I have an old Haines that I'm thinking about tidying up, although I don't want to spend the earth on her - is there a proven product out there that I can use to simply paint over the gelcoat? Hull is all good, just the top needs work.

Hi John, it's not BAD bad, but very dull and oxidised. I've tried a few products on it including the GRUNT product (cutting compound), and re waxing, but it doesn't bring it back, and returns to dull very quickly. The best I've had it looking is with spray on silicone rubbed in, but again it doesn't last more than a week. She's just an old runabout but I'm looking at re doing the windows as well, so with a paint she might actually look quite smart.

We repainted (over gelcoat) a 36ft launch with Perfection 'self levelling' paint. Used a roller and brush. Once you get the technique right it is quick and easy to apply, and you could probably do your hull for ~ $400 worth of paint (less than $1k for the 36fter). 

Heathrow wrote: Hi John, it's not BAD bad, but very dull and oxidised. I've tried a few products on it including the GRUNT product (cutting compound), and re waxing, but it doesn't bring it back, and returns to dull very quickly. The best I've had it looking is with spray on silicone rubbed in, but again it doesn't last more than a week. She's just an old runabout but I'm looking at re doing the windows as well, so with a paint she might actually look quite smart.

hey mate, i agree with tagit, if none of the cutting is working you could go for a quick repaint.

we did a small boat that i posted about here: http://www.fishing.net.nz/asp_forums/winter-project-prep-up-the-boat-pics_topic84131.html

took us much longer as we did a full sand down and actual physical modification but as tagit said painting over the gelcoat (assuming after some sort of fine sanding) you could do the whole boat at a pretty reasonable price and fairly quickly. we used toplac which is a one pack but the perfection 2 coat is really nice and pretty solid - have used it elsewhere

careful though, you might go crazy... us half way through the project, had just masked and started with first topcoat :

Silent Assassin wrote: I note you say you have rubbed spray on silicon in... If going to paint you need to make sure all traces are removed as it will react (in a very bad way). Painters just hate silicon!

true that. you can do a good wipe down with the proper solvents prior to get all the crap off

depending how bad the gel coat is u can wet sand with 1500 then a good cut and polish all the boats we have done this too has brought them up real good 

Piece of cake to do this wet n dry 2000 grit then buff with a proper buffer using 1st a smooth cutter and then go over top with a polish job done ,email the boys at Mr Boats Christchurch ask them to package you up the product they use on their fi-glass boats.I have got the product off them before in which i gave away to another forum member here as he was doing the same thing and his came up like new.

If you do sand it etc, go very easy on all the edges of curves etc. The gelcoat is easy to cut right through with too much sanding on these 'high points' if you are not careful.

Just an update - I used a wet and dry 1200 grit to sand most areas on the top half of the boat, then used Grunt cutting compound and followed with turtle wax, with pretty good results. I'm a lot happier with the finish and the difference is massive, although some areas are still a bit touch and go. Canadian John has a good article which would be really helpful to anyone else touching up the gelcoat, hopefully he'll have time to post it.