I hate paint, but might have to live with it

Well, I'm about to redo my hull bottoms and I really wish my hulls were not painted. It's not the entire hull though, just the yellow below the water line that is painted, click on my sig pic to check.

I'm on the fence though. I might just sand the area I need to repair and just paint below the water line again. Or if I feel really brave, remove all the paint and put on fresh coat of gelcoat.

The good thing is that I don't have any awkward areas to strip.

I guess I'll start with prep the area I need to repair first and see how it goes. Sanding paint sucks, clogs the sandpaper quick.

I prefer to use gelcoat even if I have no experience, it's the prep work in my case that's not appealing. Not sure I feel like stripping all that paint.

Also, at the age of the boat, how many more years can it survive? I have to factor that in my return on investment (labour being my investment).

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Marc...
1978 Hobie 16 Keoke, sail# 36 84

Marc,
I'm in a similar position. I'm restoring a '73 that someone painted at one point in its life. As i started stripping the first hull I was still all in for re gel coating the whole boat. Now that the weather is getting warmer and i still have to finish smoothing out #1 and havent started on #2 I'm beginning to rethink my hard stand on gelcoat.

I stopped by the marina the other day to pick up some parts for the other boat and told them about my project. His response was "your doing what to a boat thats how old?" At this point i think I have been talked into going with Interlux Perfection 2 part poly. I think if I want to sail this year its the only way I can do it. If the hulls were 15 years newer it might be different but as of now I think I'm going to the dark side.

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'73 hobie 16 restored 2011
'00 Seaswirl fishin boat

Sounds like we are in the same boat.

Doing it the right way on a boat that may last several years only makes sense.

It's different for an older boat that may not have that much life left into it.

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Marc...
1978 Hobie 16 Keoke, sail# 36 84