Has anyone ever put a new gel coat on their boat themselves? If so, how much did it cost and was it hard to do?
Never have, but I will have to soon <img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/icon_eek.gif" border="0" alt="Shocked" title="Shocked" />
Go over to this site and read about fiberglass stuff. I don't think you have to be a member, but you might have to join to see all of the attachments. I don't agrtee with everything they talk about, like seacast and chainsaw transom repair, but it is interesting reading. http://forums.screamandfly.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=37 jim
From everything I've been told, re-gelcoating an entire boat is not a viable option in most cases, due to complexity, cost, and mixed results.
I have had a little experiance working with Gel-coat, for spot repairs. Two issues with gel-coat, one, it does not surface cure, and two, it is not self-leveling. You can add a surface cureing agent to the mix, but you will still have to sand and buff, and polish to get a good shine. It can be done, but it it not easy.
I looked into it, my gel coat was not bad but it had an ugly 90s teal stripe down the side. I used Imeron (I can never remember the spelling) paint on my boat and it came out looking brand new. Plus it is tough as nails and takes all kinds of abuse like beaching and banging stuff into it getting in and out of the boat. I would suggest that before a new gel coat. Daniel
2mercs is close on the spelling of Imron. It is a paint that is typically used for aircraft. He is also correct about the durability. We had an older 20' painted with Imron around 2000, and it is holding up to ski team use quite well.
Imron is a very good paint. You absoutely must wear a mask suitable for that type of paint, or you will get very sick
My painter is using a single stage urethane, which is what he uses on outdrives and he's had good luck with it.
