So this spring, it's ON with the paint!

[stephentyler20]

I debated this last spring, and decided instead to wet sand, compound, polish, wax, rinse, repeat (j/k). I spent hour upon laborious hour with this project, and the results were mediocre. I definitely saw an improvement in my faded red (it was truly pink when I started), but the results were "splotchy." - that is, nice in some areas, but mixed in with white/faded spots all over. It looked good (great considering how bad it was) at the beginning of the season, but after a couple months in the sun, it was back to being fairly faded again. Want to see?
Before

After

Keep in mind, it now looks much more faded. In that "after" picture, the boat looks really good from 10+ feet away, and "meh" up close.

Anyway, this season, if I'm going to spend hours and hours trying to shine her up, I think I'm going to just paint it. The gelcoat is in pretty good shape structurally some gauges here and there, but nothing deep). I have her in closed shop, with heat. I have a large air compressor to spray (if I want). So the timing is pretty good I think.

The thing I'm lacking is experience/skill doing this kind of thing. I know paint work is all about the preparation. From what I can tell, the best product/system to use seems to be Interlux Perfection, which also gives a bit of room for error as far as pot time.

What do people recommend for technique? I've heard of the "roll and tip" technique (though i don't know what that means), but will that give a truly uniform, glossy finish? Alternatively, I have access to a sprayer - is that something one can learn to do? I've had a couple buddies tell me spraying isn't too difficult if done carefully. Otherwise, I'm sure I'll have to sand down the whole thing, prime a couple coats, then a couple coats of finish right?

I do intend to get a professional estimate first, but I'm trying to keep costs down as I have a few other projects in store...

 

[Chris1956]

Re: So this spring, it's ON with the paint!

I would approach a body shop about doing the spray work for you. You can do the prep and save big $$. You will want a shop that is used to working with Awlgrip-type paints (2 part polyurethane). If you stick with a single color, the price should be failrly modest, if everything is prepped, masked etc.

BTW - the pictures do not look too bad. I had a maroon '88 SeaRay, pretty similar to your boat is color and color scheme, and my fading was much worse. I used to burn thru two cans of rubbing compound on a power buffer and get really lousy results. Did you ever try some of that polish that is suppose to seal the gelcoat, and give it a wet shine look? I never tried it since it was pricy, a lot of elbow grease and I had very little faith anything could save my boat's finish.

 

[oops!]

Re: So this spring, it's ON with the paint!

hi....im a little confused here......you said you sanded it?....then put a "just kidding" beside it........

actually.....i dont think it needs paint.....but a good sanding and polishing...

the gellcoat is fantastic stuff.....it can be brought back time after time.......that junk that says "it will look like new just wipe it on".......doesnt work.

it needs to be sanded so the oxidised gellcoat comes off....then the new wax can be applied.....this method....if done correctly.....will last for years.

but if you want to paint.......i would spray it.....if you are unsure of your skills.....you can allways buy someone to "squirt it" for you.

the roll and tip method......(roll it with a roller.....and "tip" it off with a fine brush) works good........a moderator here called QC did a woodie that way and his came out pretty good.

cheers
oops

 

[stephentyler20]

Re: So this spring, it's ON with the paint!

Chris... I will consider doing the prep myself and then taking it to someone to paint, but I live in one of those areas where it seems like every single service shop in every industry in the local area is just out to rip people off. I know I sound cynical, but I've lived in different areas, and it just never fails around here!

The most important part about prepping is sanding right? How much are you supposed to sand?

Oops... Glad you weighed in on this! No I wasn't kidding... Last year I WET sanded my heart out on this baby, then compounded, then polished, then waxed. Hours, and hours, and hours of work (a couple weeks). My back hurt, my arms hurt, and I'm STILL complaining!

Anyway, I agree with you gel coat can be restored to a certain degree, and that's why the boat looks pretty decent in that second picture. But you can tell it's old because after only 1 season, it's already back to faded again. Not as bad as before by any means, but bad enough to bother the crap out of me. That's why I'd rather put the hard work into something longer lasting this year, i.e. PAINT.

I appreciate that spraying is better. I suppose I could figure this out, but what are the typically difficult aspects about painting? Is this an exact science or is there room for error? If I could do a better job with roll and tip i'd rather do that.

 

[Lou C]

Re: So this spring, it's ON with the paint!

I'm in the same boat (pun intended) with a red/maroon boat that is oxidized and looks really bad (pink). It was wet sanded and compounded before I got it 7 years ago and it looked great for a few years, last year I had it buffed out (not wetsanded) and it only looked good for about 1/2 the season. Now I am debating about painting vs trying to wetsand again. For the work involved, I think painting might make more sense. But my boat is bottom painted and left in the water, is it really advisable to paint in that case? I know many high end boats are painted and left in the water, but I have heard mixed opinions on this. The two shops I have spoken to basically spray Imron.

 

[stephentyler20]

Re: So this spring, it's ON with the paint!

Lou, what's the supposed disadvantage of painting a boat and leaving it in the water? I also leave mine docked/bottom painted all summer. Does this have damaging effects on the paint? Perhaps this depends on the type of paint used, and one could apply a suitable paint for that purpose?

I'd really like to sort this out, but glad to hear there's someone else in my situation. Do you intend to change colors, or stick with red? I'm considering switching to blue, but not sure yet. At our yacht club there's a guy who paints boats (right in the yard!) and I've seen some of his work... not bad at all and definitely suitable for my 20 year old boat. Just not sure how much he charges yet, or if I would rather just do this on my own anyway!

 

[mthieme]

Re: So this spring, it's ON with the paint!

The pics look good.
In your first description, there was the absence of 'clear coat'. This would have helped.
Fading seems more predominant amount red, dark blue and black boats. Why is that?

 

[Lou C]

Re: So this spring, it's ON with the paint!

The issue with painting is that for boats in the water for an extended period, the paint may bubble or blister. but I have heard that as long as the paint is on the hull sides and not the bottom (not below the waterline) it is OK. This boat has bottom paint on it already, and I was planning on having a boot stripe that would be between the bottom edge of the hull sides and where the bottom paint begins. I have also heard that DuPont makes a special Imron for marine use. I want to keep the color the same since the interior colors were more or less matched to the red/burgundy color scheme.

 

[mthieme]

Re: So this spring, it's ON with the paint!

The issue with painting is that for boats in the water for an extended period, the paint may bubble or blister. but I have heard that as long as the paint is on the hull sides and not the bottom (not below the waterline) it is OK.

Don't believe that for a minute.
I have contradictary proof sitting on a trailer in the yard right now.
If done right, it will last for many years.
It can be done.