Gelcoat or just really well painted topsides?

[Captain Crisp]

Probably a stupid question, but how do you know?
My topsides are mostly an absolutely perfect glossy finish... but there are areas where the top layer has been scratched off, revealing another glossy layer... does that mean it's been painted? In which case is the only option to repaint?
Ta
Crisp

 

[Ceirwan]

The way that coating has chipped off suggest paint over a gelcoat substrate.
If you say its glossy underneath then it sounds like the prep was lacking before paint, as any gloss should have been sanded off.

If the gelcoat is still good underneath you could sand off the paint & try and buff it, otherwise yes its a repaint job. And a lot of prep work because you're going to have to completely remove the paint layer and start again looking at that.

 

[jwilson]

Your Twister does look painted: possibly without good sandng/cleaning of the gelcoat. Tricky: if you prime, fill, sand and repaint it will initially look good again, but more might chip off as the multiple paint layers are not totally adhered to the gelcoat.

The perfect answer is to sand all the paint back to gelcoat and key that properly, and two-pack paint it. But a truly horrible amount of work..... And taking away a lot of sailing time unless you make it a winter project, preferably undercover for the last painting part.

 

[William_H]

Yes it has paint on outside. Easiest would be to touch up scratches with same colour paint. If you want a total show room finish then re do completely. However IMHO scratches will always come so touch up is best. ol'will