Imron Paint Issue

[rajhnsn]

I have tracked down the previous owner of Graceful-lee and found that the boat was painted with automotive Imron two part polyurethane paint. He was kind enough to send me the mix numbers and I was able to match them at a local auto Imron paint supplier. The supplier has never heard of anyone using a roll and tip method using Imron paint (as would be expected for a supplier of automotive paint) but my yard will not allow spray painting in the yard. I want to touch up two small areas this year in order to put off painting the entire boat for a year or two. (daughter needs a car and starting college in a year) Does anyone know if it is possible to roll and tip Imron paint? If it is being rolled do I need a reducer?

 

[25yearslater]

Would your yard allow the use of a Preval sprayer? They are about the size of a standard aerosol paint can but you add your own paint, gelcoat or whatever. They are fairly inexpensive also. They are more like a self contained airbrush.

 

[rajhnsn]

I can ask but it is very unlikely.

 

[Panta Rei]

I have a few comments for you.
By the way ,I have been a paint engineer for most of my life.
1. 25yearslater's suggestion maybe your best choice. Spray painting an entire boat is very different than using a Preval basically a touch-up spray can. It's sure worth the asking and may be OK once a few boats are out of the yard this spring.
2. Imron can be rolled and tipped but the area will not blend well with the older sprayed surface. It will not be perfect but generally you are looking downward at the hull. Your auto body guys have overspray remover and finesse-it (3M product)to blend in spot repair paint jobs. You will have to mask and leave a ridge. Removing the ridge is very difficult. Live with it.
3. Back to roll and tip, You will need to modify the flow and leveling characteristics of the paint. Here is a source for the additive: http://www.ketoneindustrial.com/proddetail.php?prod=RT002P others may be needed.
You will need some advice. Your local autopaint supply house will be a good source. Ketone Industrial may be a good starting point as well. Don't try it without someone to advise you so you can be on the phone while testing the process.
PS..Nice color boat!

 

[rajhnsn]

Sounds like very sound advice. I'll check with them this week. One person has said to me that it is a township ordinance. I heard from someone else that you have to submit a detailed paint plan to the yard. I think I need to talk to someone at the office directly. Worst case is that I live with the chips and dinks until I can paint the entire boat and winter it somewhere that I can do it. Thanks for your help and advice. Especially about the rige. I was wondering how that would work with masking it off. I was thinking that I would have to fade the brush stroke or the spay as it reached the masked off area.

 

[Panta Rei]

I can imagine how much trouble overspray can cause in a crowded boat yard. Even touch up projects like your can cause trouble. Your heading the right direction talking to the office. Roll and tipping should be your very last resort. Good luck to your daughter heading off to school. Mine is getting married this year, talk about a budget cruncher. I'm under a strict moratorium on project funding so I'm limited to things like pulling holding tank hoses, cleaning bilge etc. Boating sure is fun !!

 

[rajhnsn]

Thanks. Budgets are getting tighter and expenses are going up but I still can't live without it. Another idea may be to do the prep work on land and pay a guy I know at the marina in Rock Hall, Md. to do the paint while the boat is in the water.