painting a fiberglass boat

[iplayonline]

i would like to know what would be the exact steps i need to follow to repaint my fiberglass fish/ski boat, from prep to finish. also what are the best paints. also what kind of hardners and clear coats to use or if i even need to use them

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: painting a fiberglass boat

I would suggest that you use the search function. There is quite a bit involved in all the steps of paint from prep to finish.

 

[Damifudo]

Re: painting a fiberglass boat

http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=361424&highlight=Manatee

Check this thead and if there is anything I can answer please contact me I will help in anyway I can. I was very impressed the way my boat looks with new paint. I can not tell you how long it will last but I have been told it should be good for 5-10 years with good covers and care and a coat of wax each year.

Good Luck

Oh and like to sand thats the key to a good paint job

 

[iplayonline]

Re: painting a fiberglass boat

i'm getting ready to paint my fiberglass fish/ski boat and i was wondering what is the best paint to use for a spray gun. and what is a good primer to spray too.

 

[ghamby]

Re: painting a fiberglass boat

http://www.yachtpaint.com/usa/
Start here. GH

 

[drewpster]

Re: painting a fiberglass boat

Resounding Ditto!

roll/tip baby! Interlux Perfection

 

[thrillhouse700]

Re: painting a fiberglass boat

No one ever lets people know that perfection cant be buffed, polished, or touched up. Its a very nice paint but I wish I would have known that before I used it. If there is ever a scratch or flawed area, you can't wet sand it out and or spray and fade it.

 

[iplayonline]

Re: painting a fiberglass boat

well i've found a good topside, now i just need a bottom paint. i need a good spray on white. Any suggestions?

 

[drewpster]

Re: painting a fiberglass boat

Of course I cannot disagree with thrillhouse more. Polyurethane paints can be difficult to get right the first time.....but none of what he mentions is impossible. There is a learning curve with these paints.
If you are dead set on a spray paint, then I would suggest using one of the marine paints that can also be applied using a sprayer. Doing it that way certainly has its own challenges, but if you have the correct equipment, the right safety gear,.......and the skill, marine paints are better suited to boats.
The thing to consider is that any specialty paint system takes a degree of developed skills to apply. Just because it says you can use a roller and a brush does not mean it is as easy as painting the walls in the den.
just my opinion...........and my experience.

BTW- If you decide to use an automotive paint system you will be glad it is "easy" to touch up. After awhile on the water, you will have plenty of touching to do.

 

[iplayonline]

Re: painting a fiberglass boat

well i have the equipment to spray paint it. we have painted a lot of cars in our shop. but is it better to roll and tip a bottom paint. anyone have one that works good for them

 

[Fireman431]

Re: painting a fiberglass boat

As far as a bottom paint, are you looking for color (or white) or are you looking for the standard black? I have had great luck with Trinidad bottom paint. It goes on with a flat knap 4" roller and then you go over it while drying with an almost dry roller and it sets very nicely. Very smooth.

Even Awlgrip can be applied the same way and comes out very flat and shiney. The key is prep work. Sand, sand, sand, tack cloth, sand again, tack cloth, roll, tip.

 

[iplayonline]

Re: painting a fiberglass boat

i want to go with a white. i'm want the same color as a have red and white, cause it matches my vinyl.

 

[thrillhouse700]

Re: painting a fiberglass boat

Of course I cannot disagree with thrillhouse more. Polyurethane paints can be difficult to get right the first time.....but none of what he mentions is impossible. There is a learning curve with these paints.
If you are dead set on a spray paint, then I would suggest using one of the marine paints that can also be applied using a sprayer. Doing it that way certainly has its own challenges, but if you have the correct equipment, the right safety gear,.......and the skill, marine paints are better suited to boats.
The thing to consider is that any specialty paint system takes a degree of developed skills to apply. Just because it says you can use a roller and a brush does not mean it is as easy as painting the walls in the den.
just my opinion...........and my experience.

BTW- If you decide to use an automotive paint system you will be glad it is "easy" to touch up. After awhile on the water, you will have plenty of touching to do.

I called interlux and this is what they told me so im not too sure what I said was wrong. If you buff it you take off the gloss because as perfection drys the gloss rises to the surface. We tried it, with the perfect it system and you can see the dull buffed area and the glossy non buffed area like night and day.

Maybe due to ours being black its more visible and yours being white it may not show as much, so I agree with you there Drewp. But I was basically just repeating what interlux told me.