Time for some expert paint advice

[Woodonglass]

Re: Time for some expert paint advice

I made pyramid bases for mine and glassed em to the deck. I love em. You can see How starting on page 27 of the My Flamingo link in my signature below.

 

[Sunsetrider]

Re: Time for some expert paint advice

Those pyramids would work great for my rear seats Wood . . . except for one thing: I'm just not up to the performance level required for that kind of solution!
Next! lol

 

[Sunsetrider]

Re: Time for some expert paint advice

Does anyone have a suggestion on what I might use to fill the gap between the deck boards?

 

[Woodonglass]

Re: Time for some expert paint advice

Gaps???

 

[Sunsetrider]

Re: Time for some expert paint advice

The space down the middle of the deck, between the 2 pieces of plywood.

 

[jbcurt00]

Re: Time for some expert paint advice

The seam between these 2 sheets?

Are they already installed? Will the deck be completed into the bow? Was deck sealed on the underside prior to installation if already installed?

Is this a fiberglass or aluminum boat? Appears to be aluminum....

Depending on some of those Q's & the answers....

 

[Sunsetrider]

Re: Time for some expert paint advice

The seam between these 2 sheets?

Yes.

Are they already installed?

No, just laid out for pre-fit.

Will the deck be completed into the bow?

The sections under the bow are at different levels that the main deck. There is a 9-inch step-down (sort of a foot-well), followed by 2 small step-ups as you move forward. Separate pieces are cut for those sections.

Was deck sealed on the underside prior to installation if already installed?

The underside has 2 coats of spar varnish. I have to finish cutting the styrofoam to fit between the stringers before installing the decking. The stringers are 10 inches deep, it's taking more foam than I had estimated.

Is this a fiberglass or aluminum boat? Appears to be aluminum....

Yes - it is welded aluminum. It has the features - but not the size - of a Crestliner Sea Scout. Not sure what it actually is.

I am going to cover the deck with Kiwi Grip, so I am not so concerned about waterproofing the gap, more with ensuring a smooth level surface.

 

[Sunsetrider]

Re: Time for some expert paint advice

Any reason not to just use a silicone Dap-type product?

And another thing . . . I've put on a first coat of EP Undercoater and sanded it with 220 with a(n - if you sound the initials) RO palm sander and most of it ends up coming off but the result is very smooth. Real tempted to call it good and start in on the finish coats. Would that be the right thing to do? Did I mention I'm getting a sore back and the Admiral would like to see this boat out of the way before the snow flies?

 

[Woodonglass]

Re: Time for some expert paint advice

What is your budget? What is your overall plan for this boat? Silicone Dap should not be used in a Marine environment. You should use cleats to support the edges of the plywood and seal the edges of the plywood with a Marine sealant. I'd recommend epoxy but if that's not in your budget then several coats of a marine varnish or at the very least a good oil based paint.

 

[Sunsetrider]

Re: Time for some expert paint advice

What is your budget? What is your overall plan for this boat? Silicone Dap should not be used in a Marine environment. You should use cleats to support the edges of the plywood and seal the edges of the plywood with a Marine sealant. I'd recommend epoxy but if that's not in your budget then several coats of a marine varnish or at the very least a good oil based paint.

Well as you know I am using spar varnish (really a urethane product nowadays) on the plywood and its edges, but neither that nor epoxy will fill the 1/4 inch gap. So when you say "marine sealant" I'm not sure what you mean.
So if I am to avoid silicone for marine purposes, and presumably latex as well, what to use?
As for epoxy and glass mat, I just plain don't enjoy working with it and am prepared to forego its durable qualities. I regard it basically as overkill for my purposes.

 

[Woodonglass]

Re: Time for some expert paint advice

3M 4200 is a Marine Sealant

 

[Sunsetrider]

Re: Time for some expert paint advice

Funny I never thought of that. I didn't think of using it as a filler.

 

[Sunsetrider]

Re: Time for some expert paint advice

Actually I believe I can use my Bondo filler for deck seam. I had bought a kit to fill some bolt holes on the gunwale but ended up using squeezable epoxy (worked great) instead. I'm just hoping for the right temps to apply the finish coats to the hull and topside. Picked up the Kiwi Grip for the deck. The foam boards are cut (I used a sharpened putty knife/scraper). I bought 5 closed-cell boards, 2-inch thick, 8 ft long x2.5 feet wide. If that doesn't keep it afloat, well, it can just sink!

The rack and pinion steering is an issue, the steering wheel won't move. I'll have to figure out how that system works. I hope it doesn't have to be replaced . . .

 

[Sunsetrider]

Re: Time for some expert paint advice

Well I now have the deck seam filled and the first coat of colour on and sanded, ready for the second coat. I wet-sanded coat 1 with 320 grit. I don't know whether a 3rd coat will be needed bu in any case, do we sand the final coat? I picked up some 400 grit.

 

[Sunsetrider]

Re: Time for some expert paint advice

This time of year is touch and go, between the rain and the colder temps . . . and it gets dark so early now.

But the odd day gets warm enough so I've managed to get the second (and final?) coat of colour on. In these temps it'll take a while for the gray to harden enough to tape for the white. Hoping next weekend will be warm again. Meanwhile I'm working on bases for the seats. I'm too embarrassed to post pics of my efforts in that direction until they are hidden beneath the seats . . .:facepalm: But here's how the colour coats look so far:


That messy part at the front of the bow will be covered by the retro nav light (shown below). Assuming I can get it open to replace the bulb. If anyone knows how that is done. feel free to fill me in!


I'm now thinking the design needs a little perking up. Maybe a thin vinyl colour stripe down the centre of the gray, along the / below the first chine? White? Blue? I think the auto stores have vinyl stripes off the shelf? Opinions?

 

[Sunsetrider]

Re: Time for some expert paint advice

Opinions?

Guess not . . .

 

[Sunsetrider]

Re: Time for some expert paint advice

Having a heck of a time tempting the readership to pitch in here with an opinion on some kind of bright colour hilite to perk up the too-subtle white/gray colour scheme. Progress progresses however, and I've got the first coat of white finish coat on. I've never experienced this kind of paint before. I bought more of the white than I will need, so of course I'm looking around to see what else to paint! Certainly the seat boxes . . . anyhow, here are a few pics of my progress so far, waiting up to a week for the second coat in this humidity. Meanwhile I'm dealing with the seat issues. Maybe these new pics will stimulate comment on a colour stripe or something?

 

[jbcurt00]

Re: Time for some expert paint advice

Can you use MS Paint? Or other (probably better) photo software to mock up what you're thinking as optional stripes?

Is your rubrail (metal channel) black? It looks like it is:

Then I'd probably prep/sand it & re-paint it all in a fresh coat of black, add the black actual rubber/vinyl insert (if narrow & almost a car door edge guard sized piece, maybe white, it might give it a white pinstripe-like look) and paint this bow trim piece black to match the rubrail trim:

Don't think dull, think VINTAGE CLASSY ELEGANT SUBTLE ........

Depending on how it all comes together, and how it looks, might do the cockpit 'cooming' aluminum trim in black too... If there's a windshield, polished bare aluminum windshield frame & the aluminum edge trim around the comming polished too.....

Help?

 

[Woodonglass]

Re: Time for some expert paint advice

This works fer me...

 

[sphelps]

Re: Time for some expert paint advice

I kinda like just the plain white hull..