Just hauled my '78 Pearson 26 and see some small stress cracks in the topsides, cabin top, and decks. I want to paint the entire boat this Spring. (It's never been painted.) Can anyone recomend any website or literature that gives detailed instructions on how to do this. Like how much to sand the cracks, what to fill them with, what preparations to use, what paint to use, and so on? David
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Non skid areas
This spring i'm going to paint all my non skid decking with Durabak, I've recieved a sample of it and it looks pretty good. Ask for a sample and a brochure www.appliedsurfaces.com
This spring i'm going to paint all my non skid decking with Durabak, I've recieved a sample of it and it looks pretty good. Ask for a sample and a brochure www.appliedsurfaces.com
Many sources.
There are many sources available. I would start with Don Casey. He has written books but you can also find his articles on Sailnet(Related Link). The paint companies like Awlgrip and Interlux publish brochures: www.awlgrip.com www.yachtpaint.com/USA/ I painted my cabin and decks with Interlux Toplac. I mixed the Interlux grit with Brightside for the non-skid but am unhappy with the color. I plan to redo with Interlux Interdeck. Probably in the original light gray. I also have the Durabak samples. Too aggresive for my tastes. It is made for commercial vessels. The company suggested a coat of non-grit paint over theirs. In a recent thread I asked this group about painting the topsides. The consensus was that I should do everything possible to save the gelcoat. Then I asked someone who has painted several boats. He remembered that a twenty foot sailboat was as big as he would ever want to paint. And that it was a lot of work. Painting the top of the boat is tedious. All the hardware and rails need to be removed. Then the prep and the taping. A lot of work. The topsides are a matter of $$$$. If you can afford to have someone do it that would make all the difference in the decision. I recently had an estimate of $3000. just to PREP the topsides for painting. That was just to fill and fair the twenty or so gelcoat scrapes on the sides of 37-foot twenty-five year old boat. But I have seen AwlGrip rolled and tipped and you can barely tell that it was a brush job. That seems to be the most common. It takes several coats because it has to go on so thin. And every blemish will show through so prep is everything.
There are many sources available. I would start with Don Casey. He has written books but you can also find his articles on Sailnet(Related Link). The paint companies like Awlgrip and Interlux publish brochures: www.awlgrip.com www.yachtpaint.com/USA/ I painted my cabin and decks with Interlux Toplac. I mixed the Interlux grit with Brightside for the non-skid but am unhappy with the color. I plan to redo with Interlux Interdeck. Probably in the original light gray. I also have the Durabak samples. Too aggresive for my tastes. It is made for commercial vessels. The company suggested a coat of non-grit paint over theirs. In a recent thread I asked this group about painting the topsides. The consensus was that I should do everything possible to save the gelcoat. Then I asked someone who has painted several boats. He remembered that a twenty foot sailboat was as big as he would ever want to paint. And that it was a lot of work. Painting the top of the boat is tedious. All the hardware and rails need to be removed. Then the prep and the taping. A lot of work. The topsides are a matter of $$$$. If you can afford to have someone do it that would make all the difference in the decision. I recently had an estimate of $3000. just to PREP the topsides for painting. That was just to fill and fair the twenty or so gelcoat scrapes on the sides of 37-foot twenty-five year old boat. But I have seen AwlGrip rolled and tipped and you can barely tell that it was a brush job. That seems to be the most common. It takes several coats because it has to go on so thin. And every blemish will show through so prep is everything.
Painting boats
If you use a better paint that will last longer you will spend more money. The best paint for color retention, gloss retention & abrasion resistance is a linear polyurethane paint such as Awlgrip. Awlgrip can be purchased through West Marine, but normally it is applied professionally. It is very hazardous paint to breathe, so you really need to protect yourself. They offer mixes for spraying or for brushing. After proper preparation (cleaning, sanding & cleaning - very important for a good finish)you must apply a 545 epoxy primer which will seal up porosity in the old gelcoat, put a barrier coat between the Awlgrip and less noble paint as well as improve adhesion. Then you can apply the top coat (2 or 3 thin coats are always better than one thick coat) according to how you wish to apply it. For spray the paint is mixed with Awlcat #2. For brush use Awlcat #3. Read all the product info to understand what you are doing. For nonskid surfaces mix you paint not only with the Awlcat, but also with flattening agent to make it not shiny to reduce the slippery surface when wet - even if a grit is included. Other paints to consider is Interlux or Pettit type companies who offer a do-it yourself polyurethane two part paints formulated for brush applications. Brushing and tipping is recommended. Have friends help. Don't do it on hot sunny days (if outside) and certainly not windy days where bugs and sand will end up in your paint job. Have one person roll on the paint (after proper sanding, cleaning and priming, of course) while another follows with a good brush for urethane paints (same with roller) and tips it off. Again, 3 thin coats is better than 1 thick coat to reduce sagging). Other paints to consider which are good, but not as good (and less expensive than Awlgrip) would be one-part polyurethane paints such as Interlux' Brightside. Other paints like alkyds and other formulations look good, are cheaper and apply nicely, but don't last as long as the urethanes. So you must consider your boat, your budget, how nice you want the finish and how long you want it to last.
If you use a better paint that will last longer you will spend more money. The best paint for color retention, gloss retention & abrasion resistance is a linear polyurethane paint such as Awlgrip. Awlgrip can be purchased through West Marine, but normally it is applied professionally. It is very hazardous paint to breathe, so you really need to protect yourself. They offer mixes for spraying or for brushing. After proper preparation (cleaning, sanding & cleaning - very important for a good finish)you must apply a 545 epoxy primer which will seal up porosity in the old gelcoat, put a barrier coat between the Awlgrip and less noble paint as well as improve adhesion. Then you can apply the top coat (2 or 3 thin coats are always better than one thick coat) according to how you wish to apply it. For spray the paint is mixed with Awlcat #2. For brush use Awlcat #3. Read all the product info to understand what you are doing. For nonskid surfaces mix you paint not only with the Awlcat, but also with flattening agent to make it not shiny to reduce the slippery surface when wet - even if a grit is included. Other paints to consider is Interlux or Pettit type companies who offer a do-it yourself polyurethane two part paints formulated for brush applications. Brushing and tipping is recommended. Have friends help. Don't do it on hot sunny days (if outside) and certainly not windy days where bugs and sand will end up in your paint job. Have one person roll on the paint (after proper sanding, cleaning and priming, of course) while another follows with a good brush for urethane paints (same with roller) and tips it off. Again, 3 thin coats is better than 1 thick coat to reduce sagging). Other paints to consider which are good, but not as good (and less expensive than Awlgrip) would be one-part polyurethane paints such as Interlux' Brightside. Other paints like alkyds and other formulations look good, are cheaper and apply nicely, but don't last as long as the urethanes. So you must consider your boat, your budget, how nice you want the finish and how long you want it to last.
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