Re: Need Prep and Paint Advise
keepNitReel asked me to post here
Your hull will clean up far better than you can imagine. I am a total amateur though I like to think I learn quickly.
What I would do would be to wash it, wet sand it using straight line motions along the lines of the hull starting with 400 grit (some folks go coarser, but I prefer to do more work and take less gelcoat off) Proceed to 600 1000 grit, 1500 and finally 2000. After the initial sand each successive sanding is much faster. All you are removing are the scratches from the coarser paper. Use a sanding block or a long board wherever possible and always keep fresh paper and lots of water on hand. Wash it off frequently. Gelcoat is tough, but thin.
When you get through with 2000 a high speed buffer (I like a wool pad, but I have heard good things about the foam ones too) will make it shine like new.
I am using bars of jewelry rouge-essentially the same stuff used to polish soft metal. I don't recommend it, but I do use it. There are milder polishes that are slower, but will do a good job. I'm still working on mine and haven't given it the final buff or any wax yet.
here are some before and after pictures
I think painting a boat is a bit like painting a brick house. When you are done it may look great, but you have to expect that one day you will be doing it again. Still if the boat calls for it paint makes sense-I just think your boat could look great with less work that proper paint prep, paint time and finish time and the cost is minimal in comparison, just your time which you were going to spend anyway and some inexpensive supplies.
I've touched up some gelcoat on my boat and it isn't all that hard. I will however defer to those here that have done a lot more of that than I have. Matching colors is an art, but you have painting experience, you'll be able to do just fine.
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