Remember the seventies when avacado green and baby shit brown were popular, what were we thinking? I have a '71 Catalina that is that awfull brown color. It would look about three hundred percent better if I could paint it, but I don't want to spend too much money on a boat that will never be worth more than $5000. The Gelcoat is faded and crazed. What all am I going to need to do to get it white, and with a decent finish. Thanks.
- Status
Trapped in the 70's
Had a simular boat a few years ago. We used Interlux Brightside Polyurethane over several coats of their Primer. They have great instructions and guides on their website. As with any paint job, the prep work sanding and faring was the toughest part, the results were good. From about 10 feet away it looked like a new boat. Total cost for a 21 footer was under $200.00. We sold the boat a year later, it was still looking pretty good. I was told to expect 2-5 years out of it before a recoat was necessary.
Had a simular boat a few years ago. We used Interlux Brightside Polyurethane over several coats of their Primer. They have great instructions and guides on their website. As with any paint job, the prep work sanding and faring was the toughest part, the results were good. From about 10 feet away it looked like a new boat. Total cost for a 21 footer was under $200.00. We sold the boat a year later, it was still looking pretty good. I was told to expect 2-5 years out of it before a recoat was necessary.
Gelcoat or interior?
Your gelcoat is brown? UGH! I don't blame you! There is a C30 her in Portland (obviously 70s vintage) that is that nasty avocado green. bleh! I had baby blue decks - is that what's brown? My interior is faux-wood (HA) Formica - thinking about painting. If the gelcoat is white, try some of the Island Girl products as I've heard nothing but rave reviews. Cheaper than a paint job & worth a shot. Then just repaint the decks the color you want. LaDonna
Your gelcoat is brown? UGH! I don't blame you! There is a C30 her in Portland (obviously 70s vintage) that is that nasty avocado green. bleh! I had baby blue decks - is that what's brown? My interior is faux-wood (HA) Formica - thinking about painting. If the gelcoat is white, try some of the Island Girl products as I've heard nothing but rave reviews. Cheaper than a paint job & worth a shot. Then just repaint the decks the color you want. LaDonna
Web Site Address?
Andy, What is that Web Site address for Interlux? LaDonna, Yeah, it is a pitty such a nice looking boats were painted such ugly colors. I got it cheap, though, thanks to the ugly brown deck. I have never painted fiberglass before, so I am nervouse about beginning. I painted the Faux wood interior bulkheads a bathroom, mildew proof bright white, and now I don't need to keep "all" the lights on. Also, the teak really stands out. Thanks guys, Tom
Andy, What is that Web Site address for Interlux? LaDonna, Yeah, it is a pitty such a nice looking boats were painted such ugly colors. I got it cheap, though, thanks to the ugly brown deck. I have never painted fiberglass before, so I am nervouse about beginning. I painted the Faux wood interior bulkheads a bathroom, mildew proof bright white, and now I don't need to keep "all" the lights on. Also, the teak really stands out. Thanks guys, Tom
Bad colour schemes of the '70s.
