Fiberglass painting 101

[Peter16]

i have finished rebuilding a 9ft race boat and it is time to paint it so i am seeking some advice from you friendly folk.

I have to paint over new fibreglass (transom both sides and floor), body filler as well as old gelcoat/ paint.
what sort of primer should i be looking at using?

Im not after a "professional" finish or one that will last 20 years so will it be okay if i were to use exterior paint? the boat will obviously never be moored. I figured the easiest method of painting will be rolling and tipping. I do have an air compressor though.

I browsed briefly but if their are any iboats videos or 'how-to's" i would greatly appreciate a link.

 

[Bondo]

Re: Fibreglass painting 101

Re: Fibreglass painting 101

Im not after a "professional" finish or one that will last 20 years so will it be okay if i were to use exterior paint? the boat will obviously never be moored. I figured the easiest method of painting will be rolling and tipping. I do have an air compressor though.

Ayuh,.... The Perfect candidate for Rustoleum enamel, with hardener...

With it sanded good, 'n flat, primer it with Rustoleum grey primer, sand smoother, 'n top coat with Whatever color ya want....
The idea of primin', 'n sandin' is to get flatter, smoother, 'n of a uniform background color...
Yer top coat will be less apt to show shadows...

Oh,... Australia,... Maybe you've got Rustoleum, or something Like it....

 

[GT1000000]

Re: Fibreglass painting 101

Re: Fibreglass painting 101

Hi Peter,
A few guys here have been using good 'ol Rustoleum with a Valspar hardener and have given it rave reviews...Also fairly inexpensive...
Don't know what would be the "Down-under" equivalents, but my best guess is some type of Industrial Equipment Primers and Paint should do you justice...
Roll and Tip seems to be good to go...
Best Regards,
GT1M

 

[Peter16]

Re: Fibreglass painting 101

Re: Fibreglass painting 101

thanks for the quick responses. ive just set up for a full day of sanding and its bloody hot already!
every second resto thread mentions rustoleum so ill look it up and then find an equivilant or a distributor.

one off topic question-
how do you pronounce Ayuh ?

 

[Bondo]

Re: Fibreglass painting 101

Re: Fibreglass painting 101

Ayuh,... google it,.... long A- yuh.....

 

[Woodonglass]

Re: Fibreglass painting 101

Re: Fibreglass painting 101

Whatever a good quality Acrylic Enamel Oil Based paint is "Down Under" will be a good choice. You can use Acrylic enamel hardener at the ratio of 2 ozs per quart. Let it Cook for 30 minutes and stir occasionally before applying. Only mix what you'll use in an 8 hr period. For a boat that size you should easily get two coats per quart. A good mix is 1/4 cup of mineral spirits per 2 cups of paint and 1oz of hardener. You can recoat in 4hrs. Same mix for your primer just don't add hardener. Use the primer that's recommended for the paint you buy.

 

[O-fishal]

Re: Fibreglass painting 101

Re: Fibreglass painting 101

We use Endura Paint

 

[Peter16]

Re: Fibreglass painting 101

Re: Fibreglass painting 101

and what sort of grit sandpaper should i use before primer, and then before my colour coates?

 

[Woodonglass]

Re: Fibreglass painting 101

Re: Fibreglass painting 101

180 for hull before primer, 220 inbetween coats of primer and for first coat of Color, 320 grit after that.

 

[boatnut74]

Re: Fibreglass painting 101

Re: Fibreglass painting 101

ive just set up for a full day of sanding and its bloody hot already!

I think it got up to 12 degrees here today. Would you mind sending some of that weather this way? Much appreciated

 

[Peter16]

Re: Fibreglass painting 101

Re: Fibreglass painting 101

as far as the rolling and tipping method goes do you do this when under coating or for the first few coats that will be heavily sanded can you just slap it on with a brush and or roller?

Ta