So I looked at the IP2000e and this was one of the comments/advice on the West Marine support page about the product.
“It has a matte gray or white color. Typically used under antifouling paint. No gloss like you would see with gelcoat.”
Not that I want a gloss finish necessarily below the waterline but is this really how I should keep the bottom, with just the IP2000e, as the final coat ? Or should I look at some sort of gloss paint as the final coat on top of the IP2000e ?
i would also like to hear opinions about the VC Performance Epoxy. Should I use it over top of the IP2000e or instead of ?
The IP2000e is intended to be a primer. I have heard of people just leaving it primed (trailered boat) but its not necessarily the look i would want. The VC performance Epoxy is meant to be a gelcoat substitute leaving a very hard and glossy finish that can be waxed and polished like gelcoat. I contacted Interlux the other day regarding IP2000e and VC Performance epoxy and they said the following.
"If painting over gelcoat the the VC performance epoxy needs no primer. Simply rough to 80 grit and paint making sure you obey the recoat windows. If you miss the recoating windows then you must again sand the VC Performance Epoxy with 80 grit to give it something to bite into.
Any repaired areas must be properly repaired with something that is meant for underwater use and those repaired areas should be primed with IP2000e as a good choice however make sure you again follow the recoat time for the IP2000e when you apply the VC performance epoxy"
Keep in mind that with either of these products are not paint or varnish. They are a 2 part epoxy with paint like properties.
My plan is to prime a few areas of repairs and then apply 4-5 coats of VC Performance epoxy in one shot waiting the 5-24 hours between coats. Once it has fully cured for a week or so I will sand to 1000 grit and polish the bottom to a high gloss. I race so I would like the cleanest smoothest surface I can get. If your already going to paint a trailered boat that did not require repair then I would simply apply the Performance epoxy as you don't need antifouling unless your going to leave the boat in the water. If you plan to leave it in the water then I would not go with IP2000e alone but would apply an antifouling over top.