Gel coat or fairing compound

[ringorock]

Hi! New here. I just found out about this place from Reddit. I am currently doing a restoration on a 1965 14' Cacci Craft. I've been doing quite a bit of fiberglass work to restore the inside area of the boat. I am closing in on the point of painting both the exterior and interior of the boat, but I want to smooth the inside of my boat out. Right now, it has that fiberglass fabric pattern. I want it smooth and slick in areas where I didn't deck it. Is gel coat the best route to go, or should I use a fairing compound instead to shape and smooth it before painting?

If I went with a white gel coat, do I need to worry about paint at all?

 

[JASinIL2006]

Neither gel coat nor paint will do much to smooth out the print-thru of fiberglass cloth. You'll really need to fair it if you want it smooth. The cover it, either with paint or with gel.

 

[ringorock]

Neither gel coat nor paint will do much to smooth out the print-thru of fiberglass cloth. You'll really need to fair it if you want it smooth. The cover it, either with paint or with gel.

Thanks. That's what I figured, and that's what I'll do. I'll fair it then put down some white gloss marine topside.

 

[AShipShow]

Yep, if you check out my youtube channel, I did what you're talking about.. I faired the deck and interior surfaces and then did interlux brightside paint with softsand rubber nonskid