santy wrote:I dont know how to up load images so I will explain.
1. The sides inside the cabin are chipping away. do I need to sand them down and paint?
2. There are very tiny bubbles forming in the gel coat. what do i do about that.
3. And there are dark spots in the gel coat that I want to make white again.
Please look in the section "Forum Info and how to use the forum" for instructions. For this kind of image, the best method would be to use an attachment.
For interior surfaces that are on the inside, it's essentially up to you.You may decide to leave well enough alone, or to postpone doing the work. If you decide to do it, sanding off loose paint and / or scuff sanding smooth surfaces is the first step in preparing.
I would use an exterior paint, those are more flexible and formulated to tolerate swings in temperature or moisture. It may not be necessary to use a marine paint, but whatever you choose should tolerate abrasion (from stuff you might stow in the cabin). Among marine paints, Petit's EasyPoxy is easy to apply, and after about a week or 10 days, cures well and gives a tough surface. (I've used a leftover bit of this paint on the bottom of a heavily used kitchen drawer and the paint shows no signs of giving up)
Bubbles in gel-coat: outside or inside? Above or below the waterline? If you want to race this boat you'll want a smooth bottom. Sanding, fairing, and painting with a Marine paint would be your choice. If the boat is to be kept in the water, the paint needs to be selected for underwater use, and you may want to do use an epoxy-based barrier coat. (Also, search the forum for posts by people who had real issues with bubbles and osmosis: if the situation is bad, you may need to do a bit more restoration work).
Dark spots: I take it those have survived the usual attempts at cleanup? Don't know what to write generically. If you use bleach, they may go away, but the process takes a toll on the gel coat. An alternative would be to try to polish: 3M's fiberglass cleaner and restorer might work, it combines polishing and light waxing. Alternatively, using Rubbing Compound, followed by 3M's Finesse II (to restore the shiny surface) and then a wax (e.g. Fleet Wax) would be an approach. (Don't heavily wax surfaces that you plan to sit or stand on - that's an accident waiting to happen).