[laugh] Yeah, I used to call those 'bell-bottom boats', and Trans Ams with big eagle decals 'bell-bottom cars', because they are SO out of style! –but then bell-bottoms came back again and there goes that insult! Actually I had an idea you might not want to consider-- why not leave it stock? Buff it up and get it as pretty as you can, and just let it make a statement. Coming from a '60s tract-house development and graduating HS at the height of the high-heeled shoes era, I am sort of drawn to that stuff now just because it seems so quaint. (Truly I just thought about buying an aquamarine Pacer recently-- what kitsch!!) [laugh] But there really could be something to be said for a well-preserved 'period' boat. As a collectible it's got something going for it. And not every update is actually an improvement-- consider some of that very elegant old hardware and the worksmanship you just don't find on newer boats. And the whole thing tends to speak on a simple, more gentler time, uncomplicated, no-frills, innocent. Then again maybe you just hate brown. [wink] JC
[laugh] Yeah, I used to call those 'bell-bottom boats', and Trans Ams with big eagle decals 'bell-bottom cars', because they are SO out of style! –but then bell-bottoms came back again and there goes that insult! Actually I had an idea you might not want to consider-- why not leave it stock? Buff it up and get it as pretty as you can, and just let it make a statement. Coming from a '60s tract-house development and graduating HS at the height of the high-heeled shoes era, I am sort of drawn to that stuff now just because it seems so quaint. (Truly I just thought about buying an aquamarine Pacer recently-- what kitsch!!) [laugh] But there really could be something to be said for a well-preserved 'period' boat. As a collectible it's got something going for it. And not every update is actually an improvement-- consider some of that very elegant old hardware and the worksmanship you just don't find on newer boats. And the whole thing tends to speak on a simple, more gentler time, uncomplicated, no-frills, innocent. Then again maybe you just hate brown. [wink] JC
Wierd Nostalgia
Sorry J, I just don't get the nostalgia associated with the 70's, but then again I may be too young. I view the Catalina's as the "Chevy" of boats. Other than that, the gelcoat is in really bad shape and it is going to need to be refinished anyway, and I just couldn't see myself slapping on another coat of brown. I bought this as an introduction boat. One day I want to move into a blue water, livaboard and the selling of this boat will help in refitting the new one. All in all, Catalina seems to be a very practical boat, but it isn't exactly fitted with fancy gear or is it's interior furnished with much other than what you would find in an RV. Not that I am complaining. I can putter around the boat with little projects, but still get to sail it. Thanks for you comments. Tom
Sorry J, I just don't get the nostalgia associated with the 70's, but then again I may be too young. I view the Catalina's as the "Chevy" of boats. Other than that, the gelcoat is in really bad shape and it is going to need to be refinished anyway, and I just couldn't see myself slapping on another coat of brown. I bought this as an introduction boat. One day I want to move into a blue water, livaboard and the selling of this boat will help in refitting the new one. All in all, Catalina seems to be a very practical boat, but it isn't exactly fitted with fancy gear or is it's interior furnished with much other than what you would find in an RV. Not that I am complaining. I can putter around the boat with little projects, but still get to sail it. Thanks for you comments. Tom
Brown Plaid Cushions
Funny you should bring up this topic ... I have owned two different Hunter 30's (1977 and a 1981 models) and the first order of business was replacing those awful brown plaid herculon cushions. ICK! I remember hoping that I would NEVER see that stuff again. Well, as fate would have it, the 1983 Hunter 34 I bought this summer was outfitted with cushions covered in the same awful material! Hunter must have bought that stuff by the mile! The new cushions on this boat are finally in place, and once again I find myself hoping to never see that brown plaid material again! I'm not sure how, but I have a funny feeling that if I were to buy a brand-new 2001 model Hunter, they would somehow manage to fill it with brown plaid cushions!
Funny you should bring up this topic ... I have owned two different Hunter 30's (1977 and a 1981 models) and the first order of business was replacing those awful brown plaid herculon cushions. ICK! I remember hoping that I would NEVER see that stuff again. Well, as fate would have it, the 1983 Hunter 34 I bought this summer was outfitted with cushions covered in the same awful material! Hunter must have bought that stuff by the mile! The new cushions on this boat are finally in place, and once again I find myself hoping to never see that brown plaid material again! I'm not sure how, but I have a funny feeling that if I were to buy a brand-new 2001 model Hunter, they would somehow manage to fill it with brown plaid cushions!
Brown Plaid
I'm with you. One of the first things I did was replace the ugly brown plaid covers for the cushions. I didn't have much choice though. Apparently, one of the previous owners had a dog, and they were all dirty and torn.
I'm with you. One of the first things I did was replace the ugly brown plaid covers for the cushions. I didn't have much choice though. Apparently, one of the previous owners had a dog, and they were all dirty and torn.
