Paint Recommendation

TJBurkett · Mar 20, 2009

Hi Jack,

For bottom paint I've used the GP Plus stuff from West Marine- it's fairly cheap as far as bottom paint goes and seems to hold up well. I find that a gallon does the bottom on the Vega.

Waxing the topsides will definetly cut down on the fading and sun damage to the gel coat. What I do each sason is wash the topsides really well, then wipe down with acetone to remove any non water soluble marks, then I give it a light compounding with a buffer and then another good wash. Follow that with a good paste wax and buffing and you will be suprised how well it looks.

If you are tackling the topsides after some years of neglect you might want to use a more agressive compound. I've always used the 3M stuff that comes in a bottle and is brownish colored ( I don't remember the name) I remember it being fairly expensive, but a quart bottle will last several years - just remember to keep it well sealed so that it doesn't dry out.

For paint I would recommend the interlux brightside one part-it is much easier to use then the 2 part paints and does give a good finish-just go over the pait with a very light foam brush to remove any air bubbles or brush marks. I painted my deck, cockpit, cabin, and bootstrip with te brioghtsides and have been pretty satisfied.

I hope this helps,

Tom

prius12002 · Mar 20, 2009

Jack -

I used Interlux Brightsides on a boat I built several years ago. I can't comment on prep work because, obviously, it had never been painted before. I followed the manufacturer's directions pretty much exactly, applied it by rolling and "tipping", and was very pleased with the result. Good luck.

Bill

pjacobs55 · Mar 20, 2009

Hi Jack,
My thoughts on paints:

Bottom Paint:
Ablative is best for cruising boats. Depending on what waters you sail in, warm or cool, the type could vary. Check local boatyards to see what they use.
My personal preference is for 'Pettit Horizons' (http://www.pettitpaint.com/catalog_browse.asp?ictNbr=12)
I'm in the cool Pacific NW waters, and have had good service from this paint.

Topside Paints:
Don't ... unless it's really necessary. It's pretty hard to beat the durability of the original gelcoat. Mine was faded, chalky, and yellowed. First step was an application of Davis FSR

FSR Big Job - SKU 792

FSR (Fiberglass Stain Remover) is a unique stain absorbing gel that is ideal for removing oil, rust, exhaust, waterline and transom stains. Works like magic to clean up fiberglass stains! Use anywhere else fiberglass stains may crop up—shower stalls, furniture, etc. Use for removing road soil...

www.davisnet.com

to remove the stains. Then a wet sanding with 1000 grit paper, then 2000 grit paper (available at autobody supply shops), to remove the chalking. This was followed by a power buffing with 3M Finnese-it II, and a good wax job.
After two years she still looks pretty good, but needs another waxing. And I don't have to cringe, for fear of scratching the paint, when approaching the dock a little too fast

Topsides stripe:
Not sure on this one, but any good Marine Polyurethane should do the trick. Two part will outlast one part, but one part is not as toxic to be around when applying. A good source of info on painting, and many other boat-related things, is the Classic Plastic Forum.

http://www.plasticclassicforum.com/

Also, Don Casey wrote a good book on sailboat re-finishing.

Sailboat Refinishing: Casey, Don: 9780070132252: Amazon.com: Books

Sailboat Refinishing [Casey, Don] on Amazon.com. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. Sailboat Refinishing

www.amazon.com

Where my Vega does need paint is on the decks and in the cockpit. The gelcoat is thin, and worn through in places. I've been putting it off because of the work required to remove all the hardware before prep and painting. But when I do it I'll use a two part poly, and I'd like to have the boat at home in it's shed for the job. Maybe next year ...

pjacobs55 · Mar 24, 2009

The 3M marine cleaner/wax products work well. Some are more abrasive than others (for more degraded gel coat) and you want to use the least abrasive wax that will do the job, so read the label carefully.Nicholas H. Walsh P.A.
111 Commercial St.
Portland ME 04101
207/772-2191
Fax 207/774-3940

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From: j.hunter9999
Sent: Monday, March 23, 2009 7:49 PM
To: AlbinVega@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [AlbinVega] Re: Paint Recommendation + AnnapolisThanks all for the recommendations! I probably didn't mention this before, but we bought Bella early last year. She had been in a heated storage "warehouse" for 16 years. Her topsides and deck are in remarkable condition...so I'm definitely going to use your advice to help keep them that way.

Thanks for the great advice! In addition to the paint recommendations, I made notes in my "Things To Remember" book for future reference. What kind of wax should I use on the topsides? Will a regular car wax work ok?

BTW, we got to see the Vega that was launched in Annapolis. Jody is awesome and has a lovely boat. I'm thrilled that we could connect and share some stories. One of the best parts of sailing a Vega is the people I've met via this website, over the telephone and in person.

Jack
Bella - V2620

Ps. If anyone is ever in the midwest part (Illinois, Wisconsin) of the USA, make sure you post and we'll try to get together.