Painting over gelcoat
Printed From: The Fishing Website
Category: General Forums
Forum Name: The Boat Shed
Forum Description: Discuss all things boating.
URL: https://www.fishing.net.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=86696
Printed Date: 01 Jun 2026 at 6:23am
Topic: Painting over gelcoat
Posted By: Heathrow
Subject: Painting over gelcoat
Date Posted: 07 Jan 2013 at 5:39pm
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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. Cheers ------------- Dat's roight mammy! |
Replies:
Posted By: CanadianJohn
Date Posted: 07 Jan 2013 at 5:57pm
| how bad is the gelcoat? can you not refinish it? |
Posted By: Heathrow
Date Posted: 07 Jan 2013 at 6:18pm
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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. ------------- Dat's roight mammy! |
Posted By: CanadianJohn
Date Posted: 07 Jan 2013 at 6:29pm
| am looking at the same thing, will pm you what i've learned so far. |
Posted By: Tagit
Date Posted: 07 Jan 2013 at 6:40pm
| 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). |
Posted By: Olfart
Date Posted: 07 Jan 2013 at 7:35pm
There is a product called Alu-brite available from http://www.envirochem.co.nz/product_category/workshop-and-transport/" rel="nofollow - www.envirochem.co.nz that I used a year ago when my boat needed to be smartened up. It took all of the old oxidisation off my gelcoat and left a sparkling finish almost as good as new. I haven't got a before picture that shows how it used to look but here's one after I finished: I had previously tried the Grunt products but didn't have much success shifting the oxidation. The Alu-Brite I used this time did not require the use of a polish over the top and the gelcoat has stayed shiny since. The other thing you could try (and possibly a lot cheaper) would be the "Revive-it" product that Damo is an agent for....
------------- Semper in excreta sumus, solum profundum variat.... |
Posted By: feijoa
Date Posted: 07 Jan 2013 at 9:24pm
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" rel="nofollow - 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  : |
Heathrow wrote:Posted By: Silent Assassin
Date Posted: 07 Jan 2013 at 9:31pm
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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!
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Posted By: feijoa
Date Posted: 07 Jan 2013 at 9:32pm
true that. you can do a good wipe down with the proper solvents prior to get all the crap off |
Posted By: Durban
Date Posted: 07 Jan 2013 at 11:35pm
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you could use my formula on this site , you may have to register to see the photos , its a wonderfull finish gloss as
http://forums.iboats.com/johnson-evinrude-outboards/durbans-epoxy-paint-formula-paint-almost-anything-100-water-proof-petrol-proof-530630.html" rel="nofollow - http://forums.iboats.com/johnson-evinrude-outboards/durbans-epoxy-paint-formula-paint-almost-anything-100-water-proof-petrol-proof-530630.html
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Posted By: madaboutfish
Date Posted: 08 Jan 2013 at 10:00pm
| 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 |
Posted By: Heathrow
Date Posted: 09 Jan 2013 at 8:55am
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Guys thanks for the input, I'm going to try a few things and will let you know how I got on. Feijoa, hope your brain cells grew back ok ------------- Dat's roight mammy! |
Posted By: blackboat
Date Posted: 09 Jan 2013 at 3:06pm
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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. ------------- http://www.legasea.co.nz" rel="nofollow"> 
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Posted By: Grinna
Date Posted: 09 Jan 2013 at 9:10pm
An excellant answer. When gelcoat is applied correctly a film should be aprox 20thou thick with a wet ml. gauge by the manufacturer. This will provide enough build to cut and buff as described. However getcoat requires waxing and polishing regulary to retain its looks. It's not a no maintenance product at all............cheers
 ------------- Composite Trailerboat inspections Waitakare mob.021 618-971 [email protected] |
Posted By: Tagit
Date Posted: 10 Jan 2013 at 6:57am
| 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. |
Posted By: six guns
Date Posted: 10 Jan 2013 at 7:49pm
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Hay Heathorw some good info on here but your best bet is to get a painter to have a look. You are more than welcome to bring the boat down to my workshop in solfer-point and then we can put you in the right direction.?
------------- skull draging and taging |
Posted By: Heathrow
Date Posted: 20 Feb 2013 at 8:35am
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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. Thanks     ------------- Dat's roight mammy! |