Gelcoat vs Paint

[Riv]

Have a boat that the manufacturer is sending for defects repair. The boat has defects/contamints in the hull side. (As well as other areas.) Hull side color is a premimum upgrade, and costs extra. Manufacturer is saying that they want to paint the hull side. Gelcoat costs more, and what I have heard, is easier to repair.(If done by someone that knows what their doing.) The place that they want to send the boat is called Kustom Colors in Ohio. Has anybody heard of them or the quality of their work? Thanks, Riv

 

[drewpster]

Re: Gelcoat vs Paint

Are you saying you bought a boat that has defects in the hull side? If this is the case I hope you got a substantial discount in the purchase price.

 

[gcboat]

Re: Gelcoat vs Paint

NO !!!! Painting over your bad gelcoat is a very cheap way out of the problem.

 

[TheWoodCrafter]

Re: Gelcoat vs Paint

I would not let them put paint over gel coat as a repair.
Like gcboat said it is a cheap way to repair gel coat and I don't think the right way to repair it.
Try making them repair the gel coat, much better finish for the long term.

 

[drewpster]

Re: Gelcoat vs Paint

I agree with the others here. I would never paint new gelcoat. Have them repair it. Paint works great on old faded chalky gelcoat as an alternative on an old boat. But paint is no where near as durable as gelcoat. Even the expensive polyurethane paints will not hold up like new gelcoat will. Get them to fix it, sounds like they are trying to get out cheap. Even the painter sounds like an automotive shop. They could at least send it to a marine refinisher.

 

[BillP]

Re: Gelcoat vs Paint

The mfg is trying to cheap out on you. Who is it? Don't paint a new boat. It will give major depreciation on a new boat and not as durable as gelcoat...and it will require painting in few yrs to stay looking good. Don't do it. Are you a member of BoatUS? If not join them. They have a mediation process for issues like this and it works. I personally know of a case where they got involved and the mfg actually replaced the hull. Before BoatUS got involved the mfg told to owner to kiss off.

bp

 

[Riv]

Re: Gelcoat vs Paint

Thanks for the info. Will have them repair gelcoat with gelcoat. Boat manufacturer is donzi marine. I will be joining boatUS. Riv