Rebuilding the cockpit and part of the deck. I would like to paint this subassembly and install and wire gauges prior to installing it in the boat. I dont know if I should just use conventional paint with clearcoat and attempt to flash it in with the existing deck or go the gelcoat route. Can you apply gelcoat with a spraygun to a vertical surface? Does gelcoat require a clear coat after? I've painted a boat with imron + clear and it came out nice but have never worked with gelcoat. Any tips or pointers would be greatly appreciated....Thanks! TJ

You can not spay gel out of a regular paint gun. It is way to thick. If you want to get some good info and a great place to buy stuff check out www.minicraft.com They have a reducer that works very well with Gel. As to what way is best that is really up to you. Small parts are easy to do either way.

Jon

Gelcoat can easily be sprayed with a conventional spray gun, if you mix it with Patch Aid from Cook Composits. For a large area use the slow reducer. It comes out quite nice with less orange peel.

Rick

As for the Minicraft reducer. Save your money. It costs $29.00 a qt. plus shipping !!! The Patch Aid from Cook Composits is the same thing. Thins the gel just fine for spraying.

Rick

I am not an expert on sraying gel, but I do know a thing or two about paint guns and you will want to get the largest needle and tip available to spray something as thick as gel. Preferably a 2.0 or larger, like what is used in a good primer gun. Smaller than that and it may become more difficult to spray! Just my .02

exactly.

a lot of time.....before gelling you need to sand down to fiberglass, then spray, then sand again, then buff out

Well boys i will let you know how hard it is.I will be re gelcoating my 1979 challenger 21 after someone sanded it down and painted it with automotive paint i tried wet sanding it down to the original gel coat but they rubbed through in a few spots and red from what i hear is very hard to patch.So i will have the honor of re gelcoating the whole boat im gonna do white.I have sprayed all types of automotive finishes but i have never sprayed gelcoat. Anyone with Challenger 21s,Team Shadows,Super boats i would love to see pictures you can send them to [email protected]
talk to you guys later

My gel has yellowed and I'm considering either paint or new gel.
Can anyone tell me "rough" price to spray a 27' baja all white with new gel?
Does the gel get sprayed on the entire boat including bottom, or just above the water line like paint?

Take it from me. I'm in the business for over 30 years, I am also the builder of Superboats. I literally painted over a hundred boats, some with gelcoat. Stick with a good paint like Imron or Awlgrip. Imron also comes in Metalics. Tuff ass paint. I would never regel. It fades and Oxidizes. Imron will buff out like new after 10 years.

Rick