Date:         Tue, 27 May 2003 15:11:24 -0400
Reply-To:     Scott Norville <kr2no@EARTHLINK.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Scott Norville <kr2no@EARTHLINK.NET>
Subject:      Re: Painting Fiberglass Top

Paint it however you want, however....
Fiberglass is a special case. These tops came from Westfaliawerks with the
original Gelcoat, which is generally not sprayed on the fiberglass, but
sprayed onto the surface of the mold before the fiberglass is laid up, and
the whole thing cured together. This produces a very tough, very adherent
covering. If yours is like mine it has a pebbled surface originally. With
time and lack of garage space UV will break down any surface, and you get
fine cracks all over it, as well as the pollen, soot and coffee stains. If
you do have the cracks (look closely) it would be better to use a paint
formulated specifically for fiberglass. West Marine has several designed
for boats (top and bottom surfaces!), some can be sprayed but with the
pebbled surface a mirror-smooth finish is not possible anyway, and some are
designed for brush/roller. Look here
http://www.westmarine.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/WestAdvisorDisplayView?
advisor=310top.htm
and here:
http://www.westmarine.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/CategoryDisplay?
catalogId=10001&storeId=10001&categoryId=4&langId=-
1&subdeptNum=4&storeNum=5000
I haven't done it myself yet, but plan to this summer.
Scott