Not impressed by Toplac paint, what is a good alternative.

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Jcorstorphine

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I purchased some Toplac blue for the hull and white for the 2” trim line just above the boot topping to recoat my previously "Brightside" painted hull (same colours)

I had however almost enough Brightside Blue left over from the previous painting exercise (about 6/7 years ago) for one coat so decided to thin it down slightly and painted the hull and ended up with a good finish. I put it on with a foam roller and tipped it off with a very fine varnish roller. No air bubbles, no runs and quite an acceptable finish.

The plan was to let that lie for a few days (within the overcoating period) and use Toplac for a final coat as the Toplac and Brightside colours were very close and according to International, the two paints are compatible.

However I decided today that not having used Toplac before, I would try it out on the 2” white trim line first. What a bl**dy disaster, Toplac is c**p compared to Brightside. As soon as I opened the can I perceived a problem in than it was very watery, in fact is was thinner than my 6 year old Brightside which had been thinned with white spirits.

The Toplac was runny, dripped off the roller, caused air bubbles and would not flat out. Obviously I am doing something wrong, but what?

The unopened Toplac Blue paint is going back to the Chandlers so I am looking for suggestions as to what alternative paint to buy.
 
Daft question but did you stir it? My boat is painted in Toplac and I think it's actually quite thick...
 
Iain C said:
Daft question but did you stir it? My boat is painted in Toplac and I think it's actually quite thick...
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Stirred it and stirred it but still runny, wonder if it was a bad batch. Might write to International. To be honest it really was thin, it looked like the cheapest of the cheap and of course not cheap.
 
I've just repainted the style stripe on my boat with Toplac and I would agree with the concensus that it is nice to use, definitely not too thin. I just used a brush, no roller. I guess you got a duff can.
 
Can't say I've used it, but are you sure you got all the solids from the bottom of the tin. They can be really tricky to get back into solution. Sometimes a big screwdriver digging around the bottom of the can is needed.
 
Not a goood idea to thin polyurethane paint (Brightside) with white spirit, you will probably reduce the lifespan of the finish. Toplac needs to be tipped off with a brush or foam pad, so not surprised the result wasn't very good. Have you tried Internationals helpline, I've always found it very useful for application advice. I've mainly used International anti-fouling but if you try Akzo Nautical it is cheaper than epifanes and should give you a good result.
 
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Tam Lin said:
OMG now you've got me worried! I have 2 tins of blue Toplac just waiting for it to get warm enough to use them! I won't be able to sleep tonight - better go and open them now!
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Yes it does look a bit