Preping topside for painting

[superiorvoyager]

With unseasonably warm weather I have started preping the topsides of my hull for eventual painting wih Perfection. I've used stripper to take the bootstripe off (still needs to be sanded) but am wondering about recomendations for cleaning the gelcoat. There is so much damage to the gel coat (see other threads) that the whole thing needs to be sanded but I unerstand I need to clean first, the repair the gouges, then sand and hen do a final filling of smaller defects I may have missed, For the innitial cleaning I have read some recomendations to use Boat Soap then stain remover, others say to use interlux 202 solvent wash while others have sugested to just use denatured alcohol. What are the pros and cons of each way and what woul you recommend?

[CharlieCobra]

There are products at most auto body supply stores for cleaning off any wax or silicon prior to painting to avoid fish eyes. I would highly recommend one of these products prior to any sanding or fairing.

[sailingdog]

BTW, a quick and dirty check to see if the hull is clean enough is to spray it with water... if the water beads...you got wax, oil or silicone on the hull still. If it sheets and wets thoroughly...it's clean.

[sailingfool]

Be real casreful about sanding, most any grit under 400 or so will show under a good paint. Better to just sand the repairs...see what Interlux recommends for preparation.

[superiorvoyager]

Unfortunately prety much the entire hull needs sanding as it is covered with little pimples. There was another thread where I talked abou that. If I don't sand out the blemishes in the Gel Coat it will look terrible. The question here is about how to clean the surface before sanding. There are no Marine Suppliers around or Auto Body shops so whatever I use has to be available at Canadian Tire or home depot or I have to order it in. One website says to use boat soap followed by stain remover, another says to just use interlux 202 solvent while another says you can just use denatured alcohol. With the interlux 202 solvent I don't know what it is so maybe it is a regular type of solvent under their name. I'd rather use something available locally to save on shipping but if there is a brand name product that I have to order in I will.

[sailingfool]

I dont thibk you need to clean the surface before sanding, the sanding will remove anything on the surface, and then some more...

[scottyt]

you might want to try a good scrub with something like simple green and a scotch brite pad. once dry wipe it down with what ever thinner that interlux recommends, then sand.

the simple green should remove any wax and oil, and the scotch brite pad will help knock down any small imperfections and help break loose the waxes

[sailingdog]

Actually, cleaning the surface before sanding is usually recommended. Sanding can embed oils and waxes into the surface and make it really hard to get a clean surface for painting.

Originally Posted by sailingfool

I dont thibk you need to clean the surface before sanding, the sanding will remove anything on the surface, and then some more...

[tommays]

If you go to the intelux sight they have a PRO manual

http://www.yachtpaint.com/USA/hotlin...ion_manual.pdf

I have seen people use and not use primer IMHP you need there primer

IF you roll and tip you have to sand between coats or the paint will FISH-EYE becasue it drys with such a smooth finish

If you spray and dont do the second coat within the window you have to sand or it will FISH-EYE

The sanding window is very temperature dependent and i have had to wait 36 hours at 60 F before it was hard enough to sand

[superiorvoyager]

That pro Manual is great and talks about spraying. I Had originally planned on having a friend who is a professional painter spray the boat for me but through the threads here I was under the impression that Perfection had to be rolled. I will call Interlux and talk to them about my questions as well.