how to paint over gelcoat on a boat
The gel coat on my deck (my own 30 year old boat) is pretty porous, though the gel coat on the hull is still shiny. there is some crazing but nothing major. i have been contemplating re-painting my boat for years, but i thought it would require a ton of sanding and just wouldn't be worth the amount of time necessary.. Painting supplies. sandpaper. masking tape ($6–$30 per roll) mixing pails. stirring sticks. wipe down rags. tack cloths. paint strainers. note: prices are approximate and may vary depending on location and vendor. editor’s note: stay tuned for part 2 in april, a guide to the best techniques for giving your boat a high-quality finish.. Fiberglass boats come new with a colored gel coat, not actual paint. gel coats eventually fade and can not be cleaned or waxed to look new. painting the fiberglass is the only way to get the boat looking new again. preparing and painting fiberglass is unlike preparing and painting metal or aluminum. special steps. 
how to paint over gelcoat on a boat The easiest way to clean a boat is to spray it down with water than use a boat cleaning solution on the base of the boat, making sure you get everything off. if you have used a gelcoat coating in the past, you will need to remove it completely with an acetone solution. step 2 - apply the gelcoat. making sure that your gelcoat is applied evenly. Turn the boat upside down if you can so you have a better working angle. clean with soap and water and wipe with a rag damp with acetone to remove old wax, oil or grease. wipe the boat again with a rag, damp with styrene. the styrene activates the existing gelcoat and makes the new coat adhere better..
