Painting the Bilge, What Paint Though???

[sailhog]

So Sapper... you think a clean bilge is gonna lure women all the way to the V-berth?

[Sapperwhite]

Originally Posted by sailhog

So Sapper... you think a clean bilge is gonna lure women all the way to the V-berth?

No, I just want them to be more comfy when I make them sleep down there. I'm not completely heartless.

[halekai36]

Just clean it and leave it. it looks like a nice factory gelcoat and you'd be amazed at what a little scrubbing, degreasing cleaners and some Acetone will do..

Here's my 29 year old original gelcoat.

If you must "paint" do as SD said and use Interlux 2000E barrier coat in white.. ANY paint you use in a bilge WILL peel!!!!

Here's my 29 year old original gelcoat..

[Sapperwhite]

Originally Posted by halekai36

.....If you must "paint"....

It is gel coated, and it looks better in person than in that pic (cleaned). Also, that "if" has become more distant sense I've ran into some other, more pressing issues. Painting just dropped down the list a few notches. See my soon to be "2GM Fuel Pump Damage" thread (with nifty pics).

[T37Chef]

Originally Posted by halekai36

If you must "paint" do as SD said and use Interlux 2000E barrier coat in white.. ANY paint you use in a bilge WILL peel!!!!

Thanks Halekai for clarifying why to use a barrier coating product.

[halekai36]

Originally Posted by T37Chef

Thanks Halekai for clarifying why to use a barrier coating product.

Even the most robust paints, LPU's, such as Awlgrip, AlexSeal, Sterling, Awlcraft 2000 & Imron are for ABOVE water application only. The only thing that will survive in a bilge for very long are gelcoat and epoxies including the epoxy barrier coats..

Trust me the P.O. of my old Catalina 30 painted the bilge, with a "bilge" paint (Bilge Coat- Notice it does not say "Bilge Adhere") and within two years the paint flakes were clogging my bilge pump. It took me about 50 hours of labor to remove the paint and another 10 hours to re-gelcoat it.

He also painted the head and that took me over 100 hours to remove the paint and buff the gelcoat back..

As I said if you have gelcaot it CAN be made to look like new. Products like On & Off Gel, strong de-greasers and Acetone will do wonders..

I would not "paint" my wort enemies bilge

[jjablonowski]

I dunno about worst enemies.
Others, like the author of this article http://sailmag.com/boatworks/0408BilgePainting/ think differently.

[halekai36]

Originally Posted by jjablonowski

I dunno about worst enemies.
Others, like the author of this article http://sailmag.com/boatworks/0408BilgePainting/ think differently.

Sorry but.....!

You CAN'T always believe what you read in magazines and it's no more evident than in the poorly researched and written article you referenced!
Here's a direct quote from Mr. Nielson:
"There’s another reason to protect your bilge with paint. Water standing in a bilge can migrate into the hull laminate. There have been numerous cases of boats coming up with osmotic blistering on the inside, or even with core damage."

No sh&t Sherlock BUT there is NO paint including "Bilge Kote", the paint he referenced in the article, that will prevent osmotic blistering!! The only known products that will reduce or prevent blistering are #1 Polyester Gelcoat (has it's downfalls but works for longer than any paint) #2 Vinylester Gelcoat (much better than polyester) #3 Epoxy barrier coats and epoxy.

Please show me ONE paint, INCLUDING BILGE KOTE, that makes the claim that it prevents blistering as Mr. Nielson eluded to.

We need to stop putting these magazines & their writers up on pedestals! They are often very, very wrong!!

One quick phone call to Interlux will get you these answers:

Is Bilge Kote a barrier coat? = NO

Does Bilge Kote prevent water from getting to the laminate? = NO

Does Bilge Kote prevent chemicals such as gas & oil from getting to the laminate? = NO

Does Bilge Kote prevent odors from penetrating the substrate? = NO

Is Bilge Kote resistant to oil and gas meaning they won't soften it? = More so than many other one part paints.

To prevent osmotic blistering in the bilge what should I use? = A barrier coat (they sell barrier coat BTW)

Are barrier coats impervious to chemicals? = Most but you should still coat it to protect it.

With what product should I coat 2000E to protect it? = Bilge Kote.

But if Bilge Kote is not impervious to chemicals, water and odor how is that protecting the barrier coat? = I don't have a good answer for that.


BTW, Bilge Kote is nothing more than a modified, quick drying one part Polyurethane paint designed for bilges but offers only beautification and zero benefit beyond that....


P.S. Mr. Nielson also admits what I stated about bilge paint although he greatly diminishes how difficult it can be to remove the peeling bilge paint.

Quote:
"If your bilge has been previously painted, a rotary wire brush mounted on a drill might be the best way to get rid of paint flakes."

[sailingdog]

Which is why I generally recommend using Interprotect 2000E for bilges.