New gel coat

[mikesmiph]

I have an older boat that wasn't cared for properly. The gel coat is just about gone. I haven't tried anything yet. Do I start by trying to buff it? Or do I just strip it off and redo it? Has anyone had any experience with this? I would like to do this over the winter. Would it be better to hire it done? And, if so, who would i check with? I'm full of questions. If anyone out there can help me, I would sure appreciate it.  Thanks  Mike

[djkimmel]

On many boats, this is a tricky job from what I've been told by boat company employees and body experts. Hiring it done is probably expensive, but for me, not sure I would try. Some of us are good at this type of stuff and some aren't. That would depend on your comfort level of course.

Don Stevens does this for a living and might be willing to answer some questions about doing this type of job. He has offered some good advice in the past regarding having a pro do things verses a do-it-yourself project.

His company is over near Kalamazoo in Cooper.

COOPER BOAT REPAIR LLC
8135 DOUGLAS AVE UNIT B
KALAMAZOO MI 49004
269-382-2525

[mikesmiph]

Thanks for the advise Dan. I also got a message from Wonderland Marine. Looks like I can get a couple opinions. If anyone else has advise, I'm very open.

[djkimmel]

If Wonderland does this type of work (my bad for not knowing that - sorry Ralph - guess we need to go over some of the other work you guys do out back in that big building ), they are probably closer to you. Wonderland can probably recommend and get materials also.

[bassboss]

Is the coat metal-flake or poly-flake? I had an old ranger that had metal-flake and I was told that couldn't be buffed, only stripped and redone. My newer boat with poly-flake has some miner to significant fading. I wet sanded and buffed and went through that process. BUT it looks really good, I imagine about what it looked like in '89. Whatever you do, do not just through a coat of clear coat on it, it will fade and turn kinda white in a short time.