getting to original color of boat

[mcarlito]

Hello,<br />I have a 1962 Crestliner Fiberglass boat and it was painted by someone else the color gray. Now I'm thinking of getting it back to the original color. My question is if I started to strip off the gray paint, would I find the original color ?? Did the fiberglass back then have the pigment mixed into it?? OR do I have to consider painting the boat once the gray paint is removed???<br />Thanks for the input<br />Mike and son Zach still digging working on the boat!!!!

 

[bigboy]

Re: getting to original color of boat

I'll think you have to paint it after removing the paint! Also the previous owner will have painted it because there were scars or because it was ugly and damaged. So i don't think you'll find a nice white gelcoat under it.

 

[f_inscreenname]

Re: getting to original color of boat

Like bigbot says. Just to get the paint to stick the past owner would have had to sand the gel-coat.

 

[mcarlito]

Re: getting to original color of boat

Thank you for your quick response to my questions. Now I can move forward or keep fishing!!

 

[ondarvr]

Re: getting to original color of boat

Take off a cleat or some other bracket and see if there is bare gel coat under it, you may, or may not like the color. They most likely painted it because the original color had faded, to bring it back it would have to be sanded, they may have just sanded and painted it. Most of the time on these older boats the prep job for the new paint was very poor, it starts to peel, then looks terrible. The one good thing about the poor prep job is that sometimes most of the paint can be removed with a pressure washer, then some light sanding and its ready to buff. The original color does not always come back though, so you need to test an area first. Worst case now it ready to prep correctly and put on a good paint job.<br /><br />It will have gel coat under the paint, it just may not be the color you are looking for.