Whaler Central - Boston Whaler Boat Information and Photos

Posted by chetchhound on 04/14/20 - 9:03 PM

Hello Everyone,
I bought this 1999 Justice a few years ago. It took some damage during hurricane Irma. I started stripping some of the paint of the boat, and Im not sure where to stop. Ive gotten to a later that is very hard and the paint stripper I am using won't effect it. But I don't think I am to the factory gelcoat yet because I can see the black dot in the gelcoat (to label it a commercial hull). I am wondering if this layer I can't get through with the paint stripper is gelcoat. Like maybe the boat was re gel coated and then later repainted? I wanted to get some opinions before I take it to far. So far I have just started on this one corner of the boat. I will continue to post pictures on here throughout my restoration.

Edited by chetchhound on 04/14/20 - 9:11 PM

Posted by chetchhound on 04/14/20 - 9:28 PM

After paint stripper. I put it on with a paint brush and covered it with plastic so it wouldn't dry, let it sit for 12hrs and then scraped it. The top layer of paint came right off.

Posted by chetchhound on 04/14/20 - 9:36 PM

#10

After the first layer of paint came off it left me here. I don't think I am to the factory gelcoat yet because you can see the black dot in the gel coat and there is a layer of paint or gelcoat on top of it. My paint striper won't take this layer off.

Posted by chetchhound on 04/14/20 - 9:38 PM

#11

This spot was under the corner guard, some of whatever coating is here seems to have started to chip off. I believe whats under is the factory gelcoat.

Posted by Phil T on 04/15/20 - 6:26 AM

#12

Is all the paint in bad condition? If not, I would repair the fiberglass damage, fill and fair and then repaint using a 2 part marine paint.

Getting it back to gelcoat is a herculean task.

Posted by chetchhound on 04/15/20 - 9:37 AM

#13

Phil T wrote:
Is all the paint in bad condition? If not, I would repair the fiberglass damage, fill and fair and then repaint using a 2 part marine paint.

Getting it back to gelcoat is a herculean task.

Thanks for the reply. I believe there are two layers on top of the factory gelcoat.

1. The surface layer is a paint that comes off easy with the "multi strip" paint remover product I have.

2. Then there is a second layer that I am not sure what it is. It is very well attached, and does not scrape off (even when I use the corner of the scraper I can only chip very small pieces off at a time.) Multi strip paint remover is useless against this layer.

So to answer your question Phil T, the surface layer of paint is not in good shape but it comes right off. The layer underneath I am not sure if its gelcoat or paint or what, that layer is attached very well I think it would be pretty safe to paint that.

Posted by Phil T on 04/15/20 - 11:13 AM

#15

1. I would guess the top layer is possibly latex or cheap paint.

Go ahead and remove if it is easy. You want a decent surface for the new paint.

2. see above.