228 side rail alumium skin replacement or repainting

baybreeze

I have a 2004 with one ripped skin and all has oxidized with it being in salt water and black streaks. Rubbing compound takes it almost to bare metal. How hard is it to remove and replace with new metal or is it easier to repaint around decals. 

cjjjdeck

Would you be able to post some pictures of the area?

baybreeze

Thanks for reply my boat is in storage I.m to get it out early spring and if I have not found someone to paint or replace panels. Which I see online but with all the seating it will take dismanteling pretty much the whole deck. Has anyone replaced skins with rails in place would seem harder than coil laying down. Please advise thanks

jdischy

baybreeze said:

I have a 2004 with one ripped skin and all has oxidized with it being in salt water and black streaks. Rubbing compound takes it almost to bare metal. How hard is it to remove and replace with new metal or is it easier to repaint around decals. 

I would also like to know this.  Anyone?

cjjjdeck

I just discussed this with my dealer and if your boat is older than 2008, replacement panels probably won't be available form the factory.  That leaves you with dealing with the existing panels.  The best way to paint the panels is to remove them and have them painted at an auto body shop so the paint can be baked on.  This process gives you many more years of life to the appearance of the panels.  Just spraying the panels, either on or off the boat, will yield a much shorter panel life (especially in salt water conditions).