painting fiberglass

[RCNO]

I recently acquired an old Skeeter fiberglass hull, a15ft open hull. I bought boat, motor,trailer, an extra 48spl with a good foot, 16ft trawl with boards and towlines for 600.00. Everything runs well and works as it should, but its uglier than a mud fence. This is where the questions come in...

What can I use to paint the underside of the hull (cheap is the word here). Im looking for an easy to apply, glossy finish that will last for another year or 3.

I have found a bottom paint locally that contains anti-fouling, is this absolutely necessary? It was rustoleum brand from Lowes. It only sees water on the weekends, every Saturday to be exact.

Keep in mind, Im not looking for a perfect resto, just something that looks nice from a few feet or so
Like my ole dad use to say, Im trying to polish a turd!

So what paint do you reccomend?

Here is a pic of the boat in question, yeh it ugly, yeh it runs, and yes it is running an engine that is overrated for the boat. Its rated for a 25, Im running a 48SPL. It does 39.2 with me my wife and my son, now that I have had time to tune the carbs, have the prop tuned to the boat, and removed an 18 gallon tank built into the rear seat that was filled with 12 gallons of water.

 

[wire2]

Re: painting fiberglass

Most automotive paints will work as long as you have the paint supply shop add a flex agent.
Fiberglass expands/contracts far more than a steel bodied car.
One exception is urethane base/catalyst, it remains flexible after curing but is hazardous to spray.

 

[Capt. Valk]

Re: painting fiberglass

Theres no need for antifouling paint for the way you use it. But it looks like ya already have some on there. Are you painting the sides of the boat also or just below the waterline? If just below the waterline, theres a company that make a white bottom paint. Ya can kinda see it here on my boat: http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v2...3800557315.jpg
I was in the same situation as you. In order to use an automotive type paint you would have to take that thing down to the gelcoat (below the waterline). Auto paint won't take real well to the bottom paint. It will end up bubbling and cracking all kinds of nasty stuff. I guess first thing is are gonna do the whole hull or just where the bottom paint is?

EDIT: Ok that pic is an optical illusion. The back of the trailer looked like bottom paint.

 

[Capt. Valk]

Re: painting fiberglass

I don't wanna edit that last post again. (did it like 40 times already) Ya might wanna take a look at this thread: http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=225994 The preparation of the surface is more important then the quality of the paint. Leave no part of the surface shiny. The grit of sandpaper will depend on the paint and if your gonna bother to prime it. Might wanna try some compound then polish on a buffer first. You'd be surprised how gelcoat will come back to life. Some ideas here: Gelcoat repair

 

[RCNO]

Re: painting fiberglass

hey, thanks for the replies fellas! I would consider trying to clean up the gel coat but there are a few dings that need repair and there is already 1 repair on the side that you can barely see in the pic.I also have to repair the front "lip" as its been banged up on the dock or whereever.
Im going to do the whole hull, with a different color on the inside. I have searched here and the rest of the net and read so much that my head hurts. Im just trying to find an inexpensive, single part(if possible) paint thats easy to apply.
Why wouldnt the topsides paint work on the hull?

 

[EricR]

Re: painting fiberglass

RNCO, looks like you got a good deal on that thing. Nice to get the nets with it too. Are you allowed to recreationally tow a trawl for shrimp there, or is it for bait purposes only?

Here in Savannah (GA) you can get a recreational license for a ten foot bait trawl, and you are very restricted as to where you can tow it.

As far as using a single part paint, my experience is with Pettit's "Easypoxy" and it just does not have the hardness or gloss durability of a two part paint.

 

[RCNO]

Re: painting fiberglass

RNCO, looks like you got a good deal on that thing. Nice to get the nets with it too. Are you allowed to recreationally tow a trawl for shrimp there, or is it for bait purposes only?

Here in Savannah (GA) you can get a recreational license for a ten foot bait trawl, and you are very restricted as to where you can tow it.

As far as using a single part paint, my experience is with Pettit's "Easypoxy" and it just does not have the hardness or gloss durability of a two part paint.

Its been a while since I have pulled a trawl but if I remember correctly, we can get a recreational license to pull up to a 16 foot trawl. Nothing can be sold, its purely for the freezer. Most folks dont sell the shrimp, the buyer pays for the gas burned and the ice.
Anything larger than 16ft and you need a commercial license. A commercial license can be bought for a 16, but it only allows you to sell to the factories and such.
Thanks for the advice on the paint! Dave

 

[Solittle]

Re: painting fiberglass

I have used regular Rustoleum paint for the deck of my 23'er and it has held up well.

 

[thefairlaneman]

Re: painting fiberglass

Im painting my aluminum boat with the epoxy that you use to restore bathtubs, It super hard and seals up the rivits well. It cost about 30 bucks a quart.