Can I "paint" a fiberglass boat?

[jumpjets]

My boat has the industry standard fiberglass hull covered with gelcoat. The boat was white when it was new with a red band around the cap. Over the years, the white has become dingy, and the red has faded to a dried blood pinkish color. I've tried polishing it and waxing it, but i can't get the color to be vibrant again. Additionally, I'm not in love with white. I'd love to have the entire top half of the boat be bright red. Is it possible to "paint" the top portion of a boat with a new vibrant color? I'm not going to paint the bottom, where the hull goes into the water. I also do not want to add a bunch of weight.

Is it possible? Has anyone done it?

THis is the current color scheme. I'd like all the current red stuff, and everything above it to become red.

 

[QC]

Re: Can I "paint" a fiberglass boat?

I moved this to Restoration. Here's where that kind of experience is

I have 3 comments:

1) Stick with the existing Gelcoat if you can find a way.

2) Red always fades the worst, and would with the paint too.

3) The majority of boats are primarily white for a reason. Have your significant other go lie down on the dark portions in a bikini at noon on a hot day. Have burn ointment within reach

 

[Tail_Gunner]

Re: Can I "paint" a fiberglass boat?

I moved this to Restoration. Here's where that kind of experience is

I have 3 comments:

1) Stick with the existing Gelcoat if you can find a way.

2) Red always fades the worst, and would with the paint too.

3) The majority of boats are primarily white for a reason. Have your significant other go lie down on the dark portions in a bikini at noon on a hot day. Have burn ointment within reach

....... As in any forum there are opinion's....

As to the main body (white) i agree restore it there are manys ways to bring back to life...and opinion's..

Painting a stripe no problem and you DO NOT have to polish it every yr and good paint does not fade...

Now as to the sunbathing....I always have the ointment in had and ready to serve at a moment's notice..

Dang QC used up all the icon space.. ;P

Cleaning up existing gelcoat: Take the sovent Xylene some very fine steel wool and scrub a two foot section of the red gel. Keep scrubbing (wet) until there is no more debris caking in the steel wool use the same pressure as if you were wiping water off a cubboard with a towel.

You could have almost any type of wax or sealant on that boat..minwax.. floor wax..people come up with crazy ideal's even clear cloat (paint) and that's what your attempting to cut off. Thats why xylene its very strong and does not flash off like acetone.

Take a professional rotary buffer with 3m superduty compound and buff the area..you may be surprised

 

[fishingfrenzy]

Re: Can I "paint" a fiberglass boat?

http://www.fiberglassics.com/restoration/restoring-gel-coat

Take 15 minutes and read that. If it sounds like it is worth it to you, don't paint just try restore. If it doesn't sound up your alley, then paint.

 

[Thalasso]

Re: Can I "paint" a fiberglass boat?

Going to have mine painted this spring with two part urethane. My blue is fading faster then i can polish it.