Gel coat or AwlGrip - Page 2

Finster · #11 03-26-2003, 07:17 PM

Otto, I have interlux sending info on the same stuff your using. Are you going to do that dip and spit or drop and roll, what ever the name of that method is? I figure I'll give it a try? I'm use to spraying but this sound user friendly.

Scott, do you think Sterling is better? Do you have contact info you can hip me to?

[ March 26, 2003, 06:20 PM: Message edited by: Finster ]

Rich · #12 03-26-2003, 08:20 PM

Sterling: http://www.detcomarine.com

I'm following Fellowship's lead, roll and tip sterling. Now, What color should I paint it??

Finster · #13 03-26-2003, 09:07 PM

I was just checking out their site and now I'm thinking of shooting it with there product. I have devilis and HVLC guns already. I just don't feel like dealing with imron or awlgrip.
I'll call their tech tomorrow to see how horrible it is.

Scott · #14 03-26-2003, 11:51 PM

Fin....ask for Doug Templin. He's extremely knowledgeable and helpful and a great guy to talk to... When you figure out the color (down to two or three) they will send you actual paint "chips" (we'll they did for me at least [img]images/icons/smile.gif[/img] ) which represent the actual color over a color chart.

As for it being better .... I cant say .... but Sterling is what I will go with. I have talked with guys (painter) that have used the other "two part's" (Interspray, Imron and Awlgrip) and I really feel its a matter of what they are comfortable with ....as they usually end up putting down the others product. The other thing to keep in mind is that some of these products are much more suited for roll and tip than others .... The marina where I keep my boat uses Awlgrip and Interlux ..... they really didnt care for the Interlux but felt it was a better choice for roll and tipping and is more easily repairable.... But they also spray Awlgrip on Sportfishing boats and yachts up around the 50-60 foot range so I really think they have a comfort level with using that product ..... and I will say the work they turn out is absolutely flawless...but it costs !!!!!!!!! I've also seen three hulls painted with Interspray that had a great finish ... so its really hard to say....

After you spray yours ...I'll bring mine down [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img]

ocuyler · #15 03-27-2003, 12:24 AM

Chris,

We're spraying Interlux Brightside one-part poly on Thursday, having primed and sanded insideand out. Final decision after much waffling is Saffire Blue hull sides and blue-glo white inside. We have talked about 2-part almost exclusively on this site and I was ready to go with Interthane Plus. After finding it difficult to work with on the console and considering UV resistance, gloss life expectancy, etc., I dropped back to Brightside as it's a trailer boat that will be stored inside for the most part and may see 60 days in the atmosphere. Around here, that's 40 sunny days. I feel with good maintainence, It will last for 6 to 8 years. I've never kept ANYTHING for 8 years except my wife and 2 girls...

The primer REALLY showed the anomolies and poorly prepped spots so we're being careful to perfect the prep stage. I'm SO stoked to see the finished product, but it takes alot of patience to not be in hurry to get it done. Images will follow soon. This is the scheme we're going for. Cool huh?

Otto

Eric McNiff · #16 03-27-2003, 01:03 AM

All said and done....at the end of the day it is probably just a matter of preference and what you are more comfortable with. I think you can get good results out of either process if you do it right. I have seen both great paint jobs and great gel coats.

I heard that Sterling paint is a really good product, too. I think it is a little cheaper than Awlgrip as well, isn't it?

Lurch - for the undersides (like under the gunwall?) you can spray gel coat too if you want. I didn't bother - but you could do it if you wanted to. You could probably get good results just wiping it really well with a dewaxing solution (Interlux 402) and just spraying it - the raw glass probably has enough "bite" to hold it without sanding. The nice thing about that is that you don't need to "gloss it up" after spraying (as no one will really see it), so you could spray it and forget it.

Eric McNiff · #17 03-27-2003, 01:07 AM

For gel coat - these work well if you want to spray....all you need is a decent sized compressor:

https://www.minicraft.com/retail/minisprayer.htm

of course, you can roll it or brush it on as well.

