Spray job or Gel coat repair...

savageseadog

savageseadog

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Following a collision at the weekend I have been informed by the surveyor that his recommendation to the insurers will be that the hull is re-sprayed all round (white) rather than risk mismatching gel coats in a few months when they start to fade at different rates. This is in part because they cannot get the same gel coat as used in construction so it will be a mix with a totally different pigmented resin. The hull is damaged is several locations down the starboard side.

The original gel coat is in excellent condition (pearly shiny white) and i am not keen to have it re-sprayed. As i can see it all rubbing off on the fenders in the marina (like oh so many other boats i see around)

Any one any thoughts and advice. Does a spray job reduce the resale value of a boat? or is a new two-pack spray job going to be much better than a patchy hull in the long term?
 
My boat was resprayed with Awlgrip (dark blue) in a previous ownership and it was a good hard finish which lasted over 10 years. It was rubbed in the fender positions however and two years ago I had it resprayed, again with Awlgrip. The new finish is already badly rubbed and I have to treat it with kid gloves, it is not nearly as hard as the last one, doubt if I will get 5 years out of it. I would certainly look at having the whole boat re-gelcoated; even it you have to pay a premium yourself. Congratulations on having a white boat, all else is a pain!
 
Can only comment on my own experience.

I bought my boat as a bit of a 'project'. Along with loads of other faults she had a poorly repaired section of topsides. As I was going to have her treated for osmosis, I asked the yard to quote also for repairing the topsides. So I had the repair re-done and the sides painted.

I have been sailing my boat for about five years or so since this repair. In and out of marinas, picking up moorings, all the usual risky stuff. The finish is still bright and shiny and when she is up on the hard, I often receive compliments about how well I have polished up the topsides when I haven't done a thing to her - other than a bit of a wash.

Only problem I can see is that it makes the deck - which hasn't been done - look pretty scruffy.

Haven't had any experience of paint rubbing off on the fenders.
 
Gladys was repaired and had a Gel coat match at Fox's Ipswich. The glass job is fabulous, and it's only that I know where the repair is that means I can see it from outside. If it's done by good people and faired in over a big area, you can't see it. That repair has been outside now for the best part of 12 months.
 
some people do a re-spray of gel coat rather than paint, and reckon that the slight additional cost is more than compensated by the longevity of the solution (unless you ding it again!)
 
I would do all I could to avoid having the hull painted
I looked at a nice boat that had fallen of its trailer and although it had been professionally repaired had been painted this put me off as I thought about possible problems selling a relatively new boat that had been painted.

If it`s still gel coat what you see is what you get.
Pete
 
use Awlgrip Polyurethane /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gifNOT the Acrylic ( its very soft ) /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif.
i have Poly "Off-White " done 7 yrs ago still as good as new even after 45 Kts N.W. in Oostende in the middle of a raft of boats.
the Off-White is a really good choice as its a more natural white not "up in the face" bright white.
pm me, i can sent recient photos
 
had what i thought was serious gouges of the gel coat in my bene 351, the repairer told me that the gel coat was quite thick and they sanded it with wet and dry and then polished it out, you cant tell where it is now, fellow called "little brian" drinks in pwllheli sailing club will sort it for you.
Stu
 
Gel coat is designed to be applied to a mould and the finish surface excuded from air
Gel coat on top of cured gelcoat has very poor adhesion and the work required to remove external sticky surface and then burnish to a bright finish would not be economical
"Spray Gel Coat" another name for two pack polyurethane?
Two pack poly's if applied properly will not suffer from fender rub and will last for as long as you don't graunch the vessel alongside a pier!
 
If the gel coat repair is done by an experienced person it should not give you problems. I would be wary of having her painted as a buyer will always wonder what the paint is hiding. I agree with the surveyor that you should be aware that a good colour match needs to be made. A specalist in gel coat repair explained to me that generally new gel coat is less porous than old gel coat so will fade at a slower rate. I suppose in summary if you want to stay with a gel coat finish insist on a very experienced chap or go with the paint job.
 
I would get someone experienced to prep and gelcoat it. OK it will be visible in certain lights and directions but! At least it will last 30 years. Whatever anyone says gelcoat is around 1mm thick and paint is measured in microns!

There is no use mixing it by hand and spreading it on. A professional will spray it by "hot pot" or automixing gun in layers so that there are no bubbles.

It also needs special catalysts to avoid yellowing.

The rubbing down is reasonably easy after proper spraying and preparation.

Even if it is painted you will have to restore the substrate to identical conditions so you could arrange a deal where it was re-gelcoated and then after the winter if it was too obvious the insurance would pay for a paint job. You could set a standard for what is "too obvious" in distance from boat.
 
Peter

Can't remember what the paint type was called, but I had it done at Suffolk Yacht Harbour, so they will know. They said it was possible to retouch it should I have any future damage. (In other words repair a patch, not have to do the whole lot.) Not needed to do that yet!

Bernie
 
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