Want to Change Gelcoat Color or Paint looking for best option

[TowsonNautique]

I have owned several Ski Nautiques but currently have this 1999 Open Bow Nautique. We want to get rid of the purple and teal "teletubby" colors on the side. We have an experienced auto shop painter here at work with a sprayer. The boat is only used a few times a year so I'm not worried about wear and tear on the paint as much as I want something that will be good for 5-7 years. All I plan on doing is the purple/teal area down to where the white starts (or to the water line)

What are opinions on the best process/product to use. Not sure on color choice for the sides, either black, blue or mint green.

Should I stick with Gelcoat only? Is it possible to go over those colors? Is there a viable paint option that people have used?

Thanks for your help!

[NautiqueJeff]

If you're only going to use it for five years or so, consider a wrap. That way, if the next owner wants to go back to the factory colors, they have that option. A wrap would probably be less expensive too.

[Scooter G]

Ditto Jeff. We beached next to an old Malibu last summer with a barefoot boom, that had a full dark purple wrap, looked super nice. He said if I ever get tired of the color, I'll change the wrap.

[bturner]

Some really good advice here. Gel coat is going to be expensive and I doubt it's worth the effort. Problem with going to a more cost effective solution is that once you screw it up with a cheap paint job on a boat that age, it's screwed up forever.

A wrap is the way to go here.

[NautiqueTim]

A $100 roll of Oracal would take care of the purple.

[Scooter G]

Oracal Vinyl, interesting, I have a '74 Sea Ray (jet boat) that might benefit from a few rolls of that...