SoCal Jet Boats
Tech Talk => Gelcoat / Paint / Fireberglass Repair => Topic started by: ryanbrindle on June 03, 2007, 09:20:09 PM
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i am really new at the whole boat thing and was wondering what is the difference between gelcoat and automotive type paint.
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I was hoping someone would weigh-in on Ryan's question because I don't know the particular's either.
Anyone? Anyone?
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I'm no expert but I was told that gel is far more labor intensive to apply and therefore more expensive, however, it is stronger and more resistant to scratches.
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Gel coat is a lot more resistant to chipping and fading. It is also thick and can be buffed over and over and over and etc... Gel coat is sprayed out of a spray gun just like paint. Gel coat requires a LOT more labor after spraying. Paint chips easier, stains easier, is damaged by gasoline easier.
I have heard that a shop doing paint vs. a shop doing gel coat costs about the same but I do not have any personal experience with that (yet).
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i just gelcoated the bottom of my boat and did paint on the top for the graphics etc. the gel coat was alot more than paint
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yeah, gel costs more and requires a lot more labor to apply....but gelcoat will outlast any paint job.
I am doing a complete gelcoat on a boat with metalflake. I have been gathering information for months and I still dont know enough to even think about purchasing the stuff. I want solid information and a good understanding before I jump into this.
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I was told that gel coat on a 20' cruiser. At least twice as much as paint . Gel coat is very durable and tough . It will scratch though . There are some very durable clear coats paints (which is what I'm doing) out there that are very resistant to sun and scratching but just not as tough as gel.
You have to understand that when gel is sprayed there is always going to be orange peel . <-----Another reason gel is more expensive . Someone has to sand the orange peel down and then buff it out to a high gloss. Remember how tough gel is . I've been told it's insanely hard word to sand it down . I'm gonna go out on a limb and say it is at least twice as hard every step of the way as paint .
-beerjet-
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I read somewhere that tractors are painted with a super tough epoxy paint, I wonder why boats aren't painted with epoxy paint? ???
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Epoxy paint is very durable and will hold a shine but epoxy paint doesn't flex well. I've seen big chunks of Emron epoxy paint come off when the metal was dented in an accident.
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New to the board so I'm not sure if my words will be taken serious. I have worked in the automotive paint business for over 15 years. The difference in Gel coat to an automotive paint is night and day. Every boat should have the hull painted in Gel coat. if its above the water line, you can get away with and epoxy type paint, like that of Dupont called Imron. The epoxy paints are durable (no Gel coat paint would hold up in an accedent and not chip off either) for all the flexing a boat will do. The use of Gel coat for salt water purpose boats is even more important, were the wear factor is a bigger concern. If you into making the best show boat, one that does not see much water, go ahead and spray murals all over your boat with Imron (epoxy type) paints. Now if your going to put this boat on the water to reach speeds, make sure you put special purpose paint on the parts that need to keep the hull wetted. Hope this helps ;)
p.s. the most important part of any paint job is prep, use the right product and do not cut corners. Right the first time saves money!
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Thanks for sharing your 15 years experience with us . Thats the only way the rest of us learn anything. Welcome as well. 8)
-beerjet-
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Good info rebel; thanks.
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I'm also contemplating gel vs paint. The only time i've ever tried to use gel (I hand painted the bottom of a boat I just reglassed) the gel never dried completly. Anyone know of a book or some literature i could read up on the subject
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I'm also contemplating gel vs paint. The only time i've ever tried to use gel (I hand painted the bottom of a boat I just reglassed) the gel never dried completly. Anyone know of a book or some literature i could read up on the subject
I've never done gel coat myself but I did read somewhere that there's an additive you have to mix with the gel to make it cure. I think it forms a skin on the surface keeping the air out. Gel is usually applied to the inside of a mold and then the glass laid in or sprayed in via a chop gun. The gel is air tight and cures hard. It's stays tacky when in a mold so that the next layers can bite. Just what I've read and heard.
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here is additional speculation (i have never messed with gel either) but the additive you are speaking of is a wax
I am not sure why it never cured...
Here is a great forum for gel coat help...lots of good info and helpful people:
http://www.fibreglast.com/VBulletin/forumdisplay.php?s=&f=8&page=1&pp=20&sort=lastpost&order=desc&daysprune=-1
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There's another thread on here about his.
When paint is done right it can last AS LONG AS GEL COAT. It's when people half ass a job is when paint gets a bad reputation on paint. I have sprayed both, in a booth. Gels more expensive. I'll find that thread
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Well when paint is applied correctly it can last just a long. The whole paint vs. Gel Coat war will go on forever. Having personally helped in painting a few boats, I can believe it can be done right. Lots of car painters like to sand their primer down to 600 wet sand grit or maybe higher, but if you want a grabbing paint 320 should be the highest, after that a good wetsand and buff to get rid of orange peel. Single stage paint would be the strongest, but also lacks in shine quality. Here's a few examples of painted boats.
19' Charger, 14 different colors painted with clear, had lasted 8 years of two trips a month beatings.
(https://www.socaljetboats.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi23.tinypic.com%2F5cnjn4.jpg&hash=3d8c2dee3d9400fab45775bd5844411f877f87ba)
18' Sleekcraft, painted over 10 years ago in someones back yard (kinda dusty pic)
(https://www.socaljetboats.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi19.tinypic.com%2F4mcgb36.jpg&hash=990c109bba6355520d36aeed1dea8c7fb131c5d9)
18' Hondo T-Deck, actually not sure of the age of the paint, but no chips or flakes
(https://www.socaljetboats.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi21.tinypic.com%2F23t1hkz.jpg&hash=1388c813d71db672f8635920c191504d52a08f13)
I have a few more I just can't find them
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Did you paint these boats?
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I did not paint these boats. My father had painted the Hondo and Charger. And my friend that owns a body shop had painted the sleekcraft.
I've never painted a complete boat, but I have repaired and blended several boats, spraying paint and gel.
It just shows when done correctly they can look nice, and stay looking nice.
How do you think all those Rhino and ATV plastics get painted crazy designs, even though they are on plastic which flops and bends MUCH more than fiberglass.
I'm not against gel coat, just for the money I rather paint, cause I'm a poor white boat.
I know of several other boats my father has painted that have lasted 10+ years with no fading or chipping, unfortunately I don't have any more pictures.
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Thanks for the tips. I also painted a boat once using top of the line base clear system. The paint was pretty strong but the weak link on my paint was the primer, if i rubbed the dock to hard the primer would let go of the old gel. Maybe I should have used an epoxy primer instead of a surfacing primer. Before when I gelcoated the bottom of my old boat(inside the boat - floor) I used catalist but it still remained tacky after a year or more.
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Go see what Jork has done as far as painting goes.
http://www.socaljetboats.com/index.php/topic,1689.0.html
He's done a fine job!
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Yes he has I'll probably end up painting mine too. Or maybe color sand above the rub rail and clear, and paint below,(and speedcoat on the very bottom)