A new stripe in gel coat

[Stuart 28-2]

My 1988 28-2 sits a little low in the water leaving the water line mark a little higher than the white stripe intended as the water line. See photo - you can see the water line mark in the blue.
To make it look better I am considering increasing the height of the white stripe by about an inch.
Is it feasible to do a white stripe like that the full length of the boat over the top of blue gelcoat?

I'm hoping it's a job that can be done over a few days once all planning done and product in hand.

I haven't done any gelcoat work yet but will be doing other repair work first before I take this on.

 

[jkfuller10]

Our E35-II also sat off her lines a bit (low aft). Getting this straight was a challenging effort AND then leveling the new boot stripe (while keeping it the original thickness) was also challenging. We seeked the advise and support of the professionals and I was amazed at the complexity of the task. We did get the outcome we hoped for - but it took time, patience, and dollars. In the end, the boat looks fantastic~~

 

[Christian Williams]

The easy solution to marine growth under the factory boot stripe is to extend the bottom paint up -- at the cost of the attractive stripe. Many Ericsons seem to require this when loaded with gear.

But really, a yard can do anything you want with paint, which adheres fine to sanded gelcoat. Yes, a bit expensive.

 

[tenders]

You have to choose your battles with a (in my case) 52-year-old boat. After many years of wrestling with bootstripe paint, I painted over the bootstripe with bottom paint and added a vinyl stripe above it.

 

[Filkee]

I second Christian’s suggestion. Did it myself this year and the absence of the scum line is a 28% improvement in my general waterline appearance.

 

[Stuart 28-2]

Our E35-II also sat off her lines a bit (low aft). Getting this straight was a challenging effort AND then leveling the new boot stripe (while keeping it the original thickness) was also challenging. We seeked the advise and support of the professionals and I was amazed at the complexity of the task. We did get the outcome we hoped for - but it took time, patience, and dollars. In the end, the boat looks fantastic~~

Just revisiting this post. That does look fantastic!
Do you know how many hours of labor it took?

 

[Loren Beach]

Is that the original gel coat on the hull? Super shiny!

 

[jkfuller10]

Just revisiting this post. That does look fantastic!
Do you know how many hours of labor it took?

Is that the original gel coat on the hull? Super shiny!

Yes - it was well cared for for 45 years and we had it polished out after we finished the new bottom and stripes.

 

[jkfuller10]

The bottom / rudder / stripes / transom project was time consuming - thus costly. However, we are very pleased with the outcome.

 

[toddster]

I tried that a few years ago. Ended up with a few small blisters within the boot stripe. Turns out that to be really effective, I should have started from scratch and extended the barrier coat up over the boot stripe, then repainted the stripe and filled in the bottom paint.