SoCal Jet Boats

Tech Talk => Gelcoat / Paint / Fireberglass Repair => Topic started by: zackdcs on April 05, 2008, 05:30:42 PM

Title: can you paint over gel coat ?
Post by: zackdcs on April 05, 2008, 05:30:42 PM

i have a 79 bahna i think it has a gel coat how do you tell the difference between paint and gel ? the finish is dull and faded was wondering if i could shoot a coat of clear over to shine it up?

Title: Re: can you paint over gel coat ?
Post by: GAWnCA on April 05, 2008, 05:40:56 PM

If the paint is faded, clear won't do very much. 

Title: Re: can you paint over gel coat ?
Post by: rebel on April 07, 2008, 06:21:12 PM

if you sand it...  clear will do alot  ;D...   make it mirror again  >:D
but you can always try cut polish and then buff smooth the paint you got, for the cheapest way out.
Unless I see it up close first hand it's always hard to say what you have to start with and what to do.
got any pics you can take for us?  up close and personal (of the boat  :P) ?

-Rebel

Title: Re: can you paint over gel coat ?
Post by: zackdcs on April 07, 2008, 07:21:35 PM

(https://www.socaljetboats.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi215.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fcc298%2Fmugbanks%2Fboat4.jpg&hash=f0a657f00316b1db55314dfed43255ec9177f78c)(https://www.socaljetboats.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi215.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fcc298%2Fmugbanks%2Fboat2.jpg&hash=6cca6020b4244d7a98084ff7c3ef4427b644b4b1)(https://www.socaljetboats.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi215.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fcc298%2Fmugbanks%2Fboat3.jpg&hash=edc8bf2d215095bcfd33c1949a60555785c4c38f)(https://www.socaljetboats.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi215.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fcc298%2Fmugbanks%2Fboat.jpg&hash=c8b9e291f51d2b882ead42c3008eead421a7f629)
the white film on front is dirt other than that a few scatches. some guy was trying to tell me that i couldnt clear over it. said the clear what stick if wet sanded. then he told me he would give me a deal and paint it for 5000 lol.

Title: Re: can you paint over gel coat ?
Post by: flytime on April 07, 2008, 07:23:21 PM

A buddies boat was fadded and had it wet sanded and then re-cleared. Looked almost new after that. Good luck with yours.

Title: Re: can you paint over gel coat ?
Post by: sandaddict on April 07, 2008, 07:30:58 PM

did the same to one of my old boats. gel was faded pretty bad, just wet sanded it real quick to give the clear something to stick to and shot it out back. came out tits ;D run some water over it, thats what it will look like cleared O0

Title: Re: can you paint over gel coat ?
Post by: rebel on April 07, 2008, 09:40:52 PM

Looks like a wet sand and clear prospect. Best get someone who has done it before do it for you, or help through it all.
Don't want to sand through any of the layers seeing you have many colors and some may be thin. Other than the few
scratches that go through the paint, she will look great with a coat of clear. Again, do you know someone with a shop?
Other wise the cost maybe more than your willing to spend. Got a budget in mind?
If you want to spend the least, go with buff and polish...  she'll still look good and save money for the Motor  ;D

-Rebel

Title: Re: can you paint over gel coat ?
Post by: rebel on April 08, 2008, 09:23:46 AM

One more note....   click the link for info on how easy it is to clean up that gel coat!

http://marinerv.meguiars.com/product/The-Basics-For-Gel-Coat-Maintenance (http://marinerv.meguiars.com/product/The-Basics-For-Gel-Coat-Maintenance)
just follow the steps  ;)

Good info and good products. Sold Meguiar's stuff for years   ;D

-Rebel

Title: Re: can you paint over gel coat ?
Post by: zackdcs on April 08, 2008, 09:58:49 PM

how do you tell the gel from paint?

Title: Re: can you paint over gel coat ?
Post by: propless on April 08, 2008, 10:55:19 PM

 Look around carefully at the scratches and under anything that you can unbolt.  Look for any colors that arent showing on the boat .   If you remove a fuel filler cap and see green, the boat has been painted.  To me it looks like a late 70s early 80s style gell design  :-\ .   I think if it was mine I would try to wet-sand and polish it.  Try a small area and see how it looks.  Heres a link showing the difference it made on one of mine .  http://www.socaljetboats.com/index.php?topic=1230.msg24647#msg24647

Title: Re: can you paint over gel coat ?
Post by: zackdcs on April 13, 2008, 09:01:05 AM

thanks for the help and info. ended up just cutting and polishing.(http://[img])(https://www.socaljetboats.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi215.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fcc298%2Fmugbanks%2Fboat2.jpg&hash=6cca6020b4244d7a98084ff7c3ef4427b644b4b1)http://i215.photobucket.com/albums/cc298/mugbanks/boat-after3.jpg[/IMG](https://www.socaljetboats.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi215.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fcc298%2Fmugbanks%2Fboat-after2.jpg&hash=705a9aab27e93fd6cd56a2ee51a300ee698fa18c)(https://www.socaljetboats.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi215.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fcc298%2Fmugbanks%2Fboat-after1.jpg&hash=6b974a91eb21bdd869658dc57fa1f9ffd2ddca7e)

Title: Re: can you paint over gel coat ?
Post by: GAWnCA on April 13, 2008, 09:03:48 AM

That looks DAMN!!!! nice!!

Title: Re: can you paint over gel coat ?
Post by: hotrod56cars on April 13, 2008, 09:08:30 AM

Turned out great. I like the color scheme.

Title: Re: can you paint over gel coat ?
Post by: flytime on April 13, 2008, 10:52:28 AM

Great job. From the pics that fuker looks brand new. Put a motor in it and get it wet ;)

Title: Re: can you paint over gel coat ?
Post by: rebel on April 13, 2008, 11:06:10 AM

Got yourself a fine looking boat now  ;D

just remember you can only cut polish (clean) the paint so many times before it becomes thinner, before you see
color layer underneath show through. keep it covered and out of the sun to keep it looking new, longer  ;)

and welcome to the site  :P >:D

-Rebel