1972 Starcraft SS 18' 140 Mercruiser

[Gammtka]

Will a Sherwin Williams paint work for my upper deck and bow area? I want to retain the baby blue color and Lowes, HD, and Ace can't mix their paints. They only have navy blue. Also, how much paint should I purchase for two coats?

I can't seem to post pictures from my iPad otherwise I would. Thanks. Love the forum.

 

[cj8mule]

Re: 1972 Starcraft SS 18' 140 Mercruiser

Welcome Gammtka!

We need some more info to make that kind of judgement. A picture of the boat would be helpful.

Just going on what you've said: I've painted a few Aluminium boats with oil base Rustoleum from HD... and a couple of wood floors sealed with spar varnish. If Sherwin Williams is selling you some kind of oil base implement (tractor) paint like Rustoleum... go for it.

 

[Gammtka]

Re: 1972 Starcraft SS 18' 140 Mercruiser

I can't post a picture on my ipad. Sherwin Williams isn't trying to sell me anything. I thought I would try them as they are the only other place in town that might be able to tint a baby blue enamal or alkyd for me. No one else can tint. I put a bunch of pictures on photo bucket, but I don't know how to put a link here. How about this:

 

[cj8mule]

Re: 1972 Starcraft SS 18' 140 Mercruiser

Sure give Sherwin Williams a try... I'm not sure they mix oil base paint anymore. I wonder if the interlux brand would work for you. They have a baby blue color and probably sell it here on iboats.

Hope this helps. Good luck Gam

 

[Gammtka]

Re: 1972 Starcraft SS 18' 140 Mercruiser

Sure give Sherwin Williams a try... I'm not sure they mix oil base paint anymore. I wonder if the interlux brand would work for you. They have a baby blue color and probably sell it here on iboats.

Hope this helps. Good luck Gam

The do have an exterior "enamel" that they say is comparable to Rustoleum. They seem to have the light blue I am looking for. Looks like I will be buying a gallon as two quarts is almost as much. Did my pictures post?

 

[GA_Boater]

Re: 1972 Starcraft SS 18' 140 Mercruiser

I seem to remember that one of the Starmadians said Ace or True Value hardware tinted Rusto. Give 'em a try.

 

[jbcurt00]

Re: 1972 Starcraft SS 18' 140 Mercruiser

Ace hardware tints THEIR re-branded Rustoleum line, the name escapes me, no sure they'll tint paint you don't buy from them. It's supposed to be the same stuff, different label. So, if there's an Ace close, it might be a direct pick up in 1 stop, no wait for shipping............

 

[GA_Boater]

Re: 1972 Starcraft SS 18' 140 Mercruiser

Ace Rust Stop is the oil based paint. Don't know if it's Rusto or know but sounds like it.

 

[Gammtka]

Re: 1972 Starcraft SS 18' 140 Mercruiser

The True Value Hardware in town said they have their house brand of "rustoleum" they can tint. They said it is an enamel, but it is waterbased, not oil. Would that work?

 

[jbcurt00]

Re: 1972 Starcraft SS 18' 140 Mercruiser

The True Value Hardware in town said they have their house brand of "rustoleum" they can tint. They said it is an enamel, but it is waterbased, not oil. Would that work?

They don't stock this:

 

[Gammtka]

Re: 1972 Starcraft SS 18' 140 Mercruiser

I found a post from a couple of years ago that I think solves my problem. Any caveats would be appreciated. I have two quarts of the Rustoleum marine paint in navy blue, but I really want to paint it a baby blue. Nobody around here tints oil based enamels and I don't want to spend a small fortune for paint. As luck would have it I bought a quart of white rustoleum marine paint a fellow was selling at a garage sale, new, unopened. My plan is to mix my own by adding the white to the two quarts of navy blue untill I get the shade of blue I want.
We are having incredible weather here in Arizona right now so I am anxious to prep for the paint and putting it on.

Since I have a stern drive I have four very pitted blower cowl vents. Replacing them all at the prices I see on the internet would run alot. Does anybody have a more economical alternative to replacing them?

 

[tgp***]

Re: 1972 Starcraft SS 18' 140 Mercruiser

Try iboats

Seadog Clam Shell Vent - iboats

 

[jbcurt00]

Re: 1972 Starcraft SS 18' 140 Mercruiser

Even though it's all Rusto, I probably wouldn't mix their products unless they were from the SAME product line. But that's because I don't know that much about paint chemistry or Rusto's different product mixes.

Did you just buy the 2qts of Navy? If so, I'd take 1 back & swap it for a qt of white, and probably buy another qt of white, or just a gallon of white for the difference in price between qts & gallons. All Rustoleum Pro:

I don't think it takes much BLUE to tint white to baby blue. I think it'll take ALOT of white to tint navy blue to baby blue......


If you've had the navy for a while, it'd be worth the $30+/- to me to buy a gallon of white Rusto Pro.

It's not a small thing to paint an entire boat, so I'd only want to do it once if I can help it.

To that end, here's 3 more suggestions:

1) Use a good respirator system & add enamel hardener to the paint. It'll increase the scratch resistance & increase the gloss of the paint.

2) You can NOT do to much paint prep, and using all the same product line from Rusto falls into this category. Like I said, I rather only do it once, and spending extra time to prep & an extra $20-30 to buy more paint would be well worth it, IMHO.

3) Follow WOG's paint tips here (Rusto is an enamel similar to the Majic & Tractor Supply paint he discusses):
"Paint Your Boat for Under $100 Bucks...Well Almost"


On the cowl vents, if you're buying white (or for just these use the topside paint you already have) sand them as smooth as you can, fill the pits w/ JB Weld, sand & paint prep them (for bare aluminum don't forget a light coat of ZC or SE, same for the boat) and shoot them white. They'll look pretty good white against a light blue hull, sort of like SP's MFG:
Before:

After:

 

[Gammtka]

Re: 1972 Starcraft SS 18' 140 Mercruiser

All good suggestions. I will trade in one quart of blue for white and try mixing in some blue with the two quarts of white.

 

[jbcurt00]

Re: 1972 Starcraft SS 18' 140 Mercruiser

keep very accurate records of what you're missing so you can recreate it and don't forget it's the ratio of the white to the blue, 1 ounce to 1 ounces is 1:1, so that shade/color should be the same color as 18 ounces to 18 ounces.
I would start small 1 ounce to 1ounce

don't be surprised if you need a modify the color with something other than blue or white you can use art supply store enamel tint for that

 

[GA_Boater]

Re: 1972 Starcraft SS 18' 140 Mercruiser

One thing on the alchemy of paint. When you test samples for proper tint, let the paint cure to full hardness. Sometimes the final color changes shade as it cures. Not much, but if you're trying to make a perfect match, it might matter to you. If close is what the goal is, then never mind.

 

[Gammtka]

Re: 1972 Starcraft SS 18' 140 Mercruiser

I will keep track of my formula and post it hopefully along with a color sample. The boat came with two bimini tops, a brown one with two bows and a sort of turquise one with three bows and a matching boot, almost brand new. I am going to keep the three bows and try to find just a blue cover and boot. The rest I guess will go on CL.

I was trying to take apart the shift /throttle control box today so I could spray it, but once I separated the two halves it looks too complicated to remove the cables. I guess i will just spray the box and shift letter while its hanging over the side of the boat. The black lever on the back side wiil have to be painted by hand with an artists brush.