When matching older gel coat you have to add pigments that were not in the
original so the newer gel coat will not age the same color as the old.
However, if you do a paint job like the one on that "Pimp my Ride" link
nobody will ever notice. ;-)

--
Glenn Ashmore

I'm building a 45' cutter in strip/composite. Watch my progress (or lack
there of) at: http://www.rutuonline.com
Shameless Commercial Division: http://www.spade-anchor-us.com

"Evan Gatehouse2" wrote in message
...
My boat got banged up. Innocently tied up to the dock and the boat
immediately upwind broke free in a wind storm and bashed both bows a bit
(it's a cat) and really busted up the fwd. crossbeam.

I've called my insurance company, they sent a surveyor, and the other guy
is insured too. I'm not sure which insurance company is going to be
paying for it yet but I'm wondering about repairing the bows.

My agent said they usually paint the whole hull if the damage is
significant (it is; see pictures he www.maiaaboard.blogspot.com)

The same insurance company surveyor I spoke with (after he saw the damage)
said that in an older boat like ours that the usual practice is to just
paint/gelcoat the damaged area. I wasn't wild about that because it's
very hard to colour match faded gelcoat. His explanation was if they
painted the whole hulls it would "leave the boat better than it was before
the accident".

The wording of my policy is somewhat vague as to how repairs are to be
made - generally it says repairs will be made according to generally
accepted shipyard practice or in consultation with the boat builder.

Any thoughts on colour matching gelcoat? I also spoke to the surveyor who
originally surveyed my boat. He said it can be done but in 5 years the
differential fading will make it obvious that a repair has been made. Do
I have a leg to stand on if I insist they paint the whole hulls?

Thanks,

Evan Gatehouse