Paint brand question

[GO OVRIT]

I want to paint my Blackfin and want opinions on what brand to use. I've looked at Awlgrip, Dupont Imron, Interlux, Pettit...... Which seem to hold up best? Which are easiest to apply? I'm not a professional, but I have sprayed plenty of cars and trucks, just not much experience spraying fiberglass. I plan on doing the hullsides in sea foam, and the interior a bright white. Thanks, Mike

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Paint brand question

warning, you will hate bright white, too much reflection. seafoam looks good with a very light tan.

 

[DJ]

Re: Paint brand question

Awlgrip and Imron are very good/tough products but are a pain to apply-correctly. They are also extremely hazardous materials. They should be applied by a pro. with professional paint apperatus.

I've used both Interlux and Pettit. Both are fine products. Whichever line you choose, stay with their own products: thinners, primers, etc.

 

[sschefer]

Re: Paint brand question

I want to paint my Blackfin and want opinions on what brand to use. I've looked at Awlgrip, Dupont Imron, Interlux, Pettit...... Which seem to hold up best? Which are easiest to apply? I'm not a professional, but I have sprayed plenty of cars and trucks, just not much experience spraying fiberglass. I plan on doing the hullsides in sea foam, and the interior a bright white. Thanks, Mike

Mike, I'm in the same situation. It's pretty confusing to figure out which one is the best. So far it seems that Interlux has what I want in durability and longevity but I'm a bit confused about the optimal prep method. In one sentence they say clean metal for a two part (mines a tinny) and one part if you're just going to scuff it down.

I also haven't found a local dealer yet so I have a lot of questions about color matching too.

As for the bright white, go for it but I would have them add a flatening agent to produce a semi gloss/satin finish or the glare will be too much.

 

[GO OVRIT]

Re: Paint brand question

Awlgrip and Imron are very good/tough products but are a pain to apply-correctly. They are also extremely hazardous materials. They should be applied by a pro. with professional paint apperatus.

I'm not too concerned about the hazardous side. I've got professional grade respirators and guns, and good ventalation and evacuation. I am concerned with how easy they are too apply.

Right now most of the boat is an off-white. The deck is bright white. I really like bright white inside, but maybe I will add a flattening agent.

 

[Tail_Gunner]

Re: Paint brand question

Perfection is a extremely durable paint....hard enough that you can bump the dock tear off any vinyl graphics then simply wipe off any remaining residue and it will shine like new

You probably do not want to spray perfection it is a very dangerous paint when atomized and breathed in.....It also is very thick paint for a lack of description...hard as hell to get it to atomize..big tip and lots of pressure.

Its just as easy to tip and roll it or just roll and roll it... Take your time and have some fun the paint will amaze you.

 

[gcboat]

Re: Paint brand question

If you have done vehicles before then you are already in the 'groove'. Your biggest concern on spraying anything is where you plan on doing it. Inside with a controlled environment or outside under the oak tree.
As Tail_Gunner mentioned the Perfection is pretty good stuff. For someone experienced it should be a very doable project. Remember - prep, prep,prep.
Spraying glass is really not that much different than spraying anything else.
( see prep, prep, prep )
Go online and search the different products - see which is best for you and your desired outcome. Do be advised that all two pack paints are very volatile. You will need to keep yourself covered and protected extremely well.

 

[GO OVRIT]

Re: Paint brand question

I did a quick google search on perfection, and it does look like a very good product. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bK9Zcm543x0 They don't sell it (or any Interlux paint) in Sea Foam, but it looks like a good choice for everything above my rub rail and interior.

 

[sschefer]

Re: Paint brand question

I suspect you've been to yachtpaints.com. You're right, there is no seafoam green. The Jade Mist Green is too dark. Fat Lady Yellow cracked me up. Hey, they have a sense of humor! I'm going to write them and ask for a set of color chips and see if they can custom tint an order for me.

4:26pm (PST) sent email to Interlux about tinting and color chips.

 

[sschefer]

Re: Paint brand question

Got the info from Interlux. They do not have a way to tint their paints but they say you can mix different colors to get what you want. That pretty much opens that door. You can mix up SeaFoam Green by using a white as your base and adding Jade until you get the right color. You would want to weigh the paint that you are adding so you can repeat it.

They're sending me a full brochure with color chips and were extremely helpful in identifying the correct paints to use with my boat.

Not sure if this affects you or not but they cannot ship zinc-chromate into California and also can't ship some paints into San Diego, CA due to Low VOC restrictions. There are way's around that.

I don't want to post the person's email that helped me for fear they would be inudated with emails. You can contact them on their website at http://www.yachtpaints.com

 

[drewpster]

Re: Paint brand question

Fat Lady Yellow cracked me up

Its Fighting Lady Yellow.

Still Laughing?

 

[GO OVRIT]

Re: Paint brand question

sschefer, Thanks for the research and info. That is helpful. I used to mix a lot of auto paints, that thought hadn't popped in to my head yet.

drewpster, Thats a nice looking boat. I've always liked Fighting Lady Yellow, but one of my best buds awlgripped his 250 Luhrs that color and I don't want to be a copy cat

 

[gcboat]

Re: Paint brand question

Hey Drewpster ----

You rolled and tipped that didn't you? That is just a fantastic job !!!
How many coats?

 

[drewpster]

Re: Paint brand question

That pic was taken after the first coat. It got one more done after that, and it needs one more. Thanks, I am not proud of it or anything. Yes It was all roll/tipped using a phenolic core roller and badger brush just like Interlux recommends. Came out great.

 

[sschefer]

Re: Paint brand question

Its Fighting Lady Yellow.

Still Laughing?

Yep, at myself.

 

[sschefer]

Re: Paint brand question

Just got another email from the folks at Interlux. A lot of our boats were painted at the factory with a 2 part urethane or the color was in the gel coat. In either case thats what was used on the entire boat. With Interlux you are looking at painting with at least two if not more of their products. If either of the following is true.

1. You leave your boat in the water for more than 72 hours.
2. Your trailer has bunks.

Their Perfection Brand is not capable of withstanding water submersion for over 72 hours. And if you have bunks on your trailer they will trap water between them and the hull providing the same effect as submersion.

If your boat is a victum of either 1 or 2 above then you need to use a barrier coating below the waterline thats at least 10mil thick and you'll need to cover that with at least two coats of one of their bottom paints. Depending upon use, the bottom paint will need to be recoated every two years.

Perfection above the waterline will be fantastic as you can see by the result in the pictures that "drewpster" posted. That F Lady Yellow is sure pretty.

I just ran some numbers through my simple mind and came up with around $500.00 to paint it which is cheap compared to the prices that I've be quoted. Drewpster, what did yours end up costing you for materials.

 

[Mark_VTfisherman]

Re: Paint brand question

Those pics tell the truth- amazing job for what amounts to a brushed-on coating. Good job, nice shine, too.

 

[drewpster]

Re: Paint brand question

Trust me, at first I did not think it was true. How is it possible to get a gelcoat like finish using a roller and a brush? It works. You do have to follow some rules though.
Because the paint has a high shine, prep work is very important. Any blemish, dirt, ripple or defect in the surface will show in the paint. It is best to spend allot of time prepping to get things as smooth as it can be. Interlux Perfection and Brightside do not like high humidity or any kind of wind. If the water in the air is too high you will not get the full effect of the shine. If even a slight breeze is present the paint will not level as completely and you can get brush strokes. It is best to plan ahead and only paint in early morning or in the evening when the wind is calmest. You can adjust for less then ideal conditions using thinner. Brightside is a little more forgiving than Perfection.
The cost is going to depend on the size boat you are painting. Interlux's guide recommended 1 gal. of Perfection to do my hull sides. That was accurate. The boat was covered with one quart when that picture was taken. The paint covers exceptionally well but there were some thin spots. It needed two more coats to be complete. (3 quarts)
My boat is 24' feet long and has about 3 feet of freeboard. (painted area) I would feel comfortable with two quarts doing any runabout up to about 18 feet long. I did not keep up with expenses but I would guess $500 is a good guesstimate. $1000 if you include all the work I did to the main deck and cockpit areas. I did do allot of work that is not typically needed in a paint job however.

 

[Mark_VTfisherman]

Re: Paint brand question

....I did do a lot of work that is not typically needed in a paint job however.

Maybe, but still not very spendy for boatwork. I couldn't afford to pay someone to do some of the repairs and modifications i have done to my boat, which is just a little thing. But I am looking forward to my next project boat. My current boat is fine, and I don't want to get rid of it, but another wider, longer boat would be good for fishing with friends and "guests." I have a 16-1/2-foot fiberglass runabout picked out. It is behind a building and isn't worth much, but I think they will take $200 for it. My first task will be to sawzall the top off and strip it down to the very seaworthy hull, the only thing besides the trailer that is appealing to me. Your paint job photo whets my appetite for the project!

Then again, if I had the money, would what I could just go out and buy all set up and ready to go satisfy me? Definitely not. Not that there aren't some attractive new boats out there, but they aren't perfect either. The idea of making what I want is appealing, and I don't really see what I want in the new boat market.

Thanks again for sharing.