Refinish radar arch

rasbury

I did not list on the what did you do to your boat today thread cause I aunt dine it yet....arch looks like it is a clear coat finish as it is coming off here and there- repaint with awgrip paint? Not sure what to do with it.....

YYZRC

Pics or it didn't happen!

davidbrooks

I would remove the fittings and just take a buffer to it.  With the work i did to my radar arch last winter unless a previous owner painted it the arch is just gel coat.  Painting it on the boat is going to be a pain.  Removing it is not fun either.  Buffing might surprise you.

rasbury

@davidbrooks yes, thats what I thought it would be is gelcoat but the flaking off of something "clear" let me to believe it was painted and not gelcoat under it.....I will try, Got nothing to lose at this point!

mattie

Generally, sprayed on gelcoat on aluminum arches is quite thin.

Just an FYI. If you go at it with a buffer like you would the hull - easy to burn thru.

rasbury

I use nothing heavy...which is why it is taking forever...

davidbrooks

The arches have a really thick coat of filler over the aluminum. Always be careful with the buffer but pic an area that is easier to spray if you do burn through. Spraying paint or gelcoat is not easy and I ended up just rolling mine on them sanding and buffing.

rasbury

Yuk....I am waiting for some new pads for my 3" random orbital buffer...I'll try that first...and the edges at the base have minor burn through I guess...