I have a 22ft fiberglass hull trailed boat. I have done all of the hull repairs and need help deciding to paint or gelcoat??? Thanks!

IMO cleared paint is easier to keep clean but much easier to chip and scratch.... Gel is good for newbies who need to learn to dock and tie up

Brilliant............not.

Paint has a deeper shine. Generally looks better and easier to do extravagant designs. Gel is a much tougher. You won't have to worry about it fading out as much or rope rash.

Kinda depends what is on there now, it it is all Gel now, and you wnat a all white hull(with maybe some painted or vinyl graphics) then go Gel, otherwise paint it up.

I have always been a big fan of gel on running surfaces. Takes abrasion much better and will last longer. I think its worth the extra effort myself but i also see some labor advantages with paint for the do-it-yourselfer. Paint will be easier to apply and takes a more standard method where gel requires a bit more experience but is still within the grasp of anyone possessing ambition and good basic paint skills. Spraying gel is sensitive to choice of materials once you get that down its not to bad, the rest is just staying out of trouble.


Are you painting the entire boat? all white or graphics? I try to a avoid the running surface and shoot from the hard chine up. In that case if all white use PPG's single stage Concept and if graphics use PPG's DBC base coat with DCU 2021 clear.

When I redid my 39 year old Bertram last year I had the entire boat regelled. The results were nothing short of amazing. I can easily touch up marks when they occur. My previous boat was a Magnum and it was done in a combination of paint (deck and bottom) and gel sides. The painted decks (awlgrip) were pretty easy to clean but the deck lines chaffed the paint right back to the underlying gel and in general marked too easy. No where as easy for me to touch up. The bottom was the Interlux teflon/epoxy. It ony lasted 6 years. Just my 2 cents worth.

why so? You don't agree that a newer boater who might rub docks or other boats is better off with gel than paint?

We used an acrylic paint and topped with a clear.

Painted Bumper down:
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http://skipperschoice.com

go with gel

I agree with you, but not just for newbies for boating in general unless you never plan on rafting.

Amazes me that I can not go a month without finding some kind of abrasion or small gouge in my gel. If it was paint I would be calling someone, but with gel I can hit the spot with 000 steel wool and buff it back to match.