Gelcoat question

[k.zaimov]

Hello,
I just sold my old boat and I am currently looking for a replacement.
I found the perfect boat, but it has an issue that scares me - the whole deck is covered in areas with discoloring in the gelcoat, which in detailed view look like many tiny cracks in the surface.
Did someone saw something like that and will painting with two component paint resolve this issue or it will require stripping the gel and redoing it all over?
There are some areas which are painted with anti-skid paint and they look well, with no cracks or discoloring.
Here are some pictures of the areas:

[rognvald]

Are you certain it is gelcoat and not paint? What you have is called alligatoring. In either case, it will have to be sanded, re-gelcoated or painted-- a labor intensive project. Good luck and safe sailing. P.S. I would also want to know what is the source of this surface failure: moisture, sun, etc.

[zeehag]

that looks like paint. buff it first see what is left. no compound--merely soft buffing
do a small area--you will see what it is you have. then you can address it. i have never seen gelkcoat do that.

[k.zaimov]

Hi and thanks for the advice.
To me the "damage" looks like paint, but the boat doesn't look painted, it looks very much like gelcoat. I also haven't seen such strange behavior from gelcoat...
Here is a picture of the boat, where the discolored areas are visible, next to anti-skid painted areas:



I would guess that the damage is from sun, not from water since it's doesn't look to affect areas with anti-skid paint, just next to areas without the paint.

[k.zaimov]

Hi,
thanks for the fast responses.
I don't know if it is gelcoat or paint. It definitely looks like gel, but can't be sure. I have talked to the boat designer, he told me that on the last boats the builder experimented with resin infusion and paint, which makes sense looking at those cracks.
Here is a picture from a bit more distance, just to have the impression on the areas...
Also it looks like sun damage, not water, since the areas which are painted with anti-skid paint are unaffected.

[ErikFinn]

What boat make and model is it?:And year?

[rwidman]

When you get it surveyed, the surveyor should be able to tell you what this is and how to fix it.

Or, hire a local gelcoat guy to inspect if for you. He might even give you a free estimate.

[k.zaimov]

The boat is Fast 42, build 2003. The design is from Simonis Voogd Design, builder is South African company. Usually they are very sound boats, but my guess is this one is from the last ones and maybe they got something wrong with the gelcoat.
Alligatoring as mentioned is looking totally different - it's shows as wrinkles, not cracks.
I have found a PDF showing all known gelcoat problems, but non of them look like this
http://www.ccpcomposites.com.au/Cont...l_USLB_Low.pdf

[JPA Cate]

Be warned, if you decide to buy that boat, with the expectation of of painting it, paint is fragile. It chips and scratches easily and then shows what's underneath. Also, you will want to find out (perhaps from the surveyor), if the alligatoring will come back if sanded off.

Ann