Do I have to use Yacht paint ? or will Dulux do ?

Applescruffs

Applescruffs

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I am thinking about painting the topsides of my boat with Hempel Multicoat, apparently it's just what I need and has a nice semi-matt finish...however the colour I want, Pastel Green, is no longer available...

Now ..I do have a full pot of white Multicoat and a little of the hull colour, Toplac dark green, left over from painting the hull... do you think can I mix the two together to get the colour I want...or should I just go to B&Q and get a tin of Dulux?? would Dulux work ? if so ...why do we buy yacht paint?

I don't need to paint the non-slip areas....its just the coach roof and the cockpit,

Cheers guys....I know someone out there knows
 
Technically the topsides is the hull above the waterline but that's just being pedantic. I have heard of some using dulux weather shield for your purposes
 
You can use any paint you like. However to get a really good finish requires significant preparation before applying the final coat, so why risk it all using a paint not designed for the job?
 
Tranona said:
You can use any paint you like. However to get a really good finish requires significant preparation before applying the final coat, so why risk it all using a paint not designed for the job?
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Agreed - and in my opinion Dulux oil-based paints have gone seriously downhill in quality since they tried to make them more environmentally friendly.

About 40 years ago I regularly used Dulux on boats' decks and topsides: certainly would not do so now. I'd pay the money and use Epifanes. I like their varnish and their glosses get good reports.
 
I have used and when necessary continue to use Sandtex Extra Flex gloss.
Lasts for a good 5 years. can be painted on when the temperature is above 5 degrees (try that with Toplac!)

The paint on the picture is 3 years old. Minor retouching going on where a chain scratched the bow.

2014-03-17 17.55.43.jpg
 
I have used Trade Gloss weathershield for many years on boats, and found it just as durable and sometimes better than Marine paints. Its important to get Trade Paint not DIY store grades, from a decorators Merchant. The cheap domestic DIY grades are nothing like as good.

As to finish, no paint will give a 'yacht finish' (i.e boat show standard ) without a great deal of careful preparation, and a lot of care in application. Dulux Trade will look and perform just as well as Hemel or International if the preparation and application is right. Arguably the Dulux does better if the prep has been skimped. It seems to stick better on an indifferently prepared surface, and is less likely to lift.

Avoid cheap and cheerful DIY store domestic paints though, they are too soft and will need recoating much sooner.

I once painted an old GRP boat in dark blue Weathershield. I sold it on, and it was never repainted until it was broken up nearly ten years on. The boat was rotten, but the paint had survived and looked for the most part as good as the day I applied it, in spite of considerable neglect after the owner abandoned it.
 
If you have a tin of Multocoat and are happy with the satin finish you might as well go with that. I've had great success with Multicoat as it goes on easily and seems to hide (rather than highlight) any imperfections. Admittedly, I have only used it on deck and coach areas so far.

Another advantage of a semi-matt paint is that no amount of polishing and waxing will give a 'wet look' finish so you can save yourself a lot of effort and not bother!
 
Cheers Guys,

I'm not looking for anything like a boat show finish, the boat's over 50 years old and, like me, no matter how hard I try it aint ever gonner look good !

I'll have a go at mixing the Toplac and Multicoat ....

I mean....what could possibly go wrong ???
 
Binman said:
Fantastic finish, what paint was used, was it sprayed, aren't going to gain much without the facts.
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AFAIK it was sprayed in two-pack, over 6 years before that photo ( of a Fastnet 34 ) was taken. I have also seen a couple of boats with similar level finishes hand-painted, but by a professional painter.

I had a navy blue GRP hulled boat of my own Awlgrip sprayed about 30 years ago, finish similar but I have no photos. Kept the boat another 8 years or so, and the hull still looked immaculate when I sold it, though the teak decks were shot....

Always amazes me that some people won't buy a painted boat. A quality two pack paint finish beats gelcoat hands down, it's harder, glossier, and it's extremely unlikely that anyone has done a superb paint job to cover a bodged damage repair. And on an older boat a decent Toplac or similar one-pack job is better than tired GRP.
 
I second what oldharry says about Dulux trade Weathershield gloss. On my last (aluminium) boat I found it more durable than any single-pack yacht paint that I tried.
 
I've had a look at the Dulux etc. paints in B&Q, they all say that their OK for wood or metal.....I'm guessing from what you guys are saying that it will be OK for GRP ?

The surface has gone 'chalky' so will need a good rub down first.....but the thing that drew me to Hemple Multicoat was that it says its a primer as well as finishing coat , and I'm guessing a bit thicker as well ?

Cheers.
 
Make sure the B&Q Weathershield is 'Trade' grade paint, not domestic DIY stuff. Proper weathershield is a two coat system, with an undercoat/primer which gives body to the paint, and being fairly thick can be rubbed down really throughly without going through it, followed by a much thinner gloss coat which gives a first class finish, and is capable of being properly brushed out, to give a decent finish.

But whatever you use, proper preparation is absolutely essential.
 
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