so which paint

[FELLOW-SHIP]

One more point in painting. I know you live in Miami and its June. You need at least 6 hrs of no rain after you paint the boat if you are painting outside in the open. It takes a while for the paint to kick. I always first check the weather report first, then paint first thing in the morning and pray that God holds back the rain. There have been several days that I decided on waiting another day.

I painted my boat in 2002 use it 30 to 50 days a year and decided to give another coat of paint just last month. 8 years between jobs is pretty good the reason I gave her another coat was not because the paint was showing any age but as stated above dings and scrapes and abuse from the captain and crew. I spent a day repairing abused locations then I toughed up all dings with a spot coat of paint, then sanded the whole boat and then rolled and tipped one fresh coat of paint. In this way it looks new again. If you roll and tip you have to sand between coats which gives you the chance to perfect you technique. If you spray you can do all coats in one day, if you screw up you can sand last coat smoother and spray one more coat of paint another day. My boat passes the 3 foot look test but no one can pass my wife’s 6 inch magnification test.


FellowShip

………………………….

Just for the Grins

Official Antique Classic SeaCraft Owner

[makade]

I would highly recommend getting a shelter for the paint job, shelter logic makes a 10x20 that you can buy the sides for. I bought one a few years ago at pepboys.

[RS]

but no one can pass my wife’s 6 inch magnification test.

That just sounds wrong on so many levels.

[jorgeinmiami]

Good idea on the shelter

[copout]

Just a thought but body shops are hurting for business. You could posssibly rent a booth or get a quote for them to spray it for you.

[jorgeinmiami]

I thought I had someone but it did not work out
And the one's that would wanted crasy money.
One wanted $2500 and could not paint the bottom.
Another guy wanted $500 and would spray it in my yard and I had to suppy the compressor.

The way it's going my boat may be a 2012 model
The local rental company wanted $65/ day for a compressor but I had to get the gun.
So... I purched a compressor and gun for $125 and let's see how it goes.

[makade]

The signature would be good for the bottom. I did the interior of my boat with it and do plan on painting the hull/bottom with it some day.

[vcs]

I painted my boat with AwlGrip it turned out great, I don't think the $125 compressor is going to put out enough volume of air for you to paint the finish coat. I daisy chained 2 compressors together and was able to paint the primer with no problem but had to use a professional compressor to paint the top coat. You need to put it on wet to get the shine and will need to start at one end of the boat and continue to the other end in one coat. Do not stop half way in between or you will get runs, learned that on the first time. I had to strip the top coat off and start over

[Seacraft84]

Alwgrip is a good paint and comes out good but so does all other paints if sprayed right.
I did my 23 a couple years back with Alwgrip but my next one I will do Alexseal. The alwgrip did not hold up well, especially the bottom. The trailer bunks marked it up pretty good and if you dropped anything on the boat (weights, anchors, chairs, etc..) it seemed to nick and scratch.
My father just built a 23 custom carolina boat and painted it with Alexseal. It seems a little more durable than the alwgrip. I guess time will tell.
But with all that said really all look great. I would just go with what is the best price. Of course none are going to be as strong as gelcoat..

[jorgeinmiami]

Thanks for all the words of encouragement from all of you.

This is the equipment that I got
http://miami.craigslist.org/mdc/tls/1796075388.html
If it's not enough I can still use my nailer for moulding etc...

I hope to have mine come out 1/2 as good as some of the jobs you have done.

Now I just need to make up mine mind on either Signature or Awlgrip. Leaning towards Signature since from what I under stand it may be better for my lungs, although I still plan to use a suit and mask