Repaint with Awlgrip or Alexseal, or Restore the Gelcoat

A tired boat gives you two real choices. You can restore what is already there, or you can paint over it. Neither is the right answer for every hull. The honest way to decide is to look at the gelcoat, the repair history and what you want the boat to look like in five years.

When restoring the gelcoat is enough

If the gelcoat is sound and the problem is dullness, chalk and light scratches, restoration is the better value. Wet sanding when appropriate, compounding, polishing and a protective coating can bring a hull back without changing the color or covering the original finish. It also keeps the boat looking like itself.

Restoration works best when there is plenty of gelcoat left, the color is still even and the cracks are few. Our article on chalking and stress cracks covers how to read those signs on your own hull.

When paint makes more sense

Paint becomes the better call when the gelcoat has run out of road. A few common signs point that way:

• Large areas chalk through again soon after polishing
• The hull has been patched so many times that repairs will not match
• Stress cracks and crazing cover whole panels
• You want a different color
• The finish is worn or rough all over, not just in spots

Russell Sowers described a boat he bought that looked as if it had never been taken care of, with every finish worn and rough. He now has a boat he is proud of. Boats in that condition are where a full refinish earns its cost.

What Awlgrip and Alexseal are

Custom Marine Finishes paints with Awlcraft and Awlgrip and with Alexseal. Both are marine-grade coating systems used to refinish hulls, decks, cabins, rub rails and housings. They are applied in coats over a prepared surface, and the result is a glossy finish that is easier to clean than aged gelcoat.

The process follows a schedule. The boat is washed and inspected for cracks, chips and soft spots. Repairs are made. Then comes primer, two base coats, and an optional clear coat. After that, boot stripes and decals go on. Each step depends on the one before, which is why prep makes up so much of a paint job and why a quote should describe it.

A hull is not only the topsides. A full refinish can include non-skid deck coatings, so the walking surfaces get fresh grip along with the new color. Boot stripes can be painted or vinyl, and decals and boat names can be added. A color consultation is part of the process, which is worth using. A color that looks right on a chip can look different across a whole hull in full sun.

A navy hull turned ice blue

Gary Bolton had a 2012 Sea Ray 270 SLX that was originally navy. In his review he said Paul and the team painted it an ice blue Awlgrip finish, and that it is an Awlgrip finish that will never fade, in his words. He also said Paul got even the teakwork to look new again, and called the work meticulous. A color change like that is a good case for paint: it would not have been possible with polish alone, and the boat came back looking new.

Dark colors like navy tend to show wear and fading sooner under strong sun, and a lighter color is one way owners handle that. The point is that paint gives you choices that restoration does not.

What the guarantee covers

Qualifying repair and paint work at the yard comes with a five-year guarantee. The word qualifying matters: the guarantee depends on the work done and the condition of the boat, and your quote will say where yours falls. Ask about it before you decide, since it affects what the paint job is worth over time.

How to decide

Start with an inspection. Paul looks at the gelcoat, the repair history and your goals, and then explains the options in plain terms. Karen Ryan wrote that what Paul quoted was what he charged, and that the work was done when he said it would be. That is what a fixed-price quote after evaluation is for.

Hull painting prices depend on the boat and the scope of work, so there is no per-foot figure to quote here. See boat painting on our services page, then call (843) 304-2798 or use the contact page to ask for an inspection.