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02-01-2014, 08:48 AM
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#1
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Guru
City: Signal Mtn., TN
Vessel Name: Stella Maris
Vessel Model: Defever 44
Join Date: Feb 2012
Posts: 2,742
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Painted boats: to buy or not to buy?
That is the question. I know some high-end boats like Hatteras come that way from the factory, but I'm curious about boats that started life as gel coat and were later painted for whatever reason. I worry about obligating myself to a future major expense when it would inevitably need re-painting. Also, I'm not sure of how much abuse Awlgrip or the like can take vs gel coat. So my inclination is to look for well-maintained gel coat and try to keep it that way. But I'd like to know what others think. Would paint be a deal- breaker?
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02-01-2014, 09:00 AM
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#2
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Guru
City: Beverly Hills
Join Date: Feb 2012
Posts: 1,371
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Not for me, the two part epoxy paints are as tough or tougher than gel coat, and many high end builder offer this as an option. On older boats, the before painting prep is the key to a first class job. Look very close at the details, as was the teak trim removed before painting or just taped off, dings filled and faired , etc.
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02-01-2014, 09:03 AM
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#3
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Enigma
City: Slicker?
Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 16,565
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Greetings,
Mr. 99. We are currently in the process of a re-paint. Reason? Checkered gelcoat, removal of numerous redundant fasteners/clips/mounts with resultant patches and a general clean-up (make her look purty). I can appreciate the anticipated large expense you suggest but for me paint is not a deal breaker. Over the years, gelcoat will become nicked and scratched and need SOME sort of repair so unless one does the repair perfectly any "new" gelcoat will be visible.
I guess it all depends on your level of acceptance. Do you want a 10' boat or a 75' boat? (looks good from 10' away or 75' away)?
Don't forget, Awlgrip can be waxed as well.
__________________
RTF
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02-01-2014, 09:07 AM
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#4
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Guru
City: Here
Join Date: Sep 2012
Posts: 2,940
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A recently painted later model (since Katrina) boat is a little bit of a red flag to me.
A properly prepared and painted hull is not a problem in itself (unless it`s dark blue )
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02-01-2014, 09:55 AM
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#5
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Guru
City: Hailing Port: Charleston, SC
Vessel Name: Moonstruck
Vessel Model: Sabre 42 Hardtop Express
Join Date: Nov 2008
Posts: 8,276
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As my boat is approaching 10 years old, I have decided to paint the black hull to bring it back to its new luster. You can only polish gelcoat so many times. It will be repainted the same color because I like it. Here is the paint that I plan to have applied.
Alexseal Yacht Coatings: Yacht Paint, Primers & Fillers for the Marine Environment | Alexseal Yacht Coatings
It can be waxed and even touched up unlike Imron or Awlgrip.
We are fortunate on this forum to have some great professional resources. Because he is in South Florida, and is affiliated with a large reputable yacht yard (Bradford Yachts). I asked Tucker Fallon (Yachtbrokerguy) about this paint. He was kind enough to ask their paint guy who has been with the yard 30 years. He gives a big thumbs up to this paint. Thanks Tucker.
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02-01-2014, 10:56 AM
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#6
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TF Site Team
City: Jacksonville
Join Date: Nov 2008
Posts: 11,681
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If you can find the boat you want that has gel-coat, that you know is in good condition and was not just waxed, great, but boats that are 20 years old or so, typically, the gel-coat has oxidized to the point to warrant painting or there are scratches, dings and visible repairs.
Hobo was gel-coat and then painted. When we bought her, the paint was six years old. We repainted her in 2013 after 12 years with Awlcraft 2000. We could have gone longer but we were in the place to get it done. It's not as hard as gel-coat, but easy to repair. We should get another 12 years or so and the way I look at it, the new owners will be repainting it next time.
