drewpster
Commander
- Joined
- Oct 17, 2006
- Messages
- 2,059
I have read many opinions on using single part and two part polyurethane paints. Some of those comments seem to come from expert marine refinishers and others come from guys like me. I started from complete zero when I did my painting project. I remember how difficult it was not knowing where to begin. Here are a few rules I picked up along the way. I hope they will help you get started.
Rule 1) DO the research. All the "marine standard" paint manufacturers have how-to materials available. Select a couple of manufacturers and look over the information they offer. When in doubt, use your search engine. Tons of stuff will come up.
Rule 2) Have a plan. All paint systems require a process to prep the surface being painted. They also have specific recommendations on how the paint should be applied. Having a plan ahead of time will help you keep your work organized as you proceed through each step.
Rule 3) Get the right stuff. You should select equipment that will make each step in your process as easy as possible. Ever try to hand-sand a 24' boat? The added expense of the right equipment will make your life much easier and help you to finish what you start.
Rule 4) Be meticulous, even obsessive! It is the little details that make the difference between a good paint job and an exceptional one. A passenger aboard may never notice the little scratch you painted over, but I bet you will! The more attention you pay to the details the happier you will be with the end result. This is especially true in the prep work. You know what they say, "90% prep, 10% paint".
Rule 5) Be diligent. This is one job you will regret leaving for another day once you have started. If you are like me your boat is a prized possession. If you make a mistake take the time to work it out and fix it. If you get so tired of sanding that your ready to quit, then you have not sanded enough. The point here is that painting a boat the right way can be a daunting task but it is worth all the effort.
I know allot of folks in here are thinking about painting their boat. I hope these rules will help. It may seem like an impossible task for someone starting from zero. It is not! I am very proud of my first paint job. And I am sure you will be too. Now I just have to figure out how I am going to get all the other projects done! One thing is for sure, I can always depend on the folks in this forum to encourage me to take on more than I can handle. Thankfully they always inspire me to get it done anyway.
Thanks,
Drewp
Rule 1) DO the research. All the "marine standard" paint manufacturers have how-to materials available. Select a couple of manufacturers and look over the information they offer. When in doubt, use your search engine. Tons of stuff will come up.
Rule 2) Have a plan. All paint systems require a process to prep the surface being painted. They also have specific recommendations on how the paint should be applied. Having a plan ahead of time will help you keep your work organized as you proceed through each step.
Rule 3) Get the right stuff. You should select equipment that will make each step in your process as easy as possible. Ever try to hand-sand a 24' boat? The added expense of the right equipment will make your life much easier and help you to finish what you start.
Rule 4) Be meticulous, even obsessive! It is the little details that make the difference between a good paint job and an exceptional one. A passenger aboard may never notice the little scratch you painted over, but I bet you will! The more attention you pay to the details the happier you will be with the end result. This is especially true in the prep work. You know what they say, "90% prep, 10% paint".
Rule 5) Be diligent. This is one job you will regret leaving for another day once you have started. If you are like me your boat is a prized possession. If you make a mistake take the time to work it out and fix it. If you get so tired of sanding that your ready to quit, then you have not sanded enough. The point here is that painting a boat the right way can be a daunting task but it is worth all the effort.
I know allot of folks in here are thinking about painting their boat. I hope these rules will help. It may seem like an impossible task for someone starting from zero. It is not! I am very proud of my first paint job. And I am sure you will be too. Now I just have to figure out how I am going to get all the other projects done! One thing is for sure, I can always depend on the folks in this forum to encourage me to take on more than I can handle. Thankfully they always inspire me to get it done anyway.
Thanks,
Drewp
