epoxy paint hull?

[James]

1. Should I or not? It is a 1970's boat. Not an expensive cruiser. Only 20 foot. But I like her. Then again, I'm not made of money, hanging onto this sailing lark by the skin of my teeth, but then again I like to do a job right, which means looking after your boat, right? No sign of osmosis yet.

2. If I do epoxy her, I was thinking of using gel shield 200 or is it 2000? You know the stuff, yeah? I was thinking of a green coat then a grey - ie 2 coats only.

Is all I have to do, strip down to the gel shield, wash, bit of wet and dry and then paint away?

Thank you

 

[Guest]

I carried out this job on a 22ft long keeled boat about five years ago.
Yes, it was worthwhile. But I suspect you are underestimating the work involved.
Removing many years antifouling is not a simple or easy task, if done by hand. It is hard work and may involve a health risk. The cleaning solvents are caustic and anti-fouling dust is also a hazard.
I followed the instructions that came with the Gelshield and alternated grey and green coats of paint, until I had five coats. I suspect two coats would be cosmetic rather than protective.

 

[lezgar]

Before to do it you have to know the moisture level of the hull. If moisture is high epoxy will avoid natural dry out of the hull.

 

[Guest]

Just done mine (6 coats)

Just epoxied mine, a westerly chieftan 26', it took 2 of us 3 days to clean back and prepare the surface, and another 3 days to paint with 4 hours between coats(3 a day) followed by 2 coats of antifoul.

I worked well using the 2 colours, was easy to apply.

I can't comment on protection yet as I has not long gone back in the water

Malcolm

 

[Miker]

Can it be done in the winter?

My boat ia coming out this month and judging from last year I ought to take off all the antifouling back to gel coat this time. I thought of getting it slurry blasted.

Can I put on the epoxy in the winter or does the temperature need to be warm?

 

[Danny]

Re: Can it be done in the winter?

I am currently applying gelshield 200 to my Spanpdragon 24. I chose it as it can be applied down to 5 c although it it best not below 10 c. There is no problem in leaving it for a long period before the next coat when the weather is suitable up to 6 months. You will have to apply the first coat of antifouling within a day or two of the of the final primer coat (sorry the paint has dripped down over the exact figures). Have fun with the scraping.

 

[Guest]

I am no expert of plastics as I prefer boats buit from trees, they smell nicer when you cut them, but understood that osmosis is caused when water reacts with free styrene to produce a high osmotic pressure in the resulting fluid. The risk or rate of this happening is dependent on the degree of free styrene left in the laminate, hence modern huls are cured under climate controlled conditions. Some old boats suffered badly because the production control was sloppy. On the other hand some where bilt in a tin shed in summer with good mixed and have no problems. If your boat has done 30+ yaers without problems it could be compleatly unessasary.

As a final note moisture meter dont always work. I recently had a scare when selling my house because the survayor said it had rising damp, 80% on meter. When rentokill came to assess the walls they use a core sample test where they dill into the wall and test a sample from the middle, this read 4%! Seams I had condensation because the house was empty and unheated which fooled the meter which only took a sefice reading. the same proble applies with all conductivity test meter in all materials so the man said so I would expect it applies to boat as well as bricks.

Roly, Voya Con Dios, Glasson, Lancaster