The Boating Forum - Powder Coat on T-top

Have a new boat on order ( 26' GB Canyon Runner ) and one of the options is powder coating the t-top at no additional charge. My question is; how tough or chip resistant is the powder coat and if/when it chips or scratches how do you repair it? Does it have to be baked back on, or do you just touch up paint it.
The powder coat looks like it would protect the t-top from corrosion but I am not sure about the durability. This is the first year GB has offered this option.

Thanks for feedback.

welladjusted - 3/5/2005 7:47 PM

Have a new boat on order ( 26' GB Canyon Runner ) and one of the options is powder coating the t-top at no additional charge. My question is; how tough or chip resistant is the powder coat and if/when it chips or scratches how do you repair it? Does it have to be baked back on, or do you just touch up paint it.
The powder coat looks like it would protect the t-top from corrosion but I am not sure about the durability. This is the first year GB has offered this option.

Thanks for feedback.

IMO - powder coat looks cheap - there is no substutute for well kept aluminum or satainless pipework. Powercoat looks good for about thre years then it can crack and chio and is not easy to fix...touch up paint is not the same and looks "doctored"...wedding rings from your buddies grabbing the pipes when you're smashing thru waves scratches it good.
just my opin....

My boat has spent the last five years in fresh water and the previous three in salt water.* I has held up extremely well.* Most small scratches can be rubbed out easily.* I have touched up a couple of small chips with a small brush.* They clean up like new and look that way all the time.* No tarnish, corrossion, or discoloring. They even did the Edson Wheel.* All the rails and leaning post too.* I wax a couple of times a year.*:)*

7644

7651

7652* :)

That's looks good Mumblerone, especially after 5 yrs. Do you know if it makes a difference between putting it on stainless steel vs aluminum? GB uses SS for their t-tops. I have always favored aluminum but the wait in my area to have a custom top done is around 12 weeks.

mumbler - I can always learn - maybe the jobs I've seen after a few year were not done correctly - your pics looks great...Is it possible that some jobs are applied too thick or something?

The biggest issues I've ever seen is where stainless steel fasteners/bolts are used as assembly part of the assembly of the top. The stainless will cause a reaction when it comes in contact with an aluminum powdercoated frame. It is a good idea to use plastic or nylon sleeves when thru-bolting to help keep the ss bolts from coming in contact with the aluminum. Usually bubbling of the coating will start around those areas where there is contact.

Mumbler - That looks very cool. I'm gunna look into getting my bow rail done one of these days. I have a white hull with white motor, white rail would look good.

Don't know about SS.* This was done by Boston Whaler in 1996 for the Palm Beach Boat Show as a 'special project'.* Everything is white powder coat.* Me too!* I would think it very important that it be done by an experienced shop with excellent preperation.* I doesn't show water marks, etc.* My brothers new 32' Whaler looks great in a brushed aluminum, too.* The boat came that way and has been a pleasant surprise.* Powder coating sure does open up the color spectrum Vs SS or aluminum.* Probably not a good idea for a 'work boat'.* Thanks for the compliments!* :)

Everglades uses powder coating on 100% of their pipework as standard equipment and it looks INCREDIBLE:

http://adcache.boattraderonline.com/6/2/6/77334526.htm

My T-Top is powder coated and I wish it wasn't.* As Blue C's states, it is starting to peel where the screws were attached.* It looks good for several years, but becomes a PITA after that.