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02-01-2014, 12:08 PM
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#7
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Guru
City: Walnut Grove Ca
Vessel Name: Cary'D Away
Vessel Model: Hatteras 48 LRC
Join Date: Apr 2012
Posts: 887
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I prefere paint
I am currently working on a thirty foot sail boat with stunning fresh black gelcoat, I'm in the process replacing the deck wood and some of the interior. A crew of three spent four weeks full time stripping and applying new gelcoat to the hull. This is a fairly small boat. More time was spent finish sanding and buffing than stripping and application of gelcoat.
My boat has a 9 year old Sterling paint job that still looks wet . It has never had a buffer or wax applied. I expect at least another 10 years out of the paint.
That black gelcoat will need buffing at least once a year, and wax at least twice to remain looking nice. On a thirty foot sailboat, a chore, but not the ordeal of buffing and waxing a 50' boat.
If your maintaining your own boat, can you imagine how many hours it would take to buff and wax a 50' trawler.
High quality paint is wash and wear.
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02-01-2014, 12:10 PM
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#8
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Guru
City: North Vancouver
Vessel Name: Phoenix Hunter
Vessel Model: Kadey Krogen 42 (1985)
Join Date: Apr 2011
Posts: 2,877
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That looks really, really nice Larry!
Jim, Sent from my iPad using Trawler
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02-01-2014, 01:05 PM
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#9
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TF Site Team
City: Jacksonville
Join Date: Nov 2008
Posts: 11,681
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Scary
...High quality paint is wash and wear.
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Pretty much what we have experienced.
However, on the last paint, which was Awlgrip, we did apply Awlcare after 9 years. We did notice the benefit at the boot stripe (blue), stern from the engine exhaust and where the AC discharge splashes against the hull. The Awlcare made cleaning these areas much easier.
http://www.awlgrip.com/products/main...e/awlcare.aspx
Quote:
Originally Posted by JDCAVE
That looks really, really nice Larry!
Jim, Sent from my iPad using Trawler
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Thanks!
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02-01-2014, 01:59 PM
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#10
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Senior Member
City: Port Orchard, WA
Vessel Name: Isobel K
Vessel Model: 37' Custom Pilothouse
Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 426
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++ for Sterling. See posts in the archives
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02-01-2014, 02:13 PM
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#11
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Guru
City: Miami
Join Date: Jul 2013
Posts: 800
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Quote:
Originally Posted by angus99
That is the question. I know some high-end boats like Hatteras come that way from the factory, but I'm curious about boats that started life as gel coat and were later painted for whatever reason. I worry about obligating myself to a future major expense when it would inevitably need re-painting. Also, I'm not sure of how much abuse Awlgrip or the like can take vs gel coat. So my inclination is to look for well-maintained gel coat and try to keep it that way. But I'd like to know what others think. Would paint be a deal- breaker?
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Not a deal breaker for me. My neighbor has an old gulfstar he painted with awl grip 10 years ago and she looks better than all of the gel coated boats on the dock. Made me actually paint mine but I went with Alex seal. Paint is much easier to keep looking good.
Via iPad using Trawler
__________________
Via iOS.
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02-01-2014, 03:10 PM
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#12
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Guru
City: Concrete Washington State
Vessel Name: Willy
Vessel Model: Willard Nomad 30'
Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 18,743
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I had an Albin 25 for 6 years and for the first 5 didn't know it was painted. Found out when I asked a detailler to buff my topsides. I told him I wanted to protect my gelcoat. As soon as he told me it was paint I could see it right away. I'd giv'in it 5 years of normal cruising semi-abuse and it looked great but I had the boat out of the water and ....... . I felt foolish of course but I'd sure like to know what that paint was. Probably a 2 part Polly. Anyway it showed me how great paint can be.
__________________
Eric
North Western Washington State USA
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02-01-2014, 03:55 PM
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#13
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Guru
City: Niceville, FL
Vessel Name: At Last
Vessel Model: 1990 Jefferson 52 Marquessa
Join Date: Aug 2013
Posts: 724
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the boat we hav enow is Awlgriped. the previous boats were gelcoat. the Awlgrip is sooooooooooooo much easier to clean..........
