Epoxy primer or not?

[Marakei]

I am restoring an old Westerly 22. My aim is to go sailing rather than achieve a pristine result.

I have removed most of the old antifouling and primer from the hull.

After various experiments, I dry scraped the flat sections of the hull, and used RemovAll paint stripper on the curved areas, as I found the scraper tended to gouge those.

My question is, should I use an epoxy primer (probably International VC Tar2) or should I just slap some Primocon on? It says on the instructions that epoxy primers work best on a dry hull, and as my boat has been in the water for most of the past fifty one years, I doubt she is all that dry.

However, I've also been told that the epoxy primer will give far better sealing and protection to the hull and keels than just using Primocon.

What do you think?

 

[VicS]

I am restoring an old Westerly 22. My aim is to go sailing rather than achieve a pristine result.

I have removed most of the old antifouling and primer from the hull.

After various experiments, I dry scraped the flat sections of the hull, and used RemovAll paint stripper on the curved areas, as I found the scraper tended to gouge those.

My question is, should I use an epoxy primer (probably International VC Tar2) or should I just slap some Primocon on? It says on the instructions that epoxy primers work best on a dry hull, and as my boat has been in the water for most of the past fifty one years, I doubt she is all that dry.

However, I've also been told that the epoxy primer will give far better sealing and protection to the hull and keels than just using Primocon.

What do you think?

If you want to give the boat long term protection against osmosis then now is the time to consider an epoxy primer. You will have to remove all the old coating and prep the hull as described in the data sheet and maybe you should check the moisture level and dry the hull before applying.

A W22 is an old boat to be considering for osmosis protection, perhaps ?

If you decide on an epoxy primer consider the use of Gelshield 200 vs VC Tar2. Either way not a job to be undertaken lightly as it needs good weather ( or indoor facilities / polythene tent) to apply multiple coats within the specified max overcoating times

If you want to go sailing next summer rather than be drying the hull then its probably Primocon and antifouling

 

[Pete7]

Unless you can get the hull really dry you could end up with problems between the gelcoat and any new epoxy coat. This happened to us on a previous boat. Gelcoat was is really good condition but bubbles appeared between the Gelcoat and the expensive two part paint sprayed on by the previous owner.

If its 50 years old and in good condition then I would Primocon a couple of coats and then antifoul. This can be done now over the winter. Not sure you could really dry the hull and paint much before late Spring as expoxy is very temperature dependent.

Pete

 

[Marakei]

Thank you for the useful advice.

Useful to know that my vague misgivings about putting epoxy on a presumably wet hull were justified.

As there is no point in spending lots of time and effort drying the hull of what is effectively an 'old banger' boat, it's Primocon and going sailing for me!