I need all steps to painting a fiberglass hull....

[Vector501]

First off, I would like to say hi to everyone. I have never dealt with a project like this before and am an idiot so to speak. I recently purchased a boat that needs a new paint job on the hull basically it needs paint period. Right now it is basically a tan color which is what the fiberglass color is. So the hull has nothing on it so to speak. I found a forum that had this... "used primer before spraying paint on the boat. <br />After coat of primer sanding fun begins. <br />Then next coat of primer. <br />Sand again.<br />Paint first coat of paint, sand.<br />Second coat, sand <br />Third coat wet sand.<br />Polish with heavy compound.<br />Light compound.<br />Wax...<br />Done." by Lenny2113<br />I am just needing to know if there was anything to do to the fiberglass before primering other than the obvious of sanding all the old paint off what's left of it. Any gelcoat or anything? etc.

 

[ahein]

Re: I need all steps to painting a fiberglass hull....

Welcome to iboats.com. You can find some great painting advice at the Interlux Yachtpaint site, Interlux.com. They give you step-by-step instructions for all your painting projects, including bare hull painting. You can also check out the Pettit marine paint site, Pettit paint.com. They have an online painting handbook available. Of course, both sites are pushing their own products, but you can make substitutions where appropriate. Awlgrip Company is another manufacturer of marine paint, Awlgrip.com, but they recommend only professionals apply their product.<br />The bottom line is PREPARATION, PREPARATION, PREPARATION for a good finish. Probabley 90% of your time will be spent sanding the hull and filling any bad spots. The modern polyurethane marine paints are relatively easy to apply, and give great results if all the pre-steps have been performed correctly.<br />Good Luck with your project!!

 

[Vector501]

Re: I need all steps to painting a fiberglass hull....

Thank you so much, I appreciate it.

 

[ThomWV]

Re: I need all steps to painting a fiberglass hull....

I am in the process of Awl Gripping my boat this winter. My boat is not large, its a 23' walkaround.<br /><br />The process is pretty much as you described it, but a bit more strenious.<br /><br />We began by repairing everything that was wrong with our hull. That included a hole I knocked in it late in the fall that is what really got this whole process started. Anyway we fixed everyting first. <br /><br />

<br /><br />We then removed the rubrail and took out all of the screws connecting the liner to the hull and cleaned out all of the old caulking. We resealed the joint and drilled the holes to accept bolts (actually #12 stainless machine screws, fender washers, and nylock nuts).<br /><br />From there we went to the sanding of the hull in prep for paint. You begin by getting all the wax off the hull. We did that by multiple washes with dish washing soap and laundry soap followed by acetone wipes and further washing. Then it was time to sand. First we sanded with a random orbit sander using 120 grip paper. Once the entire hull had been sanded dry we went to wet sanding. The hull was sanded using 180 grit paper with long blocks. Any remaining scratches were filled at this time too. <br /><br />That put is here:<br /><br />

<br /><br />Then came the first coat of paint. We used Awl Grip's 545 primer. Its rolled and tipped. We sanded between each coat with 220 grit wet, we ended up putting 4 coats of primer on before we had complete, unbroken, coverage. That is as far as we have got. Awl Grip should not be applied by spray unless you have the right equipment to protect yourself. It can, on the other hand, be applied using either a brush or roller. We chose to roll and tip, which is a process that gives results sometimes comparable with spraying. <br /><br />At any rate I have purchased the final paint, which of course is Awl Grip as well, and we're just waiting for the weather to cooperate so we can finish it up. We will be putting on 4 coats of top coat, sanding between each coat with 400 grit. Its got to where my wife and I can sand the entire hull in about two and a half hours. Not so bad. Anyway here is where we are now:<br /><br />

<br /><br />If you really want to see how to go about proper prep and get an idea of how good a job can be done by an amatuer tak a look at this site:<br /><br /> Outstanding Site for painting <br /><br />Thom

 

[Vector501]

Re: I need all steps to painting a fiberglass hull....

Thanks for your post and your pics. Looks like I'm doing the right process. You and your wife have done a good job. Keep up the good work.

 

[Ryoken]

Re: I need all steps to painting a fiberglass hull....

just a tidbit of info for anyone unfamiliar with Awlgrip products, 545 is basically a sealing primer and has very poor filling properties. we generally do the majority of our work in hi-build with a quick coat of 545 over that. hopefully that might save someone some extra work...<br /><br />Ryoken - had to run our screaming gel planer 8 hrs today... ugh

 

[ThomWV]

Re: I need all steps to painting a fiberglass hull....

