PAINTING FIBERGLASS and project

[fishingful]

well i am new here and have been reading for a while

i just bought my first fiberglass boat and have guted and redone a few alum boats

this boat is a ..........i believe 15 foot 78 beecraft tri haul with a 50 merc on it i would have to check for sure on the year boat will hit 32 mph with 2 people

i cleaned it up and found a few things i dont like

1.......the top is 2 shades of green..........i want it blue i believe i know how to prime and paint it ....................my question is the coat over that i havent found info on that do i clear coat it just wax it or need a gellcoat..........can some one run me through the steps from the start ( ya painting for dummies lol)

2.........i have found the back deck is covered wit carpet under the carpet a board is screwed to the deck (i know what that means) is there a stringer replacement thread? and a deck replacement thread?

3.........filling scrapes and gouges the white part on the boat is gouged ip around the bow and keel what can i fill this with

thanks for the help.......jim

pics

 

[mcconnell63]

Re: REMOVING PAINT FROM FIBERGLASS

Re: REMOVING PAINT FROM FIBERGLASS

I have a 1971 Glassmaster and the previous owner painted the top part of the boat, THAT WAS GREEN, with white sand paint. Some of the paint is peeling off and some is really stuck on. How can I rempove this paint so I can buff up the green finish on the boat. Thanks, Al - PS, I don't know how to start a new post / thread. <><

 

[Nova II 260]

Re: PAINTING FIBERGLASS and project

Scuff or Sand the green with 180/220grt or scuff pad. Clean with laq. thinner. clean it again. fair in scratches, etc. with Marine-tex, sand more. Spray urethane primer, sand primer 480grt, use polyester urethane paint.
Boat painting help
more info ...
and one more ...

Use Marine-tex on the bottom for small wounds.

WELCOME to iBoats....

 

[ondarvr]

Re: PAINTING FIBERGLASS and project

fishingful, Welcome


I had that exact same boat with a 50 hp Johnson on it, mine had a blue hull and white deck.

Follow the instructions for the paint you choose. I didn't quite follow the clear and gel coat thing, but if you paint there's no need for more gel coat and most marine paints don't need a clear over them, if you choose an automotive paint, then some will.

You can get marine type body fillers that will work on the hull, just don't use regular Bondo.

Use the search feature to find the threads on floor and stringer replacement, there's a bunch.

 

[fishingful]

Re: PAINTING FIBERGLASS and project

i guess what i wanted to know is do i need to put a "clearcoat" over the paint or if i just wax over it .............i dont even know if the paint that is on there now has a "clear coat" over it

i guess that i really dont know what a gell coat is i thought it was like a clear coat over the paint to make it shine and protect it

 

[fishingful]

Re: PAINTING FIBERGLASS and project

fishingful, Welcome


I had that exact same boat with a 50 hp Johnson on it, mine had a blue hull and white deck.

Follow the instructions for the paint you choose. I didn't quite follow the clear and gel coat thing, but if you paint there's no need for more gel coat and most marine paints don't need a clear over them, if you choose an automotive paint, then some will.

You can get marine type body fillers that will work on the hull, just don't use regular Bondo.

Use the search feature to find the threads on floor and stringer replacement, there's a bunch.

do you have any pics of your boat?

 

[ondarvr]

Re: PAINTING FIBERGLASS and project

Your boat has a gel coat finish, it's the colored surface you can see, there's no clear over it. Paint sticks very well to gel coat and while it does take some time to do, it's not all that difficult.

I do have some pics from the back in the 80's, but I would need to scan them. If I have some spare time I may post some.

 

[fishingful]

Re: PAINTING FIBERGLASS and project

well new development
took the boat out tonight for a cruiz on the lake ran great and was faster with less weight in it

we pressure washed it the other day and there was still dampness in the boat

well i walked through the windshield and sunk an inch soft floor so good bet i know wats under the 3/4 in plywood in the back so it looks like a floor replacement at the least but i am sure i will need to gut it

so the paint is on hold

my question is someone told me you could remove the top of this boat i havent really looked at it to know if you can or not


is the top attached to the hull at the rub rail (2 seperate pieces)
it sounds like i would have more room to work if that was the case and i would just do the transom while i had it off

thanks

 

[drewpster]

Re: PAINTING FIBERGLASS and project

Yes the top can be removed but it is allot of work. I agree it is the best way to get at the deck to replace it. I am not familiar with your specific boat but it is most likely put together at the rubrail. It will likely mean some cutting and rebonding to get it done.
By the way it is also likely that if the deck is soft you will have to replace rotten stringers and foam as well. (snowball!) It is definitely worth the work to do a major refit if you are planning to keep the boat and have the time and money to put into it. However you should consider the snowball. It usually takes more than you expect.