Classic SeaCraft Community

Classic SeaCraft Community (http://www.classicseacraft.com/community/index.php)

- Repairs/Mods. (http://www.classicseacraft.com/community/forumdisplay.php?f=6)

- - Painting (http://www.classicseacraft.com/community/showthread.php?t=17633)

I am in the process of painting a boat . I would like to know what your take is on what types of paints you prefer.. Thehull is solind and No Glass work.. Can I just paint over the gel coat.. what are steps i can do to prep hull for paint? I want to use Algrip But i see there are differnet types of algrip. What would be the best system for painting over gel coat?? Thanks Martin

Use the AwlGrip 545 primer, if it is original gel coat there is going to be porosity. You will want to sand and primer before applying the top coat.
See ya, Ken

I (as well as a few others on this site) have used the Signature Finish paint and been very happy with it.

No primer necessary, easy to apply and after several years in the sun I can tell you that it holds up really well. I used the roll and tip method.
More info here -
Sig. Finish Website

Good luck...

Did you paint that red jumping SC with it...???

....and I like your quote but I might say Anything you let a dog do, it's training you....;))

Yep - painted the "flying SeaCraft" with it. That air pic was taken before paint and I have not put the name back on the boat yet..

Here are some pics of the paint project several years ago -

BEFORE -

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y20...Stbb4paint.jpg

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y20...ortB4Paint.jpg

AFTER -

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y20...wPaintnohw.jpg

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y20...rtwpainthw.jpg

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y20...terndetail.jpg

"....and I like your quote but I might say Anything you let a dog do, it's training you....;))"

You are soooo right... :D Kinda like "are you walking the dog or is the dog walking you...." ;)

Algrip has a book you can get it might be on their internet site as well which will help you through the process and which paint to use. If you spray be very careful that stuff can kill you if you don’t use the proper ventilation systems with it. I used the role and tip method with Sterling Paint similar to Algrip but they say is a little better for the role and tip method and safer to use.

FellowShip

_______________________________________________

My motto: Just for the Grins :D

Hey Jack,
Does Signature Finish have a color chart somewhere?? I dd not see it on the web site.

Boat looks great. Is the black paint Signature finish as well? How many coats (Black or red)? Did you sand between each coat? How many years has it been on there? I was thinking of painting the bottom with the Sig finish, and re-gelcoat the sides. Did you spray or Brush?

Hermit –
Sig. Finish to my knowledge does not have a “paint chart” you can either send them a sample to match or give them a paint code (or color name) from any marine paint manufacture and they will match it. In my case I believe I picked the Interlux “Fire Red”. It was a close match so I went with that. Granted if you are re-painting the entire boat the color match would not matter.

Tug -
The black bottom unfortunately is Micron CSC bottom paint. When I bought the boat in 1994 it was bottom painted and at the time I had the bottom blasted and re-coated with CSC. I think the black looks good with the red but I know the CSC is slowing me down and is hard to keep looking good. Future projects include stripping the bottom paint off and painting the bottom with Sig. Finish.

I ended up applying (with the (2) roller method) 4 coats on the sides and 5 coats on the new transom.

As far as “between coats” -
With the Sig. finish paint you simply scuff previous coats with a red (maroon) scotch pad wipe with a tack cloth then apply the next coat. This was done in 2005 and it still looks as good as the pics now.

I am not in any way a paint expert and from my research the Sig. finish was made for the DIY.. Tom Fabula (Owner of Sig. Finish) is really nice to deal with and sent me everything I needed to do the project. I’m sure I could have either sprayed the boat and got better results but the roller method was easy and I did it outdoors in front of my house.

FWIW – This paint is really durable more than once friends have banged the anchor against the side of the boat in rough water and to my surprise the paint was not damaged.

Thanks for all the advice, Nice Boat FishJack

I guess "next" time I should use the Signature Paint....
Nice Job FishJack!

Thanks Fishjack,

I spoke with Tom last year and he was very helpful, I was toying with the idea of doing the bottom with 2-part pool paint, (National HB, etc) We put some on the bottom of my dads 23 about 7 years ago, and it still looks great A little faded, but the stuff is tuff as nails. He fishes commercial and had a roller trailer most of that time. The newer paints have more UV inhibitors. I could have covered 500-600 sguare feet for about 125.00 bucks. another paint that looked interesting (for the bottom) is Tapp Plastics Coat-it (Two part Epoxy mixed with kevlar, only comes in black) That looked interesting because one coat is about 10 mils thick, and you can paint over it. I think I will spend a little more and get the Sig finish for the bottom, I know that will work fine.

I do like the idea of putting red paint right over the red gelcoat. That way a scratch wouldn show hardly at all....and fixing them looks to be easy with that paint.

That is exactly why I stayed with red... could you imagine painting white over the red then having a deep scratch.. It would look like the boat was bleeding..

Ditto if you use a paint with primer.....the sig finish was no primer....?? So red paint over reg gel wouldn't show a scratch much I would think. I'm torn between that approach and the full up awlgrip. The gelcoat is not too bad...it has some pinholes. I might even try to re gelcoat it....I got some air dry red to experiment with.

Jack (or anyone else that may know), a couple of quick questions.

1. What kind of paint was on the boat before you used the signature paint? What kind of prep work did you do?

2. How many coats did you end up putting on?

3. How long did the job take (both elasped time and total manpower time)?

4. How much paint did you go through?

5. How much does this paint run per gallon?

6. Have you ever used this paint to do some touch up work?

My current boat was last painted with imron, I believe. It will definately need a paint job at some point down the road. Am thinking of making it a winter project, but who knows.

Any input would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,

Peter