Painting over gelcoat?

[Rok Krawl]

Is it possible to remove or paint over a boat with gelcoat on it?

Buddy ordered a godspeed cat hull ( looks cheap) and wants to do his own paint job. Can this be done on boat that is gel coated?

I don't know if any of you have had this hull, but seems like a few licks is all it will take before the hull falls apart. Wish some people would spend a few extra bux for a quality well built hull.

[sailr]

No problem at all painting over gelcoat. First, clean the gelcoat really well with denatured alcohol to remove fingerprints, oils, etc. Then wash it in soap and water and rinse well. Finally, get a "fine" grade scotchbrite pad and scuff the gelcoat lightly. Then paint as usual starting with primer, base coat, clear coat. works great.

[Rok Krawl]

Now I guess the paint to use is the rattle cans you can buy at hobby shop for the car bodies? I know boat hull has to flex , just like car bodies. So I guess same rules apply as to what paint you can use?

[siberianhusky]

Dupli color auto paint works well, Home depot painters touch enamel worked well on my hydro, it's just white with vinyl graphics.
A friend of mine tried Krylon and had some of the typical alligator wrinkle that seems to happen with this paint, it also doesn't seem to be very scratch resistant, even with the clear over it.
I tend to use the dupli color system from primer to clear, they also have some pretty cool special effects paint. Hundreds of different colours to choose from as well.

[sailr]

ACE Hardware sells a premium enamel (I think that's what it's called) which is EXACTLY the same paint as Duplicolor at about $2-3 less per can! It works great.

Regardless of what rattle can paint you use, you have to recoat within a short time or wait a few days to recoat. Otherwise, you will get the dreaded wrinkle! Same goes for putting the clear on. Ask me how I know! I use the sandable primer and then the primer sealer sold at Advance Auto Parts (probably all auto parts stores for that matter). I wait a couple of days before putting on the color coat. I usually wait a week and then add another color coat (if needed). I then wait another few days and wet sand the color coat with 600 grit. Wash it down good with soap and water and then add your decals/details. Allow to dry for a day, and then add clear coat. Once again, if you need more than one coat, wait several days to a week and then wet sand and clear coat again.

In a word....PATIENCE or you will be stripping and repainting!

[iamandrew]

Ive spent about a MONTH sanding down a persuit hull..... found that i painted it, and it kept cracking, couldnt work out what the go was, untill i got a hair dryer and ran it in the hull for about 2 seconds, heard a crack, and found some massive chunks of gelcoat crack out. looks like there was big air bubbles in the hull

[Rok Krawl]

Thanks for the info. Any of you know what is on the Aquacraft Motley Crew? I was able to get one of these last boats few months ago. Didn't know they were like hot cakes and everyone is waiting on stock to come in. Boat looks good, but I would love to add my own paint scheme. Can I just follow yalls advice for this boat hull?

[siberianhusky]

Yep, I'm doing mine, fun boat but I couldn't stand the paint scheme.
While you're at it fill in and sand the bottom of the sponsons smooth, mine had some horrible dips that ran down the centre of both sponsons.
Add another layer of fiberglass to the inside of the lid, they are a weak point, they tend to cave in if you sneeze at the boat.
The inside of the tub can use some stiffening as well.