Awlgrip -vs- interlux brightsides

[ajohns]

I'm in a restoration project and now ready to start painting. Boat is fiberglass and I'm leaning towards Awlgrip but really like the price of Brightsides.

Anyone have experience with either one that can sway me to one side?

Thanks

[tommays]

Your not doing and apple to apple compare BOTH companies (same ownership) make two part paints that are much tougher and a small part of the job cost

[CharlieCobra]

Oh Joy has 15 year old Awlgrip on her. Not a lot of gloss left but no failures either. I used Alumigrip on aircraft with great results when I did that kinda work. Great stuff, very similar formula.

[Maine Sail]

Originally Posted by ajohns

Awlgrip -vs- interlux brightsides

Lexus vs. Yugo

You do tend to get what you pay for..

[sailingdog]

I'd point out that the majority of the investment in repainting is the labor of prepping the boat...and if you're going to go through all that, going with a one-part like Brightsides is going to cost you a lot more in the long run. A two-part paint, like Awlgrip, is far more durable and going to last longer and the difference in the cost of the paint is a minor thing over the long run.

[mikehoyt]

A lot also depends on what you are painting.

Brightsides is much easier to apply DIY with brush or roller and has better flow characteristics I believe. For sometihng like the inside of a cabin top is a great paint.

If you are finishing topside of the hull a two part product is much more durable, more difficult to work with and much more expensive. The two part products such as Tommays Interlux Perfection or the Awlgrip you mentions will last much longer in a high traffic compared to a one part product such as brightsides that will likely require repainting in 5 or six years ....

I restored an old Laser. It was rough and we paid little for it. I used Brightsides and the results was spectacular. Next year I am repainting the hull after only 3 seasons - was always the plan. Will use Awlgrip but only because we had a leftover can from another project.

Mike

[JohnRPollard]

They are very different paints and not really comparable. Awlgrip is a high-end two-part paint that requires extensive prep and skilled application. Brightsides is a single-part paint that is much less expensive, more forgiving, and easily applied by any reasonably competent amateur. I am not even a reasonably competent amateur and I got good results. I wouldn't trust myself with Awlgrip.

If you decide to go with Brightside, I would urge you to consider spending just a bit more and use Toplac instead (also by Interlux). Having used both, I've found Toplac to be a more resilient paint and yields better finish quality.

[Greenflash35]

I'd rather paint because I'm doing all the labor. My partner who isn't doing any labor yet paying for it is insisting on Gelcoating the Hull. Can someone explain other than being more durable at the cost of a lot more work for me why Paint is better than Gel Coat? Awlgrip -vs- Interlux -vs- Gelcoat.

[NICHOLSON58]

We are in the midst of recovering our hurricane damaged boat. It had road-rash down both sides. I tried to DIY with Perfection above the water line but we dicided to have it done by the yard. I just could not get a satisfactory appearance myself. We saved a pile by doing the repair and prep work ourselves including the masking. Torresens in Muskegon finished it with AWL GRIP - indoor controled paint shed. Fabulous job! The shine is visible for miles. DIY is fine but if you want art work, hire an artist. We did the masts ourselves using Perfection. That is quite satisfactory as DIY. After a few fits & starts we decided forever, only two-part stuff on the exterior. It lasts longer and there is never any failure to adhere due to incompatability.

[jaschrumpf]

My boat has a navy blue hull. I have no idea what kind of paint was used, but looking at it you can tell it wasn't a real professional job: wavy finish in places, elsewhere it looks like it was applied with a brush.

My interest is in touching up some dock rash spots. Under the navy paint is a light blue color (primer?), and I'd just like to cover those up. I'm not concerned with making it perfect, just close -- just like covering up some scratches on your car with touchup paint.

Would a one- or two-part paint be the way to go for a job like this? Does the experience necessary for a two-part Awlgrip become less important for touching up scratches, or does it magnify the need? Does the "hold" of a one-part paint become less important as a touchup, or vice-versa?

Update: I didn't see Nicholson58's post before I wrote mine. Of course, my dock rash isn't hurricane-induced, so maybe my situation is different. Just a few small spots here and there.