---

Gelcoat vs Paint
Cost - About equal
Prep - Mostly the same
application - paint, although either take practice
post application work, paint is much less labor intensive
repairability - gelcoat wins
durability- gelcoat wins, you will have to repaint if you plan to keep your boat for 30+ years.
From the DIY perspective, paint is easier or at least we feel that way, since we have all painted a wall, why not a boat.

Perception- A boat that was originally gelcoat and is now paint, probably is hiding some major repair that makes us scared. Yes, I realize that lots of $$$ boats are painted, but they come that way, how would you feel if you ran across one that was paint, and is now gelcoat? Suspicious, I would be.

Gelcoat is what your boat came with, as with every project it's really the prep work that makes the project. once you have the boat properly prepared, you can make your choice. I plan to gelcoat the 13 in my yard, because the gelcoat has lasted 30+ years and I expect a new application to do the same.