Rookie painting

[jrmarsh]

I have a 1963 Glastron Gulfstream V194, finally got it running well so now is the time for some cosmetics. Some of the white paint near the bottom of the fiberglass hull towards the bow is flaking/peeling. This is not going to be a designer boat so I am looking for the most cost-eficient way of painting it. I already know about the prep-work (sanding, filling) but want to know if anyone can recommend a suitable paint, and can I get satisfactory results if I brush, or roll it on?

The boat sits on a trailer when it is not in the ocean.

Thanks,
James

 

[jrmarsh]

Re: Rookie painting

Are you certain it is paint? I would be VERY surprised if it were. My bet is it is gel coat and if it is flaking off you have some serious problems to address before doing anything else. (The fiber glass under the gel coat is water logged.)

What I am seeing is another color under the white flaking paint, kind of a tan or very off-white color.

 

[erie_guy]

Re: Rookie painting

James,

With so little to go on - my first guess would be that the boat has an ablative marine coating on the bottom to keep ocean barnacles, ect from attaching to the bottom. The second color appearing is a "tattle tail" coat of the same paint in a different color to let the owner know when to apply additional paint (because the outer ablative paint layer has worn thin). Ablative paints come in several colors and can be applied any time (even months before launching) and still be effective as an anti-fouling layer. My boat has green bottom paint with an off-white layer beneath to tell me when to touch it up in high wear areas. This type of paint can be identified because the aged paint readily "chalks off" if you rub it with a finger of cloth.

Some pictures would be helpful to guide our guesses.

It may also be that thick coats of traditional bottom paint (non-ablative) are losing grip and falling off. In this case, the bottom paint should all be removed and a fresh layer of bottom paint correctly applied. However, because it is a trailer boat you may not want an anti-fouling paint at all. Several manufacturers make such a paint in a variety of attractive colors (perhaps matching your trailer color or tow vehicle.)

Make her pretty and you should enjoy your newer boat for many years.

Perch fishing was great yesterday near the mouth of La Carpe creek. Limited out with several 12" and many 10" beauties in the catch. Many perch sandwiches are in our future family feasts.

erie_guy
Port Clinton, OH

 

[jrmarsh]

Re: Rookie painting

Thanks for the info guys. I'll post some pics tonight.

 

[QC]

Re: Rookie painting

Moved this to Boat Restoration. Good paint, gelcoat and finish gurus over here . . .

 

[jrmarsh]

Re: Rookie painting

Here is a picture of the hull towards the bow. It looks like this on the underneath too.

View attachment 119022

 

[Woodonglass]

Re: Rookie painting

Your pic did not post. Check the link in my signature for a How To!!!