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 Paint or gelcoat?		  New Topic  Topic Locked
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rafort
Deckhand

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USA
6 Posts
Initially Posted - 08/25/2007 :  09:40:44  Show Profile
I recently purchased an 86 Catalina 25. The previous owner had painted topsides and paint was oxidized. Upon removing the paint I discovered the original gelcoat appears to be in good condition with a few dings and scratches filled with epoxy prior the the paint job. There appear to be a few small patches where previous sanding burned through the gelcoat. Should I dig or dremel out the epoxy from the dings and fill with gelcoat then wet sand and compound topsides or am I better off priming and painting with a two part polyurethane?
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bigelowp
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1776 Posts
Response Posted - 08/25/2007 :  09:58:28  Show Profile
I am not by any means an expert, however I have owned a number of older fiberglass boats and have a bais toward maintaining the original gel coat as long as is reasonably possible. That being said, if I were you I would try to buff out a small representative section and see if the gel coat still shines up. If so, I would try to maintain what was there. If the gel coat in your test section looks drab after buffing, I would proceed toward some form of paint finish. In either case it really depends on the amount of work/time/money vs. how you think it looks at the end.

All the best
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Dave Bristle
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
10005 Posts
Response Posted - 08/25/2007 :  11:15:48  Show Profile
I've had good luck filling gouges with one-part gelcoat patch (from a tube), wet-sanding, and polishing... I'm not so sure about those "burned through" areas. But painting topsides always seems to lead right back to where you just were--stripping the chipped, oxidized stuff off.
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saribella
Captain

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USA
286 Posts
Response Posted - 08/27/2007 :  14:43:45  Show Profile
Save yourself the headache. Start with Interlux Prime Kote and then overcoat with the Interlux Bright-sides. When properly applied, it looks great and is very durable.
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rafort
Deckhand

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USA
6 Posts
Response Posted - 08/28/2007 :  08:15:51  Show Profile
I appreciate the input. Upon filling gouges with gelcoat, I discovered original gelcoat layer was very thin and over a blue base. It's back to the Interlux system.
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Notice: The advice given on this site is based upon individual or quoted experience, yours may differ.
The Officers, Staff and members of this site only provide information based upon the concept that anyone utilizing this information does so at their own risk and holds harmless all contributors to this site.