You're absolutly right, and I should have mentioned that. You have to repair (if you choose to) every single bit of repair, right down to the lightest scratches independent of the primer. You can not expect imperfections of even the lightest sort to be filled by the primer and leveled with the wet sanding.<br /><br />Aside from Awl Grip not being a filling type primer you also apply it in very thin coats. To give an idea of how thin the coats are the hull of that boat got 4 coats from the mix of paint that some would call a gallon, but is really two and a quarter gallons. Its how the stuff is sold and I guess folks who are considering painting with it or a similar paint should know a bit about that.<br /><br />The Awl Grip primer is a mix of 1 part paint, one part hardner, and between 25% and 40% of a retarder that is specific for roller or bush use. The cost of that much paint (it can be bought in quarts too but that is considerably more expensive) was just under $200. I have been told that I applied the paint to thickly and that I should have used more retarter (I was using it at the 25% rate). So that two and a quarter gallons of liquid might have put 5 to 6 coats on a 23 foot boat with a 8.5 foot beam.<br /><br />Th color coat uses a bit different mix. With the color you use 1 part paint with one half part hardner, and once again the same retarder. So a Gallon of paint is combined with one half gallon of hardner and up to almost two quarts of reducer. This should be good for 4 coats on the boat at proper applicaton. The folks at Awl Grip are clear in telling us that a minimum of two coats is necessary. In fact I have been told by many people that they were questioning the wisdom of having put out that much moeny for the paint after the first coat but once the second coat was on they were simply thrilled. Apparently (I haven't seen it yet) that second coat really makes a difference. Take a look at some of the pictures on that guy's site that I linked. He has a picture of his own reflection in the side of his boat after the second coat that looks like he is standing in front of a mirror, and he too use a roller. Oh, the price of the paint for the top coat for my boat, the gallon paint + half gallon hardner + quart of reducer along with some tack rags and several GlassKoater roller covers came to just under $300. Basically what I'm saying is that the materials cost for my 23' boat has been $500 so far and that does not include the additional $100 that I'm going to put out for Awl Grip's barrier coat that I am going to be using as a bottom paint just for cosmetic purposes. In terms of labor I would estimate that between my wife and I we have about 60 hours in it right now, but that excludes the time I have spent doing the major repairs.<br /><br />I need to say this to put some of this in perspective and give credit where it is due. I am no painter. I dislike painting and I am not good at it for that reason. However I do know the steps and I am willing to do the work, like it or not. Because I have always avoided painting I don't know much about mixing paints. Its the pep work that I know how to do. That web page I linked is run by a fellow named Tim Lackey. His work is of the highest quality and on a chance I sent him an E-mail asking for any guidance he might be able to give me in painting. I didn't really expect and answer so was astounded when he sent me a many page set of answeres (in about a half dozen E-mails back and forth) to every painting question I could immagine. He told me what I was doing right, what I was doing wrong, and how to proceed. It was the best help I have ever got on the Internet and I can not thank him enough for it.<br /><br />Oh, On Edit: I forgot to mention this, and it relates to your first question. With Awl Grip you do not finish up with wet sanding and polishing. The gloss is in the paint and you never compound it, that would ruin it. You also never wax this stuff, it will actually dull it. You have to remember, you get what you pay for with these two part paints and their gloss and reflectivity can be stunning.<br /><br />Thom

 

[Ryoken]

Re: I need all steps to painting a fiberglass hull....

just another tidbit Thom in case you wheren't aware. <br /><br />there are other Awlgrip primers that will give you some fairing capabilty other than 545. they make high build and ultra build too... although your obviously past that point now <br /><br />painting is an underappreciated art for sure. i've painted 100's of boats in one form or another over the years and the fact that you get stuck doing them outside the majority of the time just adds another level of difficulty. <br /><br />i generally spray, as opposed to roll/tip when possible. but roll/tip saves a ton of time in masking, etc. and obviously the finish is generally much better spraying. <br /><br />i've got a 40 something Hateras hull to do as soon as weather breaks myself. Hats are Imron tho, slightly different beast than Awlgrip. <br /><br />good luck on your project and make sure to post some pics when done