Rostoleum Topside Paint and Marine Primer - NOT FOR USE BELOW THE WATER LINE?

[stripes1966]

So its time to paint my fiberglass Monark trihull restoration, Ive been doing a LOT of reading and the rustoleum looks like an attractive option but only if I can get it to stick and last of course. I've seen numerous Rustoleum hulls and even topsides that look great on this an other forums but I cannot tell what everybody is using for primer if anything. The Rustoleum Marine Primer tech sheet says "not for use below the water line" even after being topcoated with Topside paint, which certainly surprised me. Rostoleum phone tech line said the same but the girl I talked to sounded 15 years old and "NO" is probably their default cover their b*** answer. So far I've used 3M marine glazing putty, dewaxed and sanded very thoroughly with 180 grit. I do have some bare fiberglass showing where I had to grind the gel coat for repairs. Do I even NEED to use primer or will the Marine Topside paint stick to properly cleaned and sanded gel coat and bare glass? Many other paint brands that I read up on use some sort of self etching primer on fiberglass or gelcoat substrates.

Not many posts on long term wear of Topside Enamel either, has anybody had a paint job last a few years in fresh water with this stuff? Sure is cheap compared to Supermarine, Interlux, Duralux, etc. Is Marine Topside suitable for use as a bottom paint for a fresh water trailered boat? Many thanks. stripes

 

[tpenfield]

Yes, that is why it is called topside paint. You will want to use a different type of paint below the water line. If your surface is well prepped, you may not need to use primer, but it could help with the end result.

I am going to be painting my sailboat in the near future and will probably use a barrier coat and anti fouling paint below the water line. Will prod lay use s 2-part paint for everything above the waterline just to get a more deliberate cure of huge paint.

 

[Woodonglass]

You might find this helpful...Paint Your Boat with Tractor Paint...Say What!!!

 

[Bondo]

You might find this helpful...Paint Your Boat with Tractor Paint...Say What!!!

Ayuh,.... The Rustoleum industrial enamel ain't for below the waterline either, but that's what I used as bottom paint, 17 plus years ago,...

Prep is everything,...

When it gets scuffed or damaged, I just repaint those areas,...

 

[jbcurt00]

Its been awhile, but as a trailered boat, Rob hasnt had any trouble to report on the below the waterline Topside paint on his Sea Nymph:
http://forums.iboats.com/forum/boat-...ph-ss160-resto

 

[stripes1966]

Thanks for the Rusto info. I went to Tractor Supply and checked out the Majik paints, looks like the same stuff basically but color choices were slim at two stores around here. I saw other posts about M22 Benjamin Moore urethane and I am really curious about that paint it would no doubt be a very tough finish for bottom and sides. Gonna splurge on Supermarine SM 1000 sprayed for the cap though.

 

[Woodonglass]

Yup you can use ANY Acrylic Enamel Paint and then Add the Acrylic Enamel Hardener to it and acheive really good Results. Just remember this is NOT for boats that will be left in the Marina for the entire boating season. This is meant for "Trailer Queen" Boats. You CAN leave the boat in the water for up to a week or so and have no adverse effects, especially in Fresh water.

 

[Scott Danforth]

However hitting sandbars tends to remove some of the paint.

 

[Woodonglass]

Well, there is ALWAYS That!!!!:lol:

 

[stripes1966]

Duralux Marine Enamel can be had to $50/gallon at my local big box store. I was surprised. Very tempting. This is listed as a below water/above water paint on the bottompaintstore.com website for significantly more money. There really aren't that many reviews or posts regarding the Duralux around. Do you HAVE to prime gelcoat before applying if the gel coat is properly cleaned and scuffed with 120?

I have some leftover Sherwin Williams KEM 400 primer left over from another project.

Thanks!

stripes

 

[Watermann]

Yeah the rusto topside with some hardener in turned out pretty good for me and after 3 seasons fishing it's proving to be durable as well. I would use primer, the finished paint job will end up being better.

 

[stripes1966]

Well I scored a full gallon of PPG KEM400 primer from a salvage place for $9.95, and a gallon of regular Rustoleum in Royal Blue for $12.95, and a gallon of PPG zinc chromate primer for $15, and a quart of white Rustoleum for $5. So I guess Rusto it is. I'll get some Valspar Hardner too. And that KEM 400 prime is good stuff, I can't even chip it off the gel coat after it hardens a couple of days. The zinc primer will be good for the trailer if I wind up sand blasting it.

 

[zool]

Well I scored a full gallon of PPG KEM400 primer from a salvage place for $9.95, and a gallon of regular Rustoleum in Royal Blue for $12.95,.

Finding a gallon of PPG kem400 primer is a rare score, especially since its a Sherman Williams product .

That aside, it will be great under the Rusto alkyd..unless its really dated, or wasn't stored above freezing.....

BTW, heres the tech sheet for applying it, if u don't already have it...


http://www.paintdocs.com/docs/webPDF.jsp?SITEID=STORECAT&lang=E&doctype=PDS&prodno=E61A400

 

[stripes1966]

Well...thought I'd post an update on the Rusto. So far it's holding up pretty well, adhesion is holding up, and below the water line shows no adverse effects at all. I used the hardner from Tractor Supply, and I'm sure it went a long way toward improving the overall durability of the paint. So I will be shooting my River Ox resto project sometime this summer with the same products.