Paint the Dinghy

[shorebird]

Our Maxxon dinghy, five years old, is a mess. the webbing loops used to hold the metal brackets on the seat ends have all broken, the finish in the boat is peeling off, and I have a slow leak I can't find. If I have the needed repairs done, I would still have to paint the boat to keep it from looking like crap. I'm considering buying a new dinghy, but wonder if I could paint it and get a few more seasons out of it. To be fair, it gets a lot of exposure to sun, salt, wind snow, ect, but I thought it would last a little better. Anyone have any experience with that dinghy paint? BTW, the boat is always kept inflated, if that makes a difference.
Cheers,
David

[onestepcsy37]

PVC or Hypalon?

[colemj]

I have painted both PVC and hypalon dinghies with the marketed paint for both. It is a mistake. You may get a single year out of it, then it will turn into a mess leaving chalky marks everywhere and start to crack. The hypalon paint may get you a bit longer before it craps the bed. Paint won't solve your leaking issue.

Mark

[shorebird]

Kind of what I thought. The expense and the man-hours required just don't seem worth it. Thanks for the replies, and feel free to add more.


Dear Santa,

[JPA Cate]

Turn it into a rigid inflatable by spraying foam inside. It won't make it pretty, but it'd stay "inflated"! Paint it with latex exterior grade house paint. The paint will, scrape off, but it's easy to touch up. And way cheaper than a new hypalon RIB.

Ann

[colemj]

Originally Posted by Ann T. Cate

Turn it into a rigid inflatable by spraying foam inside. It won't make it pretty, but it'd stay "inflated"!

This isn't good advice. The foam will add 80-90lbs to it and will degrade and deform quickly. We have friends anchored next to us right now who tried this last year using quality 2-part foam. It looked perfect to begin with (although much heavier), but it looks very strange after a year - like it is melting and twisting.

Not to mention that the cost of that much foam will go a long way toward a new dinghy.

Mark

[Formosa Scott]

Make chaps for it.

[Johnnie Cake]

How much were the chaps They look great I used the paint from WM and it started cracking in a year


Sent from my iPhone using Cruisers Sailing Forum

[Formosa Scott]

Those aren't mine, just a picture I grabbed. Sailrite has a free set of plans. I just bought a very ugly AB rigid that I plan on adding chaps to if I keep it. Google "inflatable boat chaps" for other examples.

[shorebird]

I think I will just go for a new dinghy, but I do like the chaps. Do they come in buckskin with fringes?

[JPA Cate]

Thanks to colemj for correcting me. The plan is one I've heard of, but never seen the results of, and I should have mentioned that.

Ann

[JPA Cate]

shorebird,

If you do get a new dinghy, buy or make a cover (chaps) for it. Whether it is hypalon or PVC, its life will be extended by your providing UV protection. Sailrite publishes a discussion of how to make them.

Ann

[zboss]

Where can one buy chaps? I am looking to get one for my West Marine RIB.