bilge paint - straight onto fresh GRP repair, primer needed?

[gilesfordcrush]

Hello all,

I have completed a small GRP repair in my chain locker, using the West system epoxy. Do I need primer before painting with bilge paint? The data sheet suggests not, but might it be worth doing?

Giles

 

[VicS]

Hello all,

I have completed a small GRP repair in my chain locker, using the West system epoxy. Do I need primer before painting with bilge paint? The data sheet suggests not, but might it be worth doing?

Giles

Lightly abrading with 180 - 220 grade paper would not be a bad idea. ( International suggest this for Danboline:

Wash down with Super Cleaner, rinse with fresh water and allow to dry. Abrade with 180*220 grade paper.
Particular attention should be given to the reverse side of moulded GRP. No priming necessary.

Concrete floor paint was suggested as an alternative to bilge paint on another thread recently. I guess the problem might be finding a use for the 24.9 litres you might have left over --- unless you paint the garage floor .

 

[PaulRainbow]

Concrete floor paint was suggested as an alternative to bilge paint on another thread recently. I guess the problem might be finding a use for the 24.9 litres you might have left over --- unless you paint the garage floor .

If you purchased the 2.5 litre tin you would have much less left over.

 

[Motor_Sailor]

I don't know how big your repair is, but it's very common for the surface of West Epoxy to become coated with a 'waxy' amine blush, especially if it wasn't red hot and sunny the day you did the repair.

This is easily removed with some warm water and a green scotchbright scourer.

Then giving everywhere else a once over with the same treatment (plus a little washing up liquid or International Super Cleaner) would remove the dirt, grease, wax in the final coat of fibreglass, etc. They are all impediments to getting bilge paint to stick, rather than a need for any mechanical key. The inside surface of grp in chainlockers is not usually a mirror finish.

Rinse it out with fresh water and a scrubbing brush and you're good to go.