Finster · #18 03-27-2003, 08:39 AM

Otto, that rules! Just add the 50mm and your good to go. [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img]

FELLOW-SHIP · #19 03-27-2003, 10:36 AM

SINCE THERE HAS BEEN A LOT OF CONVERSATION ON GEL COAT AND PAINTING STERLING I FIGURED I WOULD CHIME IN A LITTLE. I DID MOST OF MY BOAT ALL THE INSIDE AND MOST OF THE OUTSIDE WITH STERLING THE ROLL AND TIP METHOD, BUT ON THE BOTTOM OF THE BOAT I HAD IT ROLLED WITH GEL-COAT. THIS FOR ME IS THE BEST WAY TO GO (FELLOW-SHIP PERSONAL PREFERENCE).
FIRST OFF EVERYONE SAYS AWLGRIP IS THE BEST FOR SPRAYING AND THAT’S PROBABLY RIGHT BUT IT’S DANGEROUS AND FOR ME, I DIDN’T HAVE THE EXPERIENCE TOOLS AND LOCATION (SPRAY BOOTH) FOR SPRAYING A BOAT. I ALSO HAVE PERSONAL KNOWLEDGE OF A GUY DYING SPRAYING HIS BOAT IN HIS GARAGE WITH THAT STUFF. I LIKE MY SEACRAFT BUT NOT THAT MUCH.
I HAVE BEEN TOLD STERLING PAINT PROPERTIES ARE BETTER SUITED THAN AWLGRIP FOR THE ROLL AND TIP METHOD BECAUSE OF THE TIME IT TAKES TO KICK OFF AT LEAST THAT WHAT THE PROS HAVE TOLD ME AND THAT WAS GOOD ENOUGH FOR ME WHEN I DID MY BOAT. WE HAVE A LOT OF BOAT YARDS DOWN HERE IN FT. LAUDERDALE AND STERLING IS WHAT A LOT OF THEM USE IN THE PLACES THEY CAN’T SPRAY.
AFTER TALKING TO TRAYDER I GOT CONVERTED TO GEL COAT FOR THE BOTTOM OF THE BOAT. SINCE I NEEDED IT DONE ASAP AND I DIDN’T AGAIN HAVE THE FACILITIES TO LIFT THE BOAT UP AND PUT ON CHOCKS AND MOVE THEM AROUND PLUS ANY EXPERIENCE WITH LARGE GEL COAT JOBS I HADE A PRO DO IT FOR ME. I STILL HAVEN’T GOT AROUND TO SANDING IT YET, I HAVE BEEN DOING OTHER SMALLER JOBS ON THE BOAT STILL. I LIKE GEL COAT ON THE BOTTOM FOR TWO MAIN REASONS. FIRST OFF YOU CAN KEEP THE BOAT IN WATER LONGER WITH GEL COAT THAN WITH PAINT. I KEEP MY BOAT ON A TRAILER, BUT IF I EVER DECIDED TO LEAVE IT IN THE WATER FOR OVER 3 WEEKS AT A TIME PAINT AND SALT WATER DON’T GET ALONG YOU COULD GET DAMAGE TO YOUR PAINT JOB. THE OTHER REASON IS GEL COAT CAN BE REPAIRED FROM SCRATCHES AND DINGS (ON THE BOTTOM) FROM GENERAL USE LOADING AND UNLOADING, BEACHING ETC. EASIER THAN A PAINTED HULL. AGAIN THAT’S MY OPINION.
FELLOW-SHIP [img]images/icons/cool.gif[/img]

Rich · #20 03-27-2003, 11:53 AM

FELLOWSHIP,

I am planning on painting the outside of the boat to the waterline with Sterling, and then bottom paint (maybe that go fast Dolphinite paint) for the bottom. I also will probably paint the cap and some of the floor on the inside with sterling. How much paint and primer did you buy to get the job done? Also, if I remember correctly, you had a location down in FL where you purchsed it that will take orders and ship it?

Thanks,

Rich