Painting the topsides

[Tim R.]

I am a big fan of DIY. I love the satisfaction of doing things myself and if I save a little money along the way then great. I just finished stripping the bottom of my Pearson and applying 4 coats of 2000e and 3 coats of antifouling. My next project is to paint the topsides of a new Rhodes 18 I just bought. After sanding and prepping the surface, what is the best way to get a nice glossy topside? Spraying, roll and tip or some other method? What is the best paint to use? This boat will be moored in fresh water for the summer. Please be as specific as possible with materials and techniques right down to the model of brush. Or, let me know if there are any good books on the subject.If you have BTDT, please provide photos.ThanksTim R.

 

[Ed Humphries]

Spray It!

Spraying is not hard. Practice for pattern and coverage before painting boat! The secret is thin, thin, THIN the paint.I used Brightsides White.Sears portable compressor & spray set.Did I mention thin the paint?

 

[Tim]

Better photo?

That looks nice but what about the topsides?Tim R.

 

[Jentine]

Rolled Awlgrip

Two years ago, I repainted my decks using Awlgrip. I merely rolled it onto the non-skid without tipping. The finished product was very successful. I used 3" wide foam rollers from Home Depot. The entire job, including mixing and clean-up only took a few hours.Jim

 

[jimq26]

I think he asked about painting topsides?

Or did I miss something. Nice deck job Ed.

 

[Kevin B]

Don Casey did an article in GOB

Tim, check the Jan/Feb 2002 issue of Good Old Boat. Don Casey did a very good article on painting topsides using Interlux's 2 part paint applied by roll and tip.Kevin

 

[Stu Jackson]

There are lots of BOOKs on the subject

nm

 

[sailaway78]

Deck/Topside Paint

I read on one of the boards not long ago that Glidden makes a polyurethane paint, made for floors that is every bit as good, and glossy as any of the marine stuff, for about 1/3 or less of the cost. Seems like they had it on the boat for three years at that time. Have not tried it so do not know how good that report was, but should be worth looking into.

 

[Tom s/v GAIA]

Hey come on, now it's the verbiage police?

Ed's message got his point across, everyone here got the message, if your so full of yourself that you couldn't understand what he meant maybe the fault is with you, he was trying to help you for Gods sake. Oh, if I've misspelled something, or if my punctuation isn't up to your standards, don't bother to let me know, I really don't give a *#&~ what you think. This is a great site, don't let your ego take the fun out of it.Toms/v GAIA

 

[David W]

Gee Tom...

who is that directed at?

 

[Tom s/v GAIA]

Hi David.

Sorry about that, last week someone used the wrong 'there', and the spelling police went off on the guy, Phil finely called them off, but I think the damage was already done. That guy deserved better then that. Now it's topsides vs deck, tim knew what the guy meant, and Ed was just trying to help. I guess tim felt the need to put someone down. I guess the bottom line is this board is better then that, or it should be.Toms/v GAIA

 

[jimq26]

Gee Tom - a hissy fit???

I thought that Tim was very polite. We try to educate as we move along. Tim did not put anyone down. Why go through life calling something by the wrong name? It's a very common mistake by newcomers, and once they know the proper terminology you can bet they remember it.BTW - ur spelng needs a bit of work eh?Cheers,

 

[Tom s/v GAIA]

Oh, the other educator.

Hey jim, you don't like the way I write, don't bother reading it. I get my ideas across, and I don't need to belittle people to do it. This board is about communication, trading ideas, and helping each other out. You think you're smart enough to correct my spelling, you should be smart enough to figure that out. The guy that got hammered by everyone last week won't be back or if he is he'll use another screen name, do you really think that is the way it should be? Think about it.Toms/v GAIA

 

[Tim R.]

????

I am totaly lost now. My message to Ed about topside was bassically asking to post a photo. It did not occur to me that Ed did not know what the term topsides meant. Thanks to everyone for the info. Let's just end this one right here and go sailing.Tim R.

 

[Tom s/v GAIA]

Sounds good to me.

nmToms/v GAIA

 

[PaulK]

Topsides

Tim is very correct in wanting to know more about painting topsides, as opposed to decks. I painted our deck a while back, including the cabin trunk. It was amazing how much more difficult the vertical sides of the cabin trunk were, compared to the flat deck. Runs, sags... all sorts of things that don't happen painting on a horizontal surface. When we painted our topsides a year or two later, we decided to have it done professionally because we didn't want to have to deal with those problems. A nice topsides job CAN be done with a roll & tip application. There are boats in our harbor that have done it themselves, and they look fine. Casey's book is definitely one to have in your library (after you've read it thoroughly). If you are going to put that much work into your boat (or money, if you're having it done professionally) it does not pay to "cheap out" on the paint. I have used Brightsides - a one-part polyurethane all over our tender, our Optimist, and our Blue Jay, essentially because it comes in lots of nice colors and is easy to apply. It's a good thing it's so easy to apply, because it needs repainting ALL THE TIME. Newly painted, they looked great. Then the scratches, dings, chafe and salt get to them. Even a scrub brush bings down the shine when you try to clean the waterline. It simply doesn't hold up well to actual use. If you enjoy repainting every year (isn't that why you DON'T have a wooden boat?) please go right ahead. I even tried it on a section of our cruising boat's deck (since I had some left over from the dinghy) to see how it might last. Less than a week on the foredeck, before scuff marks (from soft-soled boat shoes) scratches (from airborne dirt) and chafe (from anchor lines & sheets) simply made it look terrible. I had to strip it off and start over - with two-part poly. The two-part (Interlhane Plus) has been on for five seasons now, and is starting to need touch-ups where the spinnaker pole downhaul line chafes on the cabin trunk corner. I enjoy doing some painting, but it's not worth saving 20% (?) on the paint if you have to repaint before the season's over.

 

[Ed Schenck]

Here are some articles.

Despite the debate there has actually been some useful info on this thread. The Related Link is to some Sailnet articles. Be sure to click on "More...".I have rolled and tipped both Brightside and Toplac. Toplac was much better on the vertical surfaces and seems to hold up better. If I had a painting partner I would always opt for two-part. But it just sets up too fast when you are working alone.If you can spray then 2-part has to be the choice. I have a gun but the quarters are too close in our marina. And I never wanted to build a tent over a 37-foot boat.Maybe Ed will come back with a topsides discussion and photo. I am sure that someone who can do that kind of work knows the difference between a deck and topsides(hull). But it doesn't really matter does it? He loves his sailboat!