To restore or repaint?

[DJVaughn95]

I have a 92 bayliner cobra bass boat that has sat for years. The paint on the fiberglass is extremely rough feeling but I have smoothed out on area by wet sanding. Some smaller areas are still covered with a clear coat and looks brand new. But the areas that I have wet sanded and polished look dull compared to the clear coated covered areas. Should I strip and completely repaint or wet sand, renew paint and gel Coat?

 

[sphelps]

I think the gellcoat is the least of your problems at the moment ..
I would be more worried about the stringers and transom just from the looks of it .
As far as the finish , if you don’t sand down too far you may be able to spray clear gell over those areas then re-sand
and buff out . I’ve never attempted a repair like that so not sure ..

 

[DJVaughn95]

Stringers and transom are solid. Checked all that before I even attempted anything further on the boat. The boat was completely free and it floats. The 2 areas I sanded and polished didn’t look to far off of the finish that still had a coating. And people might not even be able to notice a difference at all. But me being the one doing the work I guess it stands out to me.thanks for the reply. Any advice is appreciated.

 

[gm280]

I have to honestly tell you, I looked really well at both pictures and I can't tell any place you sanded or not. The picture sizes and resolution are so small, I couldn't determine much of anything. However, If you honestly want the "new" look, you have to prep the surface first to a baby-butt smooth surface before shooting any type clear coat. Otherwise you will have a shiny rough finish. The finish of anything you are painting is all in the prep work. The final clear is the reward for that prep work. If you can see or feel any imperfections, they will be totally visible after the clear coat is sprayed. JMHO

 

[Scott Danforth]

being a 1992 bayliner, no way the transom and stringers are solid.

 

[DJVaughn95]

Gm280- the pictures I posted are from before I sanded anything. Don’t care if it looks new. Just don’t want an eye sore.

 

[DJVaughn95]

Scott Danforth - you are correct if no work has been done on the transom. In this boat the transom had been repaired by the previous owner. And when I say the stringers are solid, I’m meaning solid for a boat of this age that would not effect the structural durability on the water ( had it looked at by a creditable boat shop) so don’t try and discredit what I say. Thanks for your un helpful input that has nothing to do with what I am trying to determine on this post