New to paint, need HELP!!

[futuresweets-10]

Alright guys, I will start out by saying that I know NOTHING about boats. I have been painting cars for a few years now and I have a boat that Im going to have to paint within the next few days so I have some questions. Its a 32 foot boat and its all white right now (thats all I know about it). he wants the top half painted blue and leave the bottom white. I know I am going to spray Dupont imron paint. I assume that the boat is gelcoat now and not painted. What is the propper procedure for painting over gelcaot? Will I need to prime it? Does it need to be a specail primer made for gelcoat or just a regular automotive primer? Anything else I should know?

 

[Boomyal]

Re: New to paint, need HELP!!

If the gelcoat is sound, paint right over it. Of course it has to be scuffed for the primer to stick. As far as primer, I'm sure that Imron primer would do. I would think that a catalyzed primer would be best, not sure if Imron primer is that.<br /><br />It seems to me that someone previously posted an ideal primer for use with Imron on fiberglass but I can't remember. Maybe someone else does.

 

[surlyjoe]

Re: New to paint, need HELP!!

yes, if its smooth with no need to fill anything, you can spray onto the gelcoat, be sure to dewax it extremely well tho so you dont get fisheyes.

 

[bigbad 4cyl x2]

Re: New to paint, need HELP!!

wash ,dewax,sand ,finish sand prime,level/block, prime with the epoxy primer/finnish primer for the top coat you are using, then top coat.............i would use a boat paint specificaly made for your boat/ boating conditions. imron is an auto paint i do belive an arcrilic polymer if i remember right ...not a true polymer like the top notch boat paints out there ......sterling/perfection/awlgrip ....how do i know this because i read some magazines and am book smart . realy take my info with a grain of sand.

 

[Chris1956]

Re: New to paint, need HELP!!

As far as I know, Imron is a top of the line two-part boat paint. I have heard is is difficult to work with and I know it is expensive. You may want to use Awlgrip, which is a two-part Polyurethane boat paint. It is very durable and had very good looks.<br /><br />You will want that boat to be sanded to 400 grit or finer, and primed with the correct fiberglass primer for the paint used.