before you need to do another maintenance, the most durable bottom coating there is, what should you choose? Epoxy gelcoat?

Mikey

[Guy G]

Hello there and I hope I can give you the answers so you can choose what is right for you. Epoxy is good and stong, bonds well, and last a long time. But it does have a draw back that people don't talk to much about. Once you use epoxy, polyester resin will not bond to it ever again till you get every bit of it off. gel coat bonds the best and you can always fix it with the same material composites. Once you change over to epoxy, the pattern must change. In the long run, it will cost you more than using polyester gelcoat. So in my opinion gelcoat is the right choice. But you must use bottom paint if your going to keep it in salt water. There is a product that Chris Craft used that has copper and silver in the gelcoat that keeps it better than bottom paint. You must connect a low level amount of electricity to the hull. It works awesome and you can always look into that. I loved it. There may be an after market type of material that copied it. It's something to look into. Costs in the front but the long term effect was awesome on the pocket book. That is something in it's self. Good Luck!
Guy

[Guy G]

Mikey, if you ever have any questions about what you should do, I always ask myself what would I expect someone to do on my boat since I have been doing fiberglass for over 20 years. I expect perfection from myself. So I will only do the same if I was doing someone elses boats. I build ground effects on cars for shows. If you have ever seen some of the crap companies produce, it's sad! Thay know people will buy things that look cool! But in reality it's not worth a ****! Thats sad that there are people out there willing to do garbage work and sell it and it's tough enough to convince people that if you do fiberglass right, It's pound for pound 10 times stronger than steel! I have done the tests myself and there are so many opertunities that fiberglass can be used in instead of steal, but people doubt it because of all the **** on the market today!

[Guy G]

For Corpus Skipper, Okay, I have seen alot of good advise on this site and alot of want to be's. I am Guy Graves of G&M CUSTOM FIBERGLASS. Just because a company paints a damn boat does not mean it is right. If you own a Hatteras, then you know your ass will be doing paint repairs too. Paint is pretty and weak, thats the real of it. Just like people using Duratec. It goes on smooth for those that don't know how to break down gelcoat and spray it. Duratec is soft and weak but not as bad as alot of the other things people could use.Anyone here hear of styrine? Bone wax? and polymers? You can make your own finishing product and not give in to poor quality.Everything is quality to me and I'm sick of the dollar minded because it makes boats seem cheap when they can be built right and still affordable. It is in the Top as brace to line their pockets and not to worry about the future. It makes me sick when people cut corners then to those they did it to get screwed. If peole that are like me stuck to a rule. We would all make out better. If they want **** work, don't do it!

[Eagle Boats]

Guy, what is the best way to spray gelcoat on an existing boat. I have used Duratec in the past with good results. I was not aware of its shortcomings.

[harveydoryguy]

has any used this wearlon product mentions a few post back by a car painter? look at the web site sounds pretty good...low VOC! super slick...hey use it on ships that cross the ocean monthy...how much a gallon? will it stick to fiberglass? sounds like the ticket for a surf dory thats slides on the sand evey time out! do you think paint is going to hold up to that abuse?

[longliner45]

not to but in guys ,but im getting readdy to gelcoat or 2part epoxie my boat im planning to leave it in salt water for years, the discussion here is intriging to me ,,,,,because I just dont know. some tell me epoxie is most water resistant, so if my boat is okumie glassed over is gelcoatbetter also what about barriercoat? your advice is greatly apriciated,,,longliner

[rturbett]

Iv'e learned a lot by reading all these posts. Thanks for sharing. Now, if anyone would like to prove their point, you are all welcome to come to Rochester, NY next month and paint my boat for me!

Rob

[tonydignity]

Gelcoat and coloured gelcoat are two different animals.Gelcoat is used to act as a barrier against osmosis. Coloured gelcoat is more porous .hence the Hatteras decision.
Hatteras was a leader in not including Colour below the waterline years ago because they and many other builders found it produced better longer lasting Hulls.
It doesnt have so much to do with finish as hull quality.
My own experience is that good quality paint provides a better finish than coloured gel coat ,I believe that a good painter can get an even thickness with paint .