What paint to use

[dsmylie]

I need to paint inside cabinets and the space under the births and settees.(all fiberglass) What paint would you all recommend? Color will be white. Any input would be appreciated.

David

[Maine Sail]

or a two part paint like Imron or Awlgrip for the fiberglass areas. I have yet to see a one part epoxy paint adhere well in "bilge" lockers or over bare fiberglass when below the waterline. As for the lockers clean the wood with TSP, bleach & water or teak cleaner then oil them. If the inside of the cabinets were originally oiled, as many were , you may have a tough time getting good adhesion. If it's raw, non oiled, wood any of the Petit Easypoxy paints will work well.

I owned a Catalina 30 where the owner painted every bilge area and the head & it took me two months of hard work get all the flaking Easypoxy off with paint strippers and to re-gelcoat the lockers and the bilge. I was able to clean and re-buff the head gelcoat to like new without any paint or re-gelcoating..

[dsmylie]

Thanks for the reply. It's all fiberglass with the majority being interior hull. I have been working to get all the old flaking paint off. A real PIA. Fortunately the bilge proper was never painted and there is not the much area below the water line.

[equitiman]

I would personally use a one part polyurethane with some mattening agent to dull the shine a little bit. I just finished doing my deck with a two part paint and it looks really good, but I can imagine it is a real PITA to work with in confined spaces (i.e. under berths and in cabinets) and it would be rather difficult to get a nice finish. Plus, since you are painting inside the cabin a lot of the additional durability provided by the two-part against chemicals, elements etc. won't be necessary. Next winter I plan on refinishing the interior of my boat and I will definitely be going the one-part route.

Of course, if you mean you are painting the bilge then my suggestion is null and void.

Bob

[dsmylie]

A bare bilge is a good bilge

[captainchetco]

One other point. Most 2 part paints use very dangerous solvents. People have died or suffered permanent nerve damage using them in enclosed places. You must use "supplied air" breathing gear when using 2 part paints.

Of course even one part paints have dangerouse fumes which must be dealt with, but 2 part are much worse.

I painted all my spaces with simple Krylon spray can paint starting in 1983, and have had no problem with peeling. Proper surface preparation is the critical thing for such areas, as they put low demand on the paint itself.

Clean all unpainted fiberglass with a wax removing agent. If you have plenty of air circulation, you might use Interlux 202. Acetone is lots cheaper, and will work, but it is much more explosive and evaporates so fast, it is difficult to get it wiped off before it dries, leaving the contamination right where it started. One process I've used a lot is to first wipe down with paint thinner, until a white rag comes away white. The paint thinner leaves its own film. then remove this film with a quick wipe down with 202.

Soap and water can do it too, but is much more difficult, though safer. Fantastic will cut the wax, but must be thoroughly rinsed off.

If the area has been previously painted, remove all visible dirt, and wipe with 202. After cleaning, a light sanding with 100 grit, and another quick wipe down with 202. Be aware that 202 is not good to breathe either, and is flammable so good ventilation is a must.

[pluscard]

Mentioned in a previous thread was "kilz" -which is supposed to be a stain covering primer, but after 4 years, the poster said it still looked great. It looked so good he never top coated it. Home Depot carries it.

[rgroleau]

I was about to paint my bilge and under-settees areas too, and I was thinking of using Interlux's Bilgekote. Has anyone used this product? Results?

[sailaway21]

Cheapest way is alkyd enamel, ie..oil base house trim paint. With good prep it does well, is safely applied, and won't break your bank.

[sailingdog]

Originally Posted by sailaway21

Cheapest way is alkyd enamel, ie..oil base house trim paint. With good prep it does well, is safely applied, and won't break your bank.

With bad prep almost nothing will ever stick to the surface properly.