| When looking at new fiberglass boats you just | | | | sand and remove this top layer in order to get |
| want to reach out and touch them. The color is | | | | the best out of the new paint job. |
| so deep and shiny and perfect. This color is held in | | | | 2. Striping the boat down. This is an extremely |
| a gel coat, and needs quite a bit of maintaining. | | | | time consuming task, but it is essential to a |
| Unfortunately, not all gel coats are the same and | | | | successful paint job. If you try to mask off the |
| the quality will affect how long your boat will | | | | areas not to be painted you will later find that |
| gleam for. | | | | these are the first areas to bubble up and |
| A good gel coat should last a long time, but more | | | | become problematic. This also applies to other |
| and more often we are seeing boats which are | | | | fiberglass sections. Even if these are going to be |
| only a few years old look really rather faded. | | | | painted it is best to separate them, paint them |
| Waxing will bring back the color, but it may only | | | | and then reconstruct, this will prevent future |
| last a few months after each wax. | | | | bubbling around the stainless steel screws used |
| To restore your boat to its former glory your | | | | for attachment. |
| best bet is fiberglass boat paint. The success of | | | | 3. Avoidance of dark colors. There has been a bit |
| your fiberglass paint job is really down to the | | | | of a trend recently to use dark colors to define |
| workmanship and understanding exactly what is | | | | the shape and style of boats. The problem with |
| involved. | | | | this is that the dark colors absorb more sun and |
| Here are the three most important factors to | | | | the color may shrink and cause distortion to the |
| consider to ensure that your fiberglass paint job is | | | | part. |
| a success. | | | | With all these covered you should have a perfect |
| 1. Preparation of the surface. As with any paint | | | | looking boat. Before you enlist any workmen or a |
| jobs this is essential. Gel coat is slightly porous, | | | | boat yard to take on this job it is important that |
| however, if you have been waxing your boat | | | | you see examples of their previous work. It is |
| regularly or for a long period of time this will have | | | | also best to discuss the job in detail before any |
| created a new surface which is smooth. The | | | | work is started as you do not want to leave any |
| fiberglass boat paint will adhere better to the gel | | | | crucial decisions up to anyone else. |
| coat than the waxed surface, so it is important to | | | | |