Catalina 30 Hull color

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Oct 10, 2013
2
Catalina Catalina 30 moored
I have a 1982 Catalina 30. I can't tell the exact color of the gel coat on the hull. It looks like it's off-white. I'm trying to match it to Interlux Perfection two Part Polyurethane paint. Was the gel coat pure white initially? Is the darkening due to aging or was it colored initially? Any idea which color will match or is trial and error?
 
Jun 29, 2011
142
Catalina 30 Mk II Gibsons
Catalina White

I have a 1982 Catalina 30. I can't tell the exact color of the gel coat on the hull. It looks like it's off-white. I'm trying to match it to Interlux Perfection two Part Polyurethane paint. Was the gel coat pure white initially? Is the darkening due to aging or was it colored initially? Any idea which color will match or is trial and error?
Hangon, the color is a little off white, some Chandleries do sell "Catalina White" gel coat which is matched to the Catalina original color, and on my '88, is just a little whiter than what is on the boat.
exposure to diesel fumes, and other fallout from the sky will darken the color a bit, I suggest one of the 3 part cleaners that are sold, to brighten up first, then try a patch test of the Catalina White to determine what the difference is.
 

jrowan

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Mar 5, 2011
1,294
O'Day 35 Severn River, Mobjack Bay, Va.
Interlux has a gel coat / paint brochure which has paint chip samples of all of their available colors. Look for it at West marine. I would definitely try to match up a paint chart before spending A LOT of money for hull paint. But you will never match a 30 year old hull's original chalky hull color, with all of the fading, corrosion, oxidation, etc. thst it has endured.
So you will likely have to repaint the entire hull for a uniform appearance. So my advice is buy whatever color you like, because you're going to pay a lot for enough Interlux paint to cover the entire hull. Personally, if I were going to go to the trouble to repaint a hull, which I wouldn't because a good scratch or to makes it look like crap, I would go with a royal blue. Those old classic sailboats repainted in deep blue with a gold boot stripe always look like a million bucks. But every time I've asked the owner what it cost, the number ten grand comes to mind for the paint & labor. Ouch.
 
Jul 7, 2009
218
Catalina 30 Mark I Stockton, Mo
I painted mine by myself, using Interlux Perfection, while the boat was on a stand. The prep work is definitely the most important part; my PO used the boat to teach sailing, and apparently docking as well! There were tons of scratches and gouges on both sides of the hull. I filled them with West System epoxy and filler, sanded everything really smooth, then sanded again. After that I painted using a foam roller and a good quality brush (roll & tip method). I did the hull and the deck for around $600. Of course, I didn't have to pay labor. If you feel up to the task, I would definitely recommend it. I get compliments all the time...no one can believe my boat is a 1976! It looks better than most of the 90's and newer boats!
 

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Nov 7, 2012
678
1978 Catalina 30 Wilbur-by-the-Sea
I painted mine by myself, using Interlux Perfection, while the boat was on a stand. The prep work is definitely the most important part; my PO used the boat to teach sailing, and apparently docking as well! There were tons of scratches and gouges on both sides of the hull. I filled them with West System epoxy and filler, sanded everything really smooth, then sanded again. After that I painted using a foam roller and a good quality brush (roll & tip method). I did the hull and the deck for around $600. Of course, I didn't have to pay labor. If you feel up to the task, I would definitely recommend it. I get compliments all the time...no one can believe my boat is a 1976! It looks better than most of the 90's and newer boats!
How many gallons did painting the free board take?

We are pulling our boat to do the bottom next month and may just do the free board as well as it will be on the stands. The plan is to scrub her down and then do a quick acid wash/scrub with Sno Bol before throwing on the paint.
 
Jul 7, 2009
218
Catalina 30 Mark I Stockton, Mo
I didn't use any primer at all! I did thoroughly sand the hull, which made the gelcoat all the same chalky cover. The Interlux paint covered quite well, and I cannot see any of the areas that I repaired.

My boat had a red waterline that I sanded most of the way off, leaving just a hint of it, which I was able to see as a very spotty shadow under the new paint. I used this as a guide when I put the new red stripe on.

I wanted to use a primer to begin with, but the supplier I bought from recommended that I take a piece of the boat home (I took the aft laz cover) and try painting it without primer to see what I thought. Great advice! Saved a few hundred dollars not having to buy primer, as the paint covered so well. My advice? Skip the primer and paint away!
 
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