Is the color on my SeaRay's hull paint or gelcoat?

[Seville1987]

I would like to restore my 1987 SeaRay Seville's blue exterior "painted" area, but I don't know if that is gelcoat or paint? Does anyone know? Ive tried to use a rubbing compound to get down to some color but being a 1987, it seems to be faded through and through. I removed all the pinstriping and some of it overlaid this blue area. Of course where the pinstripes where the color is much nicer. How can I possibly get that color back throughout? If its gelcoat, do I just need to bear down and learn to work with it? How do I get the right color and consistency?

I'm guessing the white area of the hull are actually gelcoat and that if I am going to get the same shine and brightness as I have under the pinstripes I removed from there, it's going to take a lot of buffing (sanding?) and a lot of elbow grease??

Thanks in advance!

 

[Struc]

Re: Is the color on my SeaRay's hull paint or gelcoat?

Look at post 221 onward in this thread: http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=380371&page=9

I posted some pictures and the procedure I used to bring back the color on my Sea Ray.

Yes, it's going to take a LOT of elbow grease.

 

[Woodonglass]

Re: Is the color on my SeaRay's hull paint or gelcoat?

Easy way to determine if it's paint or Gelcoat is to soak a rag in Acetone and lay it on the surface. If it's paint the rag will cause the paint to krinkle and peel. If Gelcoat NOTHING will happen.

 

[Seville1987]

Re: Is the color on my SeaRay's hull paint or gelcoat?

Thank you Struc And Woodonglass! Both responses helped and gave me solid info to go with. I also popped into West Marine over the weekend and the guy there really thought it was gel coat. As I explained the condition of the area, he thought I could buff it out. I asked about the possible alternative of painting it and he showed me some products that would work. So armed with this information I grabbed a bottle of 3M Marine Rubbing Compound and headed home.

I thought that if I did screw it up more, at least I could paint it. I had tried turtle wax car rubbing compound which didn't do a whole lot for me. It was actually a lot less abrasive on the boat than on my car. I thought maybe the marine version needed a shot. So, I tried it first by hand. I was blown away! It took a lot of rubbing and about 3 passes, but I started to see color that matched the area that was under the pinstripe!

So I grabbed the drill with the buffing pad and did a little more, and then more. On Saturday I spent most of the afternoon on one side. It looks great. I overlapped each area about 3-5 times. I can still see faint stripes from the pinstripes - especially in the white area - but it looks great. I went back over it with maguires compound (auto) which is much less abraisive and then finally with maguires wax. I looks great. Almost no scratches anywhere.

I'll post photos. I also pulled off the rub rail vinyl and cleaned it and pulled out the dents from the aluminum rail. Strangely enough, I'm looking forward to breaking my back for the other side now!

 

[Woodonglass]

Re: Is the color on my SeaRay's hull paint or gelcoat?

If you go to Harbor Freight and Invest $40 bucks in one of these...

You'll be amazed at how she'll shine!!!!