Looking for advice on hull repaint

[Boatbore]

Haven’t posted for a while but thought I would canvass your opinions.

I sold my Ferretti 57 in early 2017, and have downsized to a sexier (well faster !) sunseeker superhawk 50. Triple yanmars, fixed trimax surface drives and a lot of fun. Used her over the summer in 2017, but have entered into a fairly major refit over the winter. She is pretty much the ideal Boat for what we do so I figured I would rather spend the money on bringing her to exactly what I want rather than trying to find a modern equivalent. (This is not the craziest thing I have ever done Boat wise, but it’s probably not far off!)

One of the many major jobs is to repaint the hull in blue and would love to get your advice and experiences. I would like to use a metallic paint to make the 2002 boat look a bit more modern, and the paint shop I have been in touch with has suggested Awlcraft SE Bahia Blue Metallic. My uncertainties are :

1) awlcraft vs awlgrip vs any other paint brands ? I am told awlgrip is better in terms of hard wearing but awlcraft is easier to apply (and therefore cheaper). Does anyone have a view on that , or indeed whether any other major paint manufacturers metallic paints are as good or better ?

2). I am worried that the Bahia blue is actually too “blue”. The boat will live in the med and the bright sunlight will catch the metallic and make it brighter than I ideally want. The current hull colour is “flag blue” which is that standard sunseeker navy blue non metallic colour. I like the shade but want the metallic effect. Any suggestions ?

Thanks in advance for any thoughts and views.

 

[Boat2016]

Awlgrip is probably one of the best marine paints you can get, never yet heard anything negative said about it, I’m sure I would have done if there were any issues. Is it possible to get a sample or see a boat in that colour so you can see what it’s really like?
It’s also worth considering a wrap, at least then it’s easily put back to original if you not happy or want to sell

 

[Boatbore]

Thanks. I agree with the awlgrip reputation but the recommendation so far has been for Awlcraft. I need to understand a bit more around one versus the other. I did consider the wrap alternative but the general advice was that it would wear badly and although it was cheaper, it wasn’t cheap enough (about 65% of the painting price). Because the boat is long and narrow, there is a lot of hull, so marks in the vinyl over time would be quite visible. The general view seems to be that scratches or marks on the paint would be less likely........ or at least less easily made.

 

[Portofino]

I understand the Itama fraternity in Italy ,when a refit includes a hull paint job choose Dupont products over Awlgrip .
The reason is Dupont is easier to touch up after a scratch.

I would be inclined to stick to “flag blue “ the correct colour .
Your S Hawk 50 with 3x Trimax is timeless classic , look after it :encouragement: Keep the external as original as poss .
Interior wise ( you have not mentioned this area ) then sure - there’s scope for - how can I say it ? - = updating for sure ie getting rid of the high gloss cherry and cream carpets etc .

Any pics of as is now ?

Btw wrap and fast boat are a no no - it delaminates and peels off starts at the bow impact area

 

[Boatbore]

This is what she looks like now.

 

[Boatbore]

And this is what I want her to look like.

 

[Portofino]

See what you mean - she looks like the dogs wedding tackle in the 2nd pic —- v up to date .
I think Looking at it again the boat lends itself to updating .

Is that the Baldricks ?
If so here’s a link to a good resto firm
http://www.vermellyachts.com/en/

 

[Boat2016]

Btw wrap and fast boat are a no no - it delaminates and peels off starts at the bow impact area

Where did you hear that ? they have been wrapping high speed craft and helicopters for a while now and curious to know who’s had a problem with it peeling off as not been told of that one yet, been researching hull wraps in a big way as I’m looking at doing same as the OP with a boat I’m currently looking at as don’t like the hull colour

 

[petem]

And Jet planes!

 

[petem]

I like the original. I definitely wouldn't but someone else's idea of what a good paint job is! And on that basis, I have to say a wrap is the way to go.

Pete

 

[Boat2016]

I like the original. I definitely wouldn't but someone else's idea of what a good paint job is! And on that basis, I have to say a wrap is the way to go.

Pete

I always like the option of going back to original if I don’t like the result or a future purchaser wants to so that’s why I suggested a wrap, remember your taste is not always someone else’s

 

[petem]

I'd do the radar arch in silver too.

