Bottom Paint or gelcoat?

[Phan000]

I have nearly finished sanding off the nasty old bottom paint on my 1975 20' . The easiest thing to do would be to put on a fresh barrier coat and some new bottom paint... However, as my boat is trailered I am concerned that the trinidad style paint would eventually degrade...

So should I focus on spraying with a fresh coat of gell or go with the bottom paint? My funds are very limited so that is a factor also.

[FELLOW-SHIP]

When I did my boat I removed the bottom paint and had the bottom re gel coated with a roller approach, I also keep my boat on a trailer. I personally like the bottom of the boat gelcoated when it is on a trailer. It is easier to keep up that way and easier for fix as well. If you use a roller you don’t have to be as concerned about the angle you will be working with like you would be if you are spraying. But if you want to finish it perfectly you will need to sand out all the imperfections with gelcoat and buff and wax but if you re paint your done.
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[Billybob]

I like the looks of gelcoat too, and I normally trailer mine but sometimes get to slip it for up to a couple months and hope to get a slip permanently.
I hydroblasted my bottom, used the Interprotect fairing and barrier coat and then went with the West Marine bottomcote which is like Trinidad.
It held up very well.
I just touch it up in the spring, it is somewhat ablative and will scrub off some when cleaning the scum line.
If you can live with a different color bottom, it's a pretty good option IMO.

Bill

[edloh]

fellow-ship,

I have a 23' with bottom paint, i am thinking about rolling the entire boat with gelcoat too. how rought is your finish? plan to sand the bottom but not the topside. is sanding a rolled surface a lost cause? would you be kind enought to explain in detail on what you did?

[FELLOW-SHIP]

Ha Edloh;
First off, I had some one do the soda blasting and gel coating for me since I didn’t have anywhere to suspend the boat while working on the bottom of the boat I did all the rest of the boat myself. I can fill you in about it anyway first off, it’s not as difficult to roll gel coat as spraying it due to the upward angle and circumstances of repair work on the bottom unless you flip the boat over that that’s another story. Yes you will get a ruff finish but if you sand it like you would have to do if you sprayed it anyway you will get most of the imperfections out, in some arrears you will have to add a additional coat of gel coat since you will go through it all before you get the bumps out but eventually all will come out. Now it’s the rubbing compound and wax work which will bring it up to looking good. You will have to talk to someone like Jayson to tell you how long the wax work will stay looking good. P.S. don’t forget to use the proper waxing ingredient into the gel coat of it will never harden properly.
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