removal of bad paint job from good gel gel coat

[omega2]

Would it be possible to remove a terrible coat of International top lac from a seemingly good gel coat with out damaging the original? We are looking at an aquastar that has been b------d up but appears good underneath. Any one on the forum undertaken a job of this kind or know of any firms that would be able to restore her to her proper state.

 

[Bandit]

No doubt the hull was painted for a reason either it had been scratched during use or it had faded badly , poor colours for fading are red and blue.

I doubt very much if you can remove it carefully enough to leave a good gelcost without scratches.

The hull should have been rubbed down before painting so you probably wont have a good surface to expose.

Probably the best answer is to rub it down thoroughly and paint it again.

Depending on the value of the boat and the use you intend to put it to it isnt worth spray painting, you can achieve a pretty good finish by carefully hand painting with either Blakes or International.

It is imperative that you sort out any problems such as scratches, and cracks properly, you dry and de grease the hull thoroughly and you apply the paint by hand in either warm still conditions or best in the warm isnside, be carefull of dew. it might be better to wait untill longer days , good summer weather and paint early in the day on a warm day.

If you apply the paint scheme properly and use at least two top coats with two people one applying and one laying off you can get a good finish.

it does not need to be a professional job to look good.

Speak to Blakes and International help desks for advice.

Best of luck

 

[omega2]

Yes that is what we feared we will have to do, I make you right about the colours this one is Dark Blue and they do fade and chalk quite badly, there are areas that have gone back to the gel and these look good but as you say there has got to be something lurking somewhere. We can always walk away.

 

[Bandit]

If its that bad and its the boat you want put in a low offer to reflect that and after painting you get a shiny painted boat for the right price ?

 

[omega2]

Agreed

 

[BarryH]

Nitromors do a paint stripper specifically for GRP. Takes the paint off but leaves the gelcoat untouched. Going to be a pig of a job tho.

 

[Greg2]

There is a system for removing anti-foul (the Farow System) which uses small plastic balls and high pressure to blast the paint off without damaging gelcoat (supposedly). No idea whether it would be any good on proper paint but an internet search will get all the gen and you can e-mail the company to ask them. I was given a rough estimate of £400 to remove the anti-foul on our Broom Ocean 37.

Doesn't help much if there is a problem with the gel underneath though /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif.

 

[theguvnor]

My Fairline has had the hull painted, although I did not realise it at the time of purchace, the finish was that good !

I repaint it every 2/3 years with excellent results

The upside of a painted hull is any scratches, rubs or marks can be removed easily without the need of a lift, just a loaded paint brush.

As a river cruiser ( and hire-boat company in the locks ) i recommend paint for ease of repair or retouching