Refinishing a boat

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#1

A friend of mine has an old ( 70’s era )fishing boat. The hull is all fiberglass and gel coated. The problem is the gel coat has thousands of tiny cracks, they look like they go all the way through the gel coat or at least half way.

I would like to sand the boat down to remove most of the gel coat, without getting into the fibers/resin. I’m pretty good at sanding as i have LOTS of experience. lol. Do I need a special gel-coat gun to spray on new gel-coat?

Option/Q: #2 Can him and I use a roller to roll on some epoxy or resin? Sanding the epoxy/resin smooth is no problem. I’d prefer to paint the boat when it’s done as gel-coat isn’t going to give us the color options we would like that paint offers.

Will Polyurethane paint hold up in the water? It’s a recreational type fishing boat and it isn’t docked in the water… sits on a trailer when not in use.

I really appreciate the advice. Thanks

#2

as for paints there are a couple types of urethane paints, the most common auto paint is acrylic urethane, It is readily available in any color and is easily touched up and can be blended in with a bit of work, I scratches easier than Polyurethane but can be repaired much easier. Polyurethanes, like awlgrip, don’t scratch as easy but are a bear to buff and usually can’t be repaired without repainting the entire side. I’ve done boats with a sprayed gelcoat finish, looked great but 10X the work, automotive acrylic urethane looked great stood up well, and with marine poly (awlgrip), The awlgrip looked great but was more money and did not touch up well and did not buff out like the auto urethanes did.

#3

I had a 60’s era sailboat that had the same gelcoat problem. Working epoxy into the cracks is only a temporary solution as the cracks eventually come back again. Typical gel coat crazing goes all the way through the gel coat. Re-gel coating is a better alternative. Yes, it’s more work, but it will be a permanent repair.
+1 bricklins paint advice. The linear polyuerethanes aren’t supposed to be buffed.

#4

If it is that bad most professionals would take down the gel-coat and paint with an LP.