Painting

[Ed Golden]

My question involves painting above the waterline. I have a 77' cat 22 (Little Wing)lake sailing currently and I am interested in painting the topsides and hull above the waterline. The gelcoat is stained and there have been some minor repairs necessary. Has anyone done this? I am thinking of scuffing, priming and then rolling (then tipping off w/ brush) 2 coats of petit gloss white on. can this then be buffed to a high gloss using a compund like 3m? any advice from experience is greatly appreciated.

 

[Roger Cunningham]

I just completed painting the topsides of our C-22 with polyurethane. Very simple actually. Just clean the surface well and let dry completely. I rolled the paint on (slowly). Let it dry and apply a second coat. It came out with a high luster and needs no buffing. The cockpit floor looks like a million bucks now. As far as stains...scrub them well first and maybe use some bleach. That's it. You'll be proud of the job once you've done it.

 

[LaDonna Bubak - Catalina Owners]

Might not be necessary

You might try a couple of alternatives first. I don't know what kind of repairs you're talking about but for staining, try FSR (Fiberglass Stain Remover). You can find it at West Marine, is cheap & really takes out stains. The C22 we bought last spring had sunk in 3' of lake mud. Nasty stains! The FSR took 'em right out! The hull looked almost new. The new owner ended up going over it one more time, removing all lingering stains and then polishing. He says it looks like a newly painted boat.You might also check out the Gel Coat Forum on this site - I've heard only fantastic praise for Island Girl Products. Might be a touch easier & cheaper than painting. I know I'd probably go this route next time (I painted my C27 - I don't wish it upon anybody!).LaDonna

 

[ken]

just curious

Hi Ed..................Just curious about your '77 hull number...... mine is also a 77 and has hull #7374. kenbernard@earthlink.netHappy holidays!!

 

[A K. Moser]

C22 Painting

I resurrected a 1978 C22 that had been neglected for 5 years. The hull was an awful, faded robin's egg blue. I washed it thoroughly, wiped it with solvent wash and applied 2 coats of Brightside Polyurethane and it came out beautifully. I mixed burgundy and white, trying to match the color of lady slipper flowers - the name of the boat is Lady Slipper - and applied the paint with a roller and brushed it smooth (is this what the others meant by "tipping") I did accumulate a bunch of nicks and scratches the first year, mostly due to my dingy, so I painted it again before last season and now that my boat is on slip the paint has held up much better. It does fade a bit though, making large touch-ups noticeable, at least up close. I do not anticipate having to paint it again before next season. That was the second time I used Brightside polyurethane. I also had a Herman19 that I painted with sea green externally and with white in the cockpit and that came out very nicely also. Brightside puts out a nice pamphlet on painting boats. You can probably get one at West Marine.