Painting gelcoat - The Hull Truth

jetred · 04-17-2012, 07:54 PM

I'm looking at buying a skiff that has olive drab colored gel coat. I think it was built with duck hunting in mind. The inside of the boat is white and in great shape. It even has a newer engine. I know I can paint over the topsides. My question is can I use a topside paint on the bottom? This will be a trailered boat but might stay in saltwater for a week, once or twice a year. I can do the work. I may even pull the engine and loose items to flip the hull and long board it back true. I know this takes proper support of the sole to prevent the keel from sagging. I would like to know if anyone has any experiences. I don't want to use bottom paint. Thanks for any guidance you have.

AdrenalinJunkie · 04-18-2012, 05:58 AM

I sprayed my 20' CC with Awlgrip on the hull. It spends alot of weekends in the water from Friday to Sunday or Monday. You might have some slime by a week. Just clean it good when you pull it. Painting a linear polyurethane shouldn't be a problem.

awlgripjim · 04-23-2012, 04:57 PM

jetred, whatever you do, do NOT paint the bottom with topside paint. If you do not want use antifouling, Interlux has a high performance epoxy coating that is a great substitute for antifouling when you have no desire to use antifouling paint.

wellv20cc · 04-24-2012, 07:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by awlgripjim

jetred, whatever you do, do NOT paint the bottom with topside paint. If you do not want use antifouling, Interlux has a high performance epoxy coating that is a great substitute for antifouling when you have no desire to use antifouling paint.

VC performance epoxy by INTERLUX is what I'm putting on my build. It's a non ablative bottom paint and its really good stuff!!!

AdrenalinJunkie · 04-25-2012, 03:09 PM

Just for some real-world data, this was painted in '06 with Awlgrip. I don't use it every weekend, more like one weekend a month, sometimes two. I splash the boat Friday and put it back on the trailer Sunday or Monday. No problems in the six years of use.
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PatriotYS · 04-25-2012, 06:45 PM

shoot Awl Grip all the time. Its a polyester polyurethane and not recommended for underwater.exposure by the manufacturer. I take that to mean prolonged exposure. It can with stand a weekend in the water usually with no problems. Any longer than that and you start running the risk of surface release and bubbles will start to form under the paint. I have seen this alot along water lines of boats that had the sides sprayed in Grip. You just need to be mindfull and limit the exposure like my fellow Pensacolian Adrenalin Junkie has done with success.

It is also not recommended to put Grip on the bottom if the boat has ever had prolonged in water exposure. The boat would need to be thoroughly dried out before applying any paint other than AF paint.

Interlux Performance VC is a good paint for your aplication..It is not a antifouling paint. It is a teflon based paint that is used on racing sailboats..

jetred · 04-26-2012, 01:46 PM

I have researched your sugestions and I agree. The VC performance epoxy is what I'll use below the boot stripe and since its interlux, I'll use their Perfection for topsides. I learned from my time working in bodyshops it is usually a lot easier to stick with one manufactuer. I saw they have the boot stripe paint in small cans too.

I keep hearing it would prolly be ok for a day or two to use the Awlgrip. I just dont feel comfortable limiting myself that much. Thanks, everyone has been a big help.

AFarmBoy · 04-30-2012, 01:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by awlgripjim

jetred, whatever you do, do NOT paint the bottom with topside paint. If you do not want use antifouling, Interlux has a high performance epoxy coating that is a great substitute for antifouling when you have no desire to use antifouling paint.

BUY A WHEEL SPAMMER!!!!

:spam mer:

coastalfiberglass · 05-01-2012, 06:00 PM

Imron

United Yacht S Fl Team · 05-16-2012, 09:18 PM

Look into PPG Brand Paints. So much easier to blend and repair than Awlgrip.