Hull Painting

[Step to the Rear]

My friend and I are both new sailboat owners as of this summer, my friend having just purchased a Sturdee Cat and myself a Pearson 30. We were both discussing repainting the hulls of our boats. We plan to share the cost of a paint sprayer. Any reccomendations concerning what to do (or more importantly, what NOT to do!) would be very much appreciated. We were looking for info regarding techniques and types of paint.

 

[sailingdog]

IMHO, you're better off rolling and tipping.

 

[Tim R.]

I would say your best bet, if you have never sprayed before, is to spend your time doing the prep. Then hire a guy to do the painting. The painters at places like Maaco are usually very good because of the high volume of cars they spray. It takes a lot of practice to master spraying. Don't skimp on the paint either. HD Porch paint won't cut it. My favorite is Imron and car guys have more experience with that then Awlgrip. You will also need to enclose the boats to spray properly without overspraying or poisoning anyone within 50ft.

If this seems a little overwhelming then consider using a paint like Interlux Perfection. It is quite easy to master roll and tip application.

Either way you will spend 90% of the time prepping.

 

[RECESS]

It took me 7 months to prep what I thought could be done in 2 months. Anything worth doing is worth doing slooooowwwwww. When you do sand, and sand, and sand and then fill, do not think primer will fill in a small scratch. It really will not, and quality paint shows every little nuance that you do not address. People have really like the paint job I have done that have seen it, it turns some heads. I know where the bodies are buried though.

If you use Perfection, do not think when they suggest to let the paint sit for at least 20 minutes after you mix it is just a suggestion. Anytime that I did not allow the paint to sit a half hour I got way, way too many tiny air bubbles when I rolled. When I allowed the paint to sit, no tiny air bubbles. Also, let it sit in the roller pan. Letting it sit in a mixing cup and then poring into a rolling pan does you no good.

 

[David Underwood]

I once did that with a 26', the faded red hull had a few places to repair plus a few bullet holes (happened before I owned it). We did the prep, bought the Imron paint in green, hired a professional car painter to spray it on. Turned out very well. Imron sets up as tuff as gel coat. Saw that boat many years after trading it for my Hunter and it still looked good. That was 28 years ago, think we paid the guy $50 for that spray job, the paint back then was about $90 for one gallon which is all it took for that size boat. Good luck, do your prep work very carefully, anything that is not prefect will show when she shines.

 

[tommays]

To paint a mast CORRECTLY cost over 200 dollars in primer, paint and solvent's and takes about a month of part time work

The big issue with painting a hull is you pretty much CANT fix damage later on from bumping a dock

Unlike a car were you can tape off and repaint just a door YOU cant blend in the paint on a 30 foot hull

 

[RAD]

Before you paint have you considered a complete compound and wax job? some people think that repainting is the answer to a good looking boat and thats not true because after getting great advice on this forum on products and how to do it, my 30 year old looks pretty new.