Bad bristly brown or Bicentennial bunks
Gary–– Funny you mention it-- Hunter DID buy brown plaid Herculon by the mile!! [laugh] One of the few articles my dad wrote about the boating industry was on the deplorable selections of colour schemes in production boats, mocking both the 'Biecentennial' theme and the 'earth tones' theme, both common in the early 70s with Hunter and many others. We all had a good laugh at the article though Cruising World and Boating Industry would not touch it! [wink] In it he also made the point about typical bunk foam, which being intended for insulation actually reflects body heat right back up at you again, which results in the dreaded 'sweat-back' or 'wet-butt' condition all cruising sailors probably know. Also the brown Herculon is notoriously picky even through percale sheets. I would strongly recommend a return to plain old canvas as a bunk covering or perhaps a simple yet elegant cotton twill, like in khaki or ochre, which makes little colour statement and will go with anything. The weight alone will be a savings both in boat displacment and in laundry-machine loading... all of which is off the subject. Try Imron or Awlgrip for repainting a hull. With a properly prepared surface it should go on well and last years. I've done it and the application and results are not the nightmares they seem. It just requires a bit of care. And please remember the respirators!!! JC
Gary–– Funny you mention it-- Hunter DID buy brown plaid Herculon by the mile!! [laugh] One of the few articles my dad wrote about the boating industry was on the deplorable selections of colour schemes in production boats, mocking both the 'Biecentennial' theme and the 'earth tones' theme, both common in the early 70s with Hunter and many others. We all had a good laugh at the article though Cruising World and Boating Industry would not touch it! [wink] In it he also made the point about typical bunk foam, which being intended for insulation actually reflects body heat right back up at you again, which results in the dreaded 'sweat-back' or 'wet-butt' condition all cruising sailors probably know. Also the brown Herculon is notoriously picky even through percale sheets. I would strongly recommend a return to plain old canvas as a bunk covering or perhaps a simple yet elegant cotton twill, like in khaki or ochre, which makes little colour statement and will go with anything. The weight alone will be a savings both in boat displacment and in laundry-machine loading... all of which is off the subject. Try Imron or Awlgrip for repainting a hull. With a properly prepared surface it should go on well and last years. I've done it and the application and results are not the nightmares they seem. It just requires a bit of care. And please remember the respirators!!! JC
And be sure to read. . . .
Don Casey's articles on Sailnet(www.sailnet.com). You will have to select "Articles" and then "Show All Articles". They were written in 1999. He gives lots of detail on painting your boat, both the topsides and the deck.
Don Casey's articles on Sailnet(www.sailnet.com). You will have to select "Articles" and then "Show All Articles". They were written in 1999. He gives lots of detail on painting your boat, both the topsides and the deck.
JC I don't think just anyone can apply Imron
Even though it is great stuff (very hard and last years longer than most paints)...I'm not sure but I don't think its that easy to apply. For instance I don't think you can apply with a brush like you can with most other nice paints available to paint a boat....plus it's fumes are very toxic.
Even though it is great stuff (very hard and last years longer than most paints)...I'm not sure but I don't think its that easy to apply. For instance I don't think you can apply with a brush like you can with most other nice paints available to paint a boat....plus it's fumes are very toxic.
Consider gelcoat application
A spray paint job on your boat will costseveral thousands of dollars. ALternatively it could be hauled, sanded out and brush interlux (I like their two part) applied. Another alternative could be gelcoat itself. Its cheaper than paint, very fast drying and can go on in thicker coats. If it contains wax the surface will be shiny not sticky and it is very soft to compound and buff out. Another alternative is stay with the brown color but put on a nice wide stripe of a color you like. Fix any crazing with filler and gelcoat as in the video "Cosmetic Gelcoat..." from Bennett Mrine Video, 213 821 3329. Lightly compound if and where necessary and/or use our CLEAR and SUPERWAX PRODUCTS to gie a deep shine. - Just a thought! Actually I thought some of the 70s styles were nice except the sluggish cars with all the smog junct, big bumpers etc! Jim Willis
A spray paint job on your boat will costseveral thousands of dollars. ALternatively it could be hauled, sanded out and brush interlux (I like their two part) applied. Another alternative could be gelcoat itself. Its cheaper than paint, very fast drying and can go on in thicker coats. If it contains wax the surface will be shiny not sticky and it is very soft to compound and buff out. Another alternative is stay with the brown color but put on a nice wide stripe of a color you like. Fix any crazing with filler and gelcoat as in the video "Cosmetic Gelcoat..." from Bennett Mrine Video, 213 821 3329. Lightly compound if and where necessary and/or use our CLEAR and SUPERWAX PRODUCTS to gie a deep shine. - Just a thought! Actually I thought some of the 70s styles were nice except the sluggish cars with all the smog junct, big bumpers etc! Jim Willis
- Status