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02-01-2014, 04:10 PM
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#14
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Guru
City: Signal Mtn., TN
Vessel Name: Stella Maris
Vessel Model: Defever 44
Join Date: Feb 2012
Posts: 2,742
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Thanks for the perspective. All my boats have been gel coat so it's good to know how many of you are happy with paint. I won't rule out a painted boat automatically. (Larry, the Awlgrip looks terrific.)
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02-01-2014, 04:13 PM
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#15
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Guru
City: Windsor
Vessel Name: Keeper IV
Vessel Model: 44 Viking ACMY
Join Date: Nov 2013
Posts: 1,350
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As stated earlier if applied correctly ( fittings removed not taped) you can't go wrong.
Sent from my Nexus 7 using Trawler
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02-01-2014, 05:17 PM
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#16
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Senior Member
City: Victoria BC
Vessel Name: LUCKY US
Vessel Model: American Tug
Join Date: Mar 2013
Posts: 267
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I've been giving some thought to painting our Tug lately and have been doing a fair bit of reading etc. now I just need to find the right outfit to do the job. Any suggestions???
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02-01-2014, 09:28 PM
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#17
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Guru
City: Concrete Washington State
Vessel Name: Willy
Vessel Model: Willard Nomad 30'
Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 18,743
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jukesy,
No city or even state under your avatar so no idea.
__________________
Eric
North Western Washington State USA
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02-01-2014, 11:04 PM
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#18
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TF Site Team
City: Ex-Brisbane, (Australia), now Bribie Island, Qld
Vessel Name: Now boatless - sold 6/2018
Vessel Model: Had a Clipper (CHB) 34
Join Date: Jun 2008
Posts: 10,101
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Quote:
Originally Posted by angus99
Thanks for the perspective. All my boats have been gel coat so it's good to know how many of you are happy with paint. I won't rule out a painted boat automatically. (Larry, the Awlgrip looks terrific.)
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Correct conclusion there, for sure. The gelcoat on our Lotus had been repainted once at least, by a PO himself I suspect, and after several years was not looking good. We took the plunge and for $7000, had it done again professionally, taken right back and two-paced with International (Interlux) Perfection, and the finish is absolutely brilliant. It will definitely have added to the resale…in fact, as others have mentioned, it is regarded by the professionals that a good two-pack paint is superior to gelcoat, and some new boats are finished this way on purpose.
Here is a shot 3 yrs down the track from the hull repaint, (just washed - never polished yet), and we went with black new Micron Extra anti foul this time, rather than blue.
__________________
Pete
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02-02-2014, 12:30 AM
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#19
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Guru
City: Hotel, CA
Join Date: Sep 2011
Posts: 8,323
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I've got to admit to a bit of paint envy seeing these photos of glossy painted hulls. My 45 year old gel is still in great shape thanks to being boathouse kept its whole life but doesn't hold a candle to these painted finishes.
I had better stay away from this thread as all this boat porn is giving me expensive ideas.
__________________
Craig
It's easier to fool people than to convince them that they've been fooled - Mark Twain
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02-02-2014, 12:53 AM
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#20
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Guru
City: Sydney
Vessel Name: Sojourn
Vessel Model: Integrity 386
Join Date: Oct 2011
Posts: 13,329
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You can buff paint, and gelcoat, but paint is thin, keep the gelcoat for as long as it responds to renovating techniques.
The first paint job is usually the worst in terms of effort and cost, because the surface needs filling and sanding all over before painting, needs lots of labour.
Last haulout I had the topsides buff polished, well worth doing. 2 years back I had some painting done, mainly inside the bulwarks all round and the FB supports inside and out, and noticed the comparative dullness of the paint on the cabin sides. I took to it by hand, using 3M gelcoat restoring polish on the more exposed oxidized parts. They either had to come good or be repainted,fortunately they came good, that 2 pack paint is tough stuff.
__________________
BruceK
2005 Integrity 386 "Sojourn"
Sydney Australia
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