Advice on paint for a boat

[decksitter]

Let me start by saying that I have enjoyed looking at this site for the last year and thought it was time that I posted for some advice. I recently picked up a 15 foot 1973 fiberglass Lund. I have walked all over the floor and have found no soft spots. I also have drilled several holes looking for rot both below the decking and back in the transom. Everything looks in decent shape except for a few small areas in the boat which I used Bondo to resolve. Actually I am impressed on the quality of fiberglass on this boat.

The outside of the boat is a different story. The previous owner tried painting it that metalic green but it has peeled back all around the boat. I was able to scrape off a majority of the green paint on the side and get back to the boats original color which is light blue. Not exactly what I want. So I have decided to finish scraping the boat and painting it a new color. I will be flipping th boat upside down tomorrow to finish scraping and sanding the bottom.

I plan on having the boat in the water for about 6 days twice a year. The other times I use it I will trailer it in and out on the same day. I am also going to garage store it and plan on rinsing off the bottom after using it.

Here are my questions.

1. I spoke to a boat refurbisher at the local Marina the other day and he said based on what I would use the boat for that I could go with a product called Silathane by Bruning. He has used it before and was impressed with how it went on and also the duarbility of the product. It is relatively inexpensive and will do fine on fresh water lakes that I visit. Any thought's on it.

2. Is there some type of chemical that would help remove some of the stubborn spots of paint that I cannot remove from the boat. Or since they are hard to remove, would it be alright to scuff them up with sandpaper and paint over.

3. What would be the best way to fill the holes that use to house rod holders in the front of the boat.

Thanks for your help.

 

[singinout]

Re: Advice on paint for a boat

If its holes in the fiberglass you need to fill, automotive body filler should work great. I have used that some on my boat project and as far as I can tell it works great. Gets very hard and sands up nice.

Any more experienced person on here is welcome to correct me if I'm wrong...

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: Advice on paint for a boat

STOP!!!

Bondo (automotive ) has no use on a boat. DO NOT use it outside of the hull..... you are wasting your money and time on it. Marine epoxy or fiberglass needs to be used.

You can paint over old paint if you scuff it.

You can use from the cheaper end of the spectrum rustoleum all the way up to the cost wise heart stopping best marine paints. Do a search about Roll and Tip.

Please read through these restoration threads. You will find the best information available anywhere.

 

[Mark42]

Re: Advice on paint for a boat

I'm doing a roll and tip paint job on my hard top project. Using Interlux Brightsides top side one part urethane paint. Its amazingly simple to use and as long as you have a smooth surface to paint, it will make you look like a professional painter.

This is the first coat, and you can see some light/dark areas. I now have two coats, and it covers great. Plan on one more coat. Stirring well and often is important, as there are some solids that tend to settle to the bottom of the can. I think it is pigment.

Just use a foam roller and a foam disposable brush (the grey ones). I cut a 9" foam roller in half and used it on a small roller, and a 3" wide foam brush.

Don't use a bristle brush, even a good one will not work as well as the foam brush. The FOAM roller is a must, do not even try using fuzzy rollers.

An hour after the first coat I go to check on the top and find a big beetle walking across the roof of the top. Leaving a trail of foot prints and pulling up little points where ever he stepped. I was so pissed! I reach up and pluck the beetle off the top and go inside in disgust. About an hour later I check again, the paint leveled out again, no traces of the beetle or where my fingers touched the top. Amazing paint.