painting hull and deck...why make the boat smooth?

[boatsail]

OK, this might sound stupid, but the logic sounds, sound. Let me know your thoughts.

If I sand my boat with 60 grit paper, wouldn't the paint have better "teeth" to hold it to my boat than if I sanded it down to 220 grit?

Just something I was wondering. I'm getting ready to sand and paint, so figured I would ask before doing anything stupid.

[minaret]

Of course it would. But since the sixty grit scratches will be deeper than the paint is thick, it will look awful when you're done. What sort of paint are we talkin?

[Richard5]

1) What are the paint manufacturer recommendations?

If no mfg recommendations, then...

2) What are the common professional practices?

As example, see the link from Awlgrip.

Surface Preparation and Priming - Fiberglass/Gelcoat

Over 20 yrs in construction industry, primarily residential but about 20% public buildings, the most often repeated mistake I had seen was people doing what "seemed right". Manufacturers and trade groups have invested some serious research into products and installation techniques. Let their efforts be your guide.

[boatsail]

Originally Posted by minaret

Of course it would. But since the sixty grit scratches will be deeper than the paint is thick, it will look awful when you're done. What sort of paint are we talkin?

Now that is pure logic. Paint will be rustolium professional. I knew there had to be a good reason because logic would make me thing that the smoother I sand the surface, the less the paint would be able to "grab". I had not thought about the paint being unable to fill the tiny scratches.

[boatsail]

Originally Posted by Richard5

1) What are the paint manufacturer recommendations?

If no mfg recommendations, then...

2) What are the common professional practices?

As example, see the link from Awlgrip.

Surface Preparation and Priming - Fiberglass/Gelcoat

I will have to look up the manufacture recommendations. There is a guy doing work to boats at the yard I'm in and he is doing some paint work. It looked good and I asked what it was. When he told me rustolium professional, and said it was a one part paint, I knew that was what I was looking for.. Honestly, I know spraying a two part is better than roll and tip a one part, but it is an older cal and the one part paint will work for my purposes and be fifty times better than what I have now.

[boatsail]

Another quick question. I am going to be using kiwi grip for the grip. That being said, not really a point of putting new paint below the kiwi grip, should I skip on painting the areas with the rustolium that will be covered with kiwi? I'm not sure if there is a reason for one way or the other, but if there is an anyone knows, it would be appreciated.

[Azul]

Originally Posted by boatsail

Another quick question. I am going to be using kiwi grip for the grip. That being said, not really a point of putting new paint below the kiwi grip, should I skip on painting the areas with the rustolium that will be covered with kiwi? I'm not sure if there is a reason for one way or the other, but if there is an anyone knows, it would be appreciated.

Why not just use RustOleum's non-skid additive to the second coat? That's what I plan to do.

[Adodero]

Originally Posted by boatsail

I will have to look up the manufacture recommendations. There is a guy doing work to boats at the yard I'm in and he is doing some paint work. It looked good and I asked what it was. When he told me rustolium professional, and said it was a one part paint, I knew that was what I was looking for.. Honestly, I know spraying a two part is better than roll and tip a one part, but it is an older cal and the one part paint will work for my purposes and be fifty times better than what I have now.

The guy that redid our decks used that paint too, Oyster White IIRC. It's a good shade of white for older boats IMO.

The trick is to lay it on thinned heavily and not let it get too thick.

It's cheap too...

[Cheechako]

any scratches from the 60 grit will show thru the paint.

[CharlieCobra]

Because of the level of finish we reach for on our paint, we finish prep with 220 for primer and 400 after primer.

[boatsail]

Originally Posted by Azul

Why not just use RustOleum's non-skid additive to the second coat? That's what I plan to do.

Interesting. Did not think of or know of that...I'll use Google to learn some more

[onestepcsy37]

boatsail -

i found two different 'rustoleum professional' paints -

1. acrylic latex brush
2. high performance protective enamel

which one will you be using?

[hellosailor]

The folks at RustOleum have a toll-free number and they're really happy to talk to customers. I'd be real curious to know what they have to say if you tell them you're planning to paint a boat hull with it.

[boatsail]

Originally Posted by onestepcsy37

boatsail -

i found two different 'rustoleum professional' paints -

1. acrylic latex brush
2. high performance protective enamel

which one will you be using?

Now that I know there are two, I'm going to ask. I get a lot of my information from a guy at the yard who works on boats for a living. I'll be asking him tomorrow

[SailFastTri]

Considering the weeks of labor required to prep and paint a boat, you want to be 100% sure whatever paint you use will adhere and wear suitably in the marine environment. The cost of failure is high.