Lime green color help

[gallegos276]

Hi I have a older boat that got wrecked and I'm fixing it up I'm deeply in love with the tige boat and want to paint it the lime green like your guys. Can any one help me on where to buy the gel coat and the paint code for it. Thanks
Ryan Gallegos

[chpthril]

If you are looking change the color of the boat, you are better off using an automotive bass coat/clear coat process. I dont think you can "spray" gel coat in that fashion. Making a repair is a different story.

[Chaos]

^ he is correct, spraying gelcoat to a flat surface will leave you with an orange peel effect. For boats, gels are sprayed in the mold, leaving a much smoother glassy finish. They are still wet sanded, prepped and polished though.

If if it not too big of an area you can paint it on. it will require sanding, buffing and polishing.
Fiberglast is one source. I have used a variety of suppliers.

http://www.fibreglast.com/category/colorgelcoat

[EricU]

If you are looking change the color of the boat, you are better off using an automotive bass coat/clear coat process. I dont think you can "spray" gel coat in that fashion. Making a repair is a different story.

Spraying gel coat can be done, and can be done quite successfully. Yes a new boat is done with the gel coat sprayed first in the mold then followed by the supporting layers of fiberglass.

But gel coat can and is sprayed as a finish coat, sanded, buffed etc, I used to do it when I was back in college and had a lot more time on my hands. I wouldn't even dream of trying it now as it has been twenty plus years! but there are several nice systems now compared to the guns that I used. I think that 3M's is called an "Acuspray"

How do you think they do the repairs or mods to boats?

A properly done gel coat sprayed will provide a better finish than an automotive style paint IMHO. It takes a LOT of practice and knowledge. If you don't currently know how to do it and you are only doing one boat, I would suggest prepping it yourself, then finding some old fart or young hot-shot that has proven they know what they are doing. Spreading, filling and smoothing FRP really isn't that hard (and I actually like doing it) but it does take some investment in time, materials and tools.

If you already know how to spray gel coat, then I have just wasted my time with this winded explanation and you just need to go to your gel coat supplier and have them custom mix the color. But I think that lime green is going to soon look dated...