Can I save some money by getting one in primer instead of black gelcoat?
A. Actually that would cost more, as the primer would have to be applied OVER the gelcoat. The gelcoat isn’t an add-on finish; it’s sprayed into the open mold and allowed to cure until it only leaves a fingerprint image when touched. The fiberglass mat and resin is then laid up over it and allowed to cure. When the part is removed from the mold, the gelcoat has become the outer surface of the part and is an integral part of it. Your painter just has to round off where the outer edge was trimmed, and scuff or sand the smooth surface for paint prep. Some painters will prime it, others simply shoot it with a clear adhesion-promoter and then spray the base & clear coat directly onto the fairing.
