I know some will say, 'why go to all this work, just do it right the first time'. -
I get that, that's why I was originally going to put new gelcoat over the old with all the appropriate prep-work.
But the existing gelcoat was cracking, and in the pic above you can see water stains on the plywood where the gelcoat was cracking.
I want to use the boat this year.
So paint it will be for now. And I may be pleasantly surprised for how it holds up.
I painted my metal truck bed with Rust-Oleum Professional Black Oil-Based, no primer, no prep and I've hauled all kings of stuff around. A trip to the metal scrap recycling, dumps, loads of dirt, bark dust, firewood. And 12 years later it's still holding up.
I'll see if I can find some before, after and present pics, but it was rough and ugly. I just pressure washed it rolled it right out of the can.
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We'll see how it goes, but Rust-Oleum Oil-Based Enamel is tough paint.
Besides, I think 'doing it right' is relative. It's an old 18 foot aluminum StarCraft that I got delivered for $900 - with a still great running 75hp Suzuki.
