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unbusted67 · 11-04-2007, 16:22

Sorry I just put this down on a different thread but the paint store is going to close and it is going to snow tomorrow.

Is there a paint that I can buy at a regular paint store that mimics some of these really nice paints that are mostly for glossy topsides (Awlgrip etc)? I just need to put down a couple of coats of white on the deck of a dinghy. Is there anything strong, simple, and able to be bought at Home Depot? I hate to cut corners but do any of you know a way to?

Ram · 11-04-2007, 16:42

YES there is
I bought some epoxey paint about 5 years ago for less than $50 a gallon and it has held up much better then I expected, in south Florida

Mothane is the name.
Its holding up just about as good as Awlgrip, I painted the hull with Algrip & the topside with Mothane -both at the same time-_I would buy it again next time around, and not the Awlgrip for $300+ a gallon.
Ram

unbusted67 · 11-04-2007, 16:54

$300/gallon, jesus.
$50/gallon, jesus.
I think white spray paint is going for like $3.99 will that work?

Wahoo Sails · 11-04-2007, 17:07

Pittsburgh paints (PPG) makes an "industrial coating" called "Pitthane 35" ... absolutely killer 2 pot paint for around $89 a gallon ... can be rolled, brushed or sprayed (choose the appropriate thinner) .... I would prefer that over Awlgrip ... and I LIKE Awlgrip

Any PPG distributor can order it for you.
Bob

Weyalan · 11-04-2007, 19:05

I have a friend who works for an Australia-wide paint manufacturer. He has told me that some of their "marine" paints are exactly the same paint as some of their normal exterior paints, but in a different can, witha 35% price mark-up!

hellosailor · 11-04-2007, 20:01

There is plain exterior deck paint (enamel) but that usually comes in your choice of gray or grey. Deck paints are different from wall paints, etc., in that they are supposed to take more wear from feet rubbing over them.

A couple fo good coats of plain white enamel exterior gloss paint might be good enough for a dink that's not getting a lot of foot traffic, once upon a time that's all there was.

But the harder coatings (epoxy or urethane, one part or two) are supposed to last longer and take more abuse, enough people believe it so that we pay the higher price instead of doing an annual paint job.

**Boracay** · 11-04-2007, 21:26

There are many characteristics that you may want to consider when choosing a paint.

1) Scratch resistance - how hard is it?
2) Flexibility and stretchiness - will it come off if the surface flexes?
3) Chemical bond - will it bond well with the substrate?
4) Mechanical bond - does it bond well with a rough surface?
5) Film thickness - is there sufficient allowance for wear and tear?
6) Anti skid - how slippery is it?
7) UV resistance - will it fade or degrade in the sun?
8) Flow characteristics - does the paint give a level surface with few drips or runs?
and so on...

A good quality paint goes on easily and looks good for years.

Many cheap paints are just not worth the hassle.

**Alan Wheeler** · 11-04-2007, 23:43

Quote:

Many cheap paints are just not worth the hassle.

And there you have it.
Paint it with $3.99 paint and you will get about $3.99 worth of time from it.

**GordMay** · 12-04-2007, 03:09

Cheap paint looks like cheap paint. Amateurishly prepared & applied, it looks even worse.
Even “quality” house paint costs more than cheap house paint.

Tnflakbait · 12-04-2007, 07:48

You can use anything you want. And it will all work. The question is how long do you plan to use the dinghy? If you want to redo it every year it won't matter. A nice 2 part won't have to be redone for nearly 10 years. However if you want to go real cheap I would suggest a gloss exterior grade house paint. Spray paint is a bad idea as it wont cover that much area.

dana-tenacity · 12-04-2007, 16:42

Is a 10 year paint at say $500 better than a 2 year paint at $50? Nope.

hellosailor · 12-04-2007, 16:59

"Is a 10 year paint at say $500 better than a 2 year paint at $50? Nope."

Kinds depends on whether the value of your time and labor and supplies and thinner and all that stuff is really worth nothing too, doesn't it?

To me the paint is the cheapest part of a paint job.

Tnflakbait · 12-04-2007, 18:25

Quote:

Originally Posted by hellosailor

"Is a 10 year paint at say $500 better than a 2 year paint at $50? Nope."

Kinds depends on whether the value of your time and labor and supplies and thinner and all that stuff is really worth nothing too, doesn't it?

To me the paint is the cheapest part of a paint job.

I totally agree. And Interlux Perfection (2 part LPU) Is about 60$ a quart. Thats not too bad. It has very similar results and durability to Awlgrip or sterling.

**Alan Wheeler** · 12-04-2007, 23:41

Spray can paint goes nowhere. If you only want to touch up or do a very small area, then it is worth it. But you will use so many cans to paint a dingy that it will add up to spending some decent money on a litre of paint. A litre of good quality paint is probably only US$25-30 based on what we pay here.