Hey, ALL. I am thinking about painting my deck top and cockpit before I put my Mac in the water. WHAT IS the best paint for it? Interlux Brightside seems to be so expensive. Has ayone used Ramuc brand of swimmingpool paint? Any recommendations, any personal experiences in choosing and using certain paints for the deck top? Do nave to say that my gelcoat has some hairline cracks... Any input is appreciated! Cheer up, Winter is almost over :O) Alex
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shine
I don't have any experience with swim pool paint. Most spas and fiberglas pools I've seen are not painted, the color is molded in. If it's not made for fiberglas don't use it. One thing I'd consider: although it might seem like a good idea to get dull or no gloss paint, it will be harder to keep clean. Get high gloss. Hope this helps.
I don't have any experience with swim pool paint. Most spas and fiberglas pools I've seen are not painted, the color is molded in. If it's not made for fiberglas don't use it. One thing I'd consider: although it might seem like a good idea to get dull or no gloss paint, it will be harder to keep clean. Get high gloss. Hope this helps.
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Steve Paul
Need for paint?
I have used Interlux two part paints and they are terrific. If you decide to use a paint I suggest you read the prep instructions carefully. For topsides just an Awlgrip might be a good choice instead of two part paints. Painting won't stop or hide the small cracks if they're stress related. I suggest you get some stress crack sealer and try that first. If it's just shine you want, then try one of the acrylic finishes that you just wipe on. Polyglow is one and it works great. Just spend a few days putting it on and then touch up once a year. It's the same acrylic finish as for floors but with UV inhibitor in it. Takes a special cleaner to get it off so water won't hurt it. Another thing for you to consider. The two part topside paints become very very very slick. So I recommend not doing that. TWo part paints are great for the hull however. Google polyglow and see what you get. There are three such sellers that I know of, polyglow is just one name. Steve
I have used Interlux two part paints and they are terrific. If you decide to use a paint I suggest you read the prep instructions carefully. For topsides just an Awlgrip might be a good choice instead of two part paints. Painting won't stop or hide the small cracks if they're stress related. I suggest you get some stress crack sealer and try that first. If it's just shine you want, then try one of the acrylic finishes that you just wipe on. Polyglow is one and it works great. Just spend a few days putting it on and then touch up once a year. It's the same acrylic finish as for floors but with UV inhibitor in it. Takes a special cleaner to get it off so water won't hurt it. Another thing for you to consider. The two part topside paints become very very very slick. So I recommend not doing that. TWo part paints are great for the hull however. Google polyglow and see what you get. There are three such sellers that I know of, polyglow is just one name. Steve
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Ben-26S
Plolyglow..there are no miracles
Plolyglow..there are no miracles, I regularly read a very popular sailing French forum in Quebec. Not long time ago there was a discussion thread on polyglow that generated hundreds of posts and most people who have used it for a long time said that it fades after several years and it has to be removed because it does not rejuvenates the gelcoat. It is just like a varnish . Apparently it is a real pain to remove…so quick fixes have a price. When I bought my boat the gelcoat was all faded. I use a 3M rubbing and wax compounds and it worked great as the boat regained its shine. Ben
Plolyglow..there are no miracles, I regularly read a very popular sailing French forum in Quebec. Not long time ago there was a discussion thread on polyglow that generated hundreds of posts and most people who have used it for a long time said that it fades after several years and it has to be removed because it does not rejuvenates the gelcoat. It is just like a varnish . Apparently it is a real pain to remove…so quick fixes have a price. When I bought my boat the gelcoat was all faded. I use a 3M rubbing and wax compounds and it worked great as the boat regained its shine. Ben
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Steve Paul
No Miracles?
Yes Ben there are no miracles. The recommendation was a simpler less costly improvement to weathered fiberglass. Gel coat oxides badly in the sun and you can polish it. I've used 3M polish with rubbing compound but remember you're removing the already thin gelcoat. Options are: rubbing compound with lots of work while reducing your gel coat. Eventually you'll have to paint it. Pain the hull, deck or what you wish. Lots of work and will still scratch, peel and require maintenance. You can use Polycoat or it's equivalent and all you have to do is touch it up every year. It's not a pain to remove if you use the cleaning fluid supplied by the manufacturer. You can also use ammonia or ammoniated compounds and it will dissolve off with water wash. But why would you do that when you can just touch it up now and then. There is no one fix for weathered equipment but one must know all the options and then make an informed choice for what's best for you. Don't listen to me and for good sake don't listen to others. Just look at the options that are best for you. Steve
Yes Ben there are no miracles. The recommendation was a simpler less costly improvement to weathered fiberglass. Gel coat oxides badly in the sun and you can polish it. I've used 3M polish with rubbing compound but remember you're removing the already thin gelcoat. Options are: rubbing compound with lots of work while reducing your gel coat. Eventually you'll have to paint it. Pain the hull, deck or what you wish. Lots of work and will still scratch, peel and require maintenance. You can use Polycoat or it's equivalent and all you have to do is touch it up every year. It's not a pain to remove if you use the cleaning fluid supplied by the manufacturer. You can also use ammonia or ammoniated compounds and it will dissolve off with water wash. But why would you do that when you can just touch it up now and then. There is no one fix for weathered equipment but one must know all the options and then make an informed choice for what's best for you. Don't listen to me and for good sake don't listen to others. Just look at the options that are best for you. Steve
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Greg
Painting decks
The 2 part paints will give the most scratch resistant finish. However any paint can be slick. But then so can waxed gelcoat. Try adding one of the non slip additives to the paint and you will get a very non slip surface at the same time. This is what I do on my boats. As for the cracks. they will have to be filled before painting, and there are several primers that will not only help your paint adhere better but will help hide the filled cracks.
The 2 part paints will give the most scratch resistant finish. However any paint can be slick. But then so can waxed gelcoat. Try adding one of the non slip additives to the paint and you will get a very non slip surface at the same time. This is what I do on my boats. As for the cracks. they will have to be filled before painting, and there are several primers that will not only help your paint adhere better but will help hide the filled cracks.
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