Be wary too of painting any surfaces (like the top of the bathing platform) that someone will stand on as it will burn their feet.

 

[Bandit]

I had my 2001 48 ft Aquastar spray painted in 2013, she had been in Portugal and the sun had taken its toll.

I chose the closest to an Aquastar blue and it was sprayed in Awlgrip. Spray job 10k vat free, a vinyl wrap would have been about 5k.

Its a million times better than then it was. All that needs to be done is a good wash instead of a cut and chamois off rather than a polish or a cut and polish. The paint job has paid for itself now.

I would choose a colour and finish like the original boats, not a one off wonderful colour.

I looked at a metalic finish painted boat and i wondered if you scratched it would the touch up show. Give me a solid colour every time.

Give the prep job ie rub down, fill and sand as well as de grease, to the co that does the spray job so one co to sort it out if a problem.

PM me if you want details.

 

[Portofino]

Where did you hear that ?

I’ve seen it on boats lifted in the yard .
It’s to do with the shape of the bow and the position of the spray rails - those bits of “ Tolberone “ attached .
If they ride up above the waterline then the wrap is pounded off - delaminates .
I have not got any pics of the failed wraps but can post a few pics of what I mean

Here you can see the Tolberone is below the water line - does not get wrapped .If wrapping was done it would end at the white stripes on smooth surface .
https://imgur.com/gallery/sBPmS

View attachment 68389
Here I have marked in red where I have seen wrap delaminate on two fast boats in the yard at random 1 week in May .

 

[Boatbore]

I think they wrap the race boats and they go a bit faster than mine, so I did consider it, but the examples of hull wraps that I looked at just didn’t look that great after just a year or two.

I think it depends on who does it and what quality of wrap is used but given it was only about 30% more expensive to paint it I thought I would go with that. What I really don’t seem able to get much info on is whether there is any other quality paint manufacturer with a darker blue metallic option (than the Awlcraft Bahia blue).

 

[Boatbore]

Thanks Bandit, That real experience is useful. My paint quote is more than twice yours though ! I may need to do some more digging.

 

[Boatbore]

Thanks PeteM. Also helpful. I am painting the bottom strip of the bathing platform because it looks much cooler ! Ii don’t think it will be a problem for overheating because I am putting new teak (flexiteek G2) on the platform itself, and the whole thing is mostly wet there anyway and not so prone to getting hot.

I am removing the passarelle if anyone is looking for one. besenzoni’s finest......but too heavy for this boat. Well too much weight in the wrong place anyway.

 

[Portofino]

I think they wrap the race boats and they go a bit faster than mine, so I did consider it, but the examples of hull wraps that I looked at just didn’t look that great after just a year or two.

I think it depends on who does it and what quality of wrap is used but given it was only about 30% more expensive to paint it I thought I would go with that. What I really don’t seem able to get much info on is whether there is any other quality paint manufacturer with a darker blue metallic option (than the Awlcraft Bahia blue).

Yep agree ^^^
Investigate Dupont before committing.:encouragement:

Well with painting I herd some yards have a baking oven like cars I think the Monaco marine @ Cogolin ( SOF ) have a large one .
I guess it’s just reputation, that “ WILD “ group look ok
Lucci in Roma do a lot of Itama s
https://imgur.com/gallery/hWPXu

 

[Portofino]

I always like the option of going back to original if I don’t like the result or a future purchaser wants to so that’s why I suggested a wrap,

Caveat, they can leave permanent micro indentations in gelcoat. Wraps are perforated so they wrap around compound curves and allow air bubbles to escape during application. These tiny holes leave a pattern in the gelcoat upon removal, just like the outline left behind after removing vinyl decals. All of this can be wet sanded flush, then polished out.
If the gelcoat was iffy before the wrap , it could look more iffy after a sanding .

 

[crossy]

I had our Sunseeker Portofino re-sprayed by Desty Marine a few years back and still remain chuffed to bits with it.




I went for Awlcraft 2000 instead of Awlgrip as, while Awlgrip is more robust, Awlcraft 2000 is a fully repairable system. In fact i've just had a few scratches repaired by Desty a few weeks back and you can't see where the marks were.

Really impressed!