need paint job - know a good yard?

[schilde]

I need to get the hull repainted on my 22' GRP bilge keeler. Can anyone recommend a good yard in the Plymouth area? Also any idea of the cost? This year I want to do the whole thing, not just antifoul.

Many thanks

 

[dah]

Why not do it yourself?. I am not the world's most competent diy'er but I did my Westerly Centaur several years ago and it still looks good (colour dark green). Give your current surface a good going over with fine wet and dry (wet!!), clean with a good quality lint free cloth, and then paint. I used Toplac International which goes on like normal household gloss. Lay it on with a small short haired roller, about a foot at a time and then go over with a good quality(important) brush , about 4 inch. Lay off in vertical. You will be surprised at the result. Also not having spent hundreds of pounds having it done professionally, the odd scratch or two does not seem to matter so much.

 

[Athene V30]

Did you paint in open air or undercover?

I did a little painting (cove lines etc) using International Brightside a couple of weeks ago in open air and all seems well but did not have courage to do all the topsides. Rather than laying off with a bristle brush I used a foam brush.

Boat now back in water - maybe next winter!

 

[dah]

Peter,
I did mine in the open air, but you do have to get the weather right. No wind (or the paint goes off too quickly), and about 15 degrees c. The answer to a good finish lies in the preparation. As I said I am a very(honest) average DIYer but with a little care and lots of prep you will be amazed at the end result. Also I did use a one pot paint (Toplac) which was not too different from household gloss. GO FOR IT! Save yourself a fortune.

 

[schilde]

Dah, Peter,

Many thanks for your encouragement. Maybe I should just get the boat lifted and make a start. You make the painting part sound easy, but what about all the old antifoul that needs to be removed, surely I am likely to damage the old paint underneath and need to start with primer? Antifoul remover doesn't sound much fun. Can I have a little more encouragement?

Thanks
Steve