When new manufacturer didnt use paint, they use gelcoat, its a polyester resin that is colored with pigment. Somewhere down the line someone may have painted or clear coated over the gel coat because the gelcoat was faded. If it is peeling or big sections missing it has been clear coated.. it may have been painted too but prob just has been clear coated.
You have 2 choices.. you can pay some one to do it for you .. or do it your self.
I have a boat restoration shop in Hixson, cost for me to do it depends on the size and condition of the boat.. but you can count on a minimum of 900.
You can do it your self , if you have access to a 60 gallon or bigger air compressor, HVLP gravity feed spray gun with a 1.4-1.5 tip. You also need somewhere to spray it that is out of all dust for at least 4 hrs.. garage etc..
You will need to remove the old clear coat if its urethane clear coat. You will need peel away 7 available at Lee Paint center on Lee Highway near Ryans, the cost is about 60 per gallon you will need at least one gallon depending on the length of the boat and how thick the clear was sprayed.
You need to apply it out of direct sunlight. Take plastic scraper after 45 min see if its coming loose, should be like thick paste or come off it sheets.
Take a green 3m scour pad and scrub the stubborn parts, then get out you hose and rinse it all clean.
Pull out your carpets, remove the deck lids too, it may ruin your carpet.. if you dont.
Now that the clear is gone . Get a quart of wax and grease remover, get all corners, etc .. grease and paint dont mix. Then take a 600 grit wet sand paper and sand the whole top side of the boat above the rub rail.
You can take off the rub rail, and spray or tape it up, also the same with cleats, gauges etc..
I recommend removing all, and then reinstall it later after clear is dry
Then wipe again after dry with water , then let that dry, wipe again with wax and grease remover, then after dry , use a tack cloth to wipe down again.
Then your ready to spray new clear coat, this stuff is thin and runs badly if you put on too thick , 2 thin coats, then wait 45 mins do 2 more, then wait another 45 min 2 more. you can do up to 5 coats.. 3 is good enuff.
Clear coat cost about 150 per gallon and the hardener to do the gallon. Can get at Orielys in Soddy Daisy or 23rd st, as well as on the web, or Glens Automotive , or southern auto body.
you can rent a paint booth too you will just have to call the autobody shops to find one that will rent you the booth for a few hours.
Nothing easy about it.. thats why you see so many boats that are ruff and chaulky lol
