: There is alot of questions here but I have inserted some of my
: opinions into your text, I think that if you are going this
: route I would stick with gelcoat. To change the color on the
: boat in gel-coat is the same process as painting it except you
: have to sand out the "orange peel" and polish after it
: is applied, but then when future repairs come up it can probably
: be sanded and polished if its scratches and if it is big damage
: just grind ,glass, and apply gelcoat saving the primer and paint
: blending.

: just my 2 cent good luck.

: dave g
: Yes and no, if you have done it before or have a working knowledge
: of the products then yes if not it could be challenging.

: The boat has lots of gelcoat cracks - small ones -
: Yes, if you do not repair them then they will telegraph through the
: paint. Paint should be looked at as a color finish not as a way
: of hiding stuff, paint hides imperfections really poorly.

: I've read some
: NO comment on paints adding strength, but as for the maintainance
: of the boat paint will get scratches through the color rather
: easily and to repair these you will have to paint and blend that
: area. The gelcoat goes on alot thicker and is harder and in the
: future minor scratches can be sanded out and re polished.
: No the repair would be to grind out the damage, re-apply fiberglass
: in that area, sand and fair smooth, some finish putty, spray an
: appropriate primer and re paint the area. On a kayak the blend
: area for paint depending on the damage could be rather large.

Gelcoat was never intended as a surface paint, it can be done but it's a heck of alot of work. Most fiberglass recolor jobs are done with two part paints, but to be done properly they need to be sprayed and these paints are seriously toxic, so need a supplied air respirator.

I'd suggest leaving the color alone and just using the boat as is.

Bill H.