painting a fiberglass fish & ski

[calebp]

hello, i have a '96 glastron fiberglass fish & ski that i want to repaint for freshwater use; I don't need a professional paint job; i just want it to look decent for a few years. Something simpler would be nice (like a "single stage" paint). So, I'm wondering what's probably my best bet for paint (gel? polyester? something else?), and if anyone knows where to order online, that would be awesome!

Thanks

 

[TheWoodCrafter]

Re: painting a fiberglass fish & ski

Welcome to iboats.

I used Interlux marine paint on by trailered boat. iboats sell it all.
Many brands to choose from.
Will your boat be removed from the water daily?
Different paint if not.
Now how will you apply it?
Roll and tip or spray?
Flip the hull or paint it on the trailer.

 

[calebp]

Re: painting a fiberglass fish & ski

The boat is removed from water, and i plan to spray it while sitting on the trailer (then slide it back a few feat and touch up the spots missed). I know the touch up spots will be easily visible, but I don't really mind since theyre almost invisble as it is! lol

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: painting a fiberglass fish & ski

Remember these words..... it's all in the prep!

Interlux is good and not hard to roll and tip. The spots you miss will really blend in fine.

What's wrong with the finish right now? Is it fiberglass gel coat? Have you tried to restore the original finish?

 

[5150abf]

Re: painting a fiberglass fish & ski

Have you painted before?

It is one of those things that looks really easy but isn't.

I did mine on the trailer this year, jacked it up and put 3 wood blocks under it then removed the bunks, the bottom was still a pain but it worked pretty well.

Sherwin Williams or Napa have a good selection of auto paints in single stage but have your wallet ready, depending on color it can get a little pricey and you will probably need a gallon with reducer and hardener, about $200 total, i used base/clear on mine, alittle more forgiving than single stage.

As Bob said a good paint job is all in the prep, I spent probably 30 hours sanding and 2-3 hours painting then another 6-8 sanding(2000 grit) and buffing but it look sweet now.

The difference betwen a $300 paint job and a $3000 job is about 100 hours everything else is the same.

Here is a link to mine, maybe you can get some ideas from what I did, it even involves a murder, well a murder trial anyhow, not mine.

http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=286649

Good luck.

 

[calebp]

Re: painting a fiberglass fish & ski

I paint oil field stuff all the time, but it's not nearly as particular. I know prep work is the most important step in all painting; I don't really know for sure what prep work is necessary for my boat, but I think I have a ballpark idea.

The boat paint was faded and overall looked terrible; I had other plans for it to begin with, but now I just want to paint it repaint it all white. I've already removed all the stickers and sanded most of the boats finish.

I'm not looking to have a good paint job, just something to make my boat look decent to the eye. I don't expect any of my work to last beyond 5 years either.

Is this the paint?

http://www.iboats.com/Mediterranean...9730451--**********.854554395--view_id.197308

 

[calebp]

Re: painting a fiberglass fish & ski

I think I'll use Interlux Brightside (linked below), but I can't find hardener unless it comes with the gallon?

http://www.iboats.com/White_Gal_Bri...9730451--**********.984569300--view_id.165960


I'm not really sure if the reducer I found is what I need too, anyone know if it will be ok?

Interlux 2316N Reducing Solvent
http://www.iboats.com/Interlux_2316...99730451--**********.438314443--view_id.20644




I know most of you are prolly thinkin, "this guy shouldnt be trying to paint his boat"... I prolly shouldnt be lol, but I think it'll look better even with my painting skills as appose to what it is now, plus it has spray painted words on it lol

 

[5150abf]

Re: painting a fiberglass fish & ski

You can do it, you learn by doing things, so next time you will be better.

Call Interlux and make sure that is the right reducer, I paint alot of base/clear and if you put the wrong stuff together it turns to colored cottage cheese, base coat and laquer thinner don't like each other at all.

Light coat first, just enough to color but still see the old paint, let that set up and then hit it with a finish coat, it is better to do 3 thin coats than one heavy.

If you are using a standerd gravity feed gun turn the top screw all the way in then 2 1/2 turns out and leave it there, use the air adjust on the bottom of the gun to regulate paint flow.

The only adjustments you mess with are the fan on the top side of the gun and the air flow on the bottom.

If you start getting orange peel you aren't using enough air.

 

[calebp]

Re: painting a fiberglass fish & ski

Alright, thanks to all of you for all the information! Very appreciated!