What do we like for hull paint ?

[jbrockpiano]

My hull on a 1974 islander 30 has been painted before and now must be painted again. Basic white. What brand / formulation / epoxy or polyurethane paint does the forum recommend.

thanks folks

JB

[Sailormann]

There are two parts of the hull that get painted and they usually get different treatment. From the waterline of the boat up to the sheerline (where the hull meets the deck) is referred to as the "topsides". The area that is underwater and only visible when the boat heels is usually just referred to as "the bottom".

For the topsides, there are a few choices out there, but the most popular one by far is a product called AWLGRIP. I believe that there are a few versions of Awlgrip out now, and your local marine paint dealer will no doubt be able to explain the subtle differences between them. Some are optimised for specific uses or applications. Get the one that is most suited to the type of sailing you do. Also I believe that there are formulations that are meant to be applied by rooler and others that need to be sprayed. HIGHLY TOXIC STUFF TO SPRAY. DO NOT DO IT UNLESS YOU ARE A SKILLED PROFESSIONAL WITH A PRESSURE SUIT. Okay to roll and tip with a brush though.

As far as the bottom goes, if the boat has not been barrier-coated it would be advisable to do so now. A barrier coat is basically a layer of epoxy that is applied in order to reduce the permeability of the original fibreglass. It has the effect of nearly eliminating blistering. It slows water absorption dramatically. If it is done properly, and the hull is in decent shape to begin with, you can expect the hull to last many, many more years.

It may have already been barrier-coated. If sao, and if it was done nicelyt, there is no need to repeat the process. Anti-fouling paint is usually applied to the bottoms of boats (barrier-coated or not) if the boat spends mot of its time in the water. There are various brands that are effective in various areas. Here in the fresh water of the Great Lakes, VC-17 is very popular. IT is a hard ablative with Teflon and copper in it. As there is much less sea life in fresh water, the antifouling properties do not have to be as powerful here as they do in the Atlantic. I believe some people use VC-17 in salt water, but I have heard that it is not the most effective option in that environment. I have no experience with it in salt water though, so do not take my opinion as fact.

FWIW, we used to use an evil "red lead" compound in the ocean, but I think it has been outlawed. Nothing stuck to it though !

Hope this helps. Good luck !

[camaraderie]

Awlcraft or Imron seem to be a better choice than awlgrip but all of these are 2 part paints that require extensive preparation a careful application...I would guess a 5K job for your size boat if done professionally. It can be done with lots of labor by a couple as well.
Interlux Perfection paint is also quite good and more amenable to the do it yourself applicator.

[artbyjody]

If you are doing it yourself (I'll never do that one again) Cam is right on the Interlux Perfection line of paints. Rolling and tipping is not that difficult if you follow the instructions to the LETTER, but prep work is a PITA. I did my Catalina 27 last year - sanded, primed, sanded, then did 3 coats.

TIP: If you intend on painting the boat any color than white (and assuming it already is white)... mix 1/4 to 1/3 ratio of the paint color into the epoxy primer. This will eliminate the need for more than 2 coats to get a rich color when applying the actual paint. Especially colors like red, green, blue...

Good luck!

[sailingdog]

Just remember, with any painting job, the prep work is 95% of the work involved. The actual painting is generally the least work of all the stages. If you don't prep the boat properly, the paint will look like crap and probably start to peel prematurely.

[US27inKS]

Originally Posted by artbyjody

If you are doing it yourself (I'll never do that one again) Cam is right on the Interlux Perfection line of paints. Rolling and tipping is not that difficult if you follow the instructions to the LETTER, but prep work is a PITA. I did my Catalina 27 last year - sanded, primed, sanded, then did 3 coats.

TIP: If you intend on painting the boat any color than white (and assuming it already is white)... mix 1/4 to 1/3 ratio of the paint color into the epoxy primer. This will eliminate the need for more than 2 coats to get a rich color when applying the actual paint. Especially colors like red, green, blue...

Good luck!

I vote for Perfection as well. Here's why: Bayliner Buccaneer Sloops


I rolled and tipped my boat, and Dog is right, it's 95% prep. I filled and sanded until I couldn't feel any filled spots anymore. Then I primed and sanded until I couldn't find the spots. Then I painted and wet sanded 3 times before I was done.

Jody has a good idea with mixing some paint in with your primer. I had to put 4 coats on before I was satisfied with the coverage.