topcoat vs. gelcoat

[stackz]

been reading and reading and I think I'm still confused.

both gelcoat and topcoats (awlgrip, etc) can be used to "paint" the outside of a boat right?

is the difference that gelcoat can be applied over the entire outer surface of the boat and topcoat can only be applied above the waterline?? or can you spray the entire outside of a boat in topcoat as well?

it seems to me that topcoats are divided into two types?
above waterline:
http://www.awlgrip.com/support/appl...x?chapter=Above Waterline Application Systems
below waterline:
http://www.awlgrip.com/support/appl...x?chapter=Below Waterline Application Systems

how do you "join" these two together on the boat if you dont want a stripe? I mean I see lots of boats at the dealerships which are all white and I see no lines on them? are they just painted with the below waterline type paint or what?

or are they gelcoated in white from the factory?

 

[tschmidty]

Re: topcoat vs. gelcoat

Gel coat is just tinted polyester resin, the same thing your boat was built with.

Topcoat is paint.

You can topcoat wherever you want. Some boats have what is called bottom paint. The point of that is to keep barnacles and such from forming on the boat. Most boats kept on a trailer or used on freshwater lakes do not need it, which is why they are white all over. Bottom paints are usually a differnt color so you can tell when it starts wearing off. They are ususally joined by a boot stripe, but not always.

 

[stackz]

Re: topcoat vs. gelcoat

aaaahhhhhhhhhh, I see said the blind man.

thank you so much for that explanation.

so I can use topcoat to paint the whole boat with (even below the water line) and it'll hold up just fine then.

welp, I now know what I must do