gelcoat

[john townsend]

I was wondering if the gelcoat is important other than looks on a fiberglass boat? Just wondering if I need to redo or just paint the boat. Thanks John

 

[Matt_n_Barb]

Depends on the boat and application. Gel coat can be easy to fix or a pain. So what is your boat and what is the use?

 

[tod osier]

I was wondering if the gelcoat is important other than looks on a fiberglass boat? Just wondering if I need to redo or just paint the boat. Thanks John

No, on a typical duckboat you can paint right over gelcoat after sanding.

 

[Mark W]

Besides being cosmetic, on a fiberglass boat the gelcoat prevents water from getting into the fiberglass sandwich structure. Without it, or without some other type of "coating" on the waterside of the sandwich, your matting would become waterborn and you would have a useless boat.

Fiberglass will act as a wick without some type of coating over it.

Mark W

 

[Neal Haarberg]

I have an older baot I am converting into a duckboat and the Gel coat has cracks in it where it had been hit. the Fiberglss does not show any signs of damage. I figured when the boat is painted it would fill and seal the cracks. Is this suffecient to keep water from getting in?

 

[Mark W]

May or may not be good enough. Does the boat continuosly sit in the water? Are the cracks spiderweb cracks or are they bigger and through the gel into the fiberglass? What kind of paint? Below waterline? Lots of questions to be sure.

For a new gelcoat layer (or other gelcoat fix) to remain in place without any cracking, it has to be applied to a sub-layer that is stable and not subject to any movement. You have to repair the underlying laminate to the point it is structurally sound and does not flex. Then a top coat of gelcoat will remain crack free.

If these are hairline cracks, me, I'd just paint over them with a good marine paint.

Mark W

 

[john townsend]

Top of a AA broadbill. Can it just be painted.

View attachment broadbill boat 018.jpg

 

[Mark W]

If the are small cracks that paint can fill, painted is what I would do in this instance. Time will tell if the cracks are weather related or structure related.

You are sure the cracks aren't due to some impact that could have caused more damage you can't see under the cracks? If so, paint away.

Mark W

 

[Gene R.]

John, Is that like a 1" or so horizonal lip around edge or just the picture?
I've just lightly sanded mine and painted after I bought to cover old camo paint job.

Gene R.

 

[john townsend]

Yes it is about an inch an a half lip where the top and bottom are seamed together. It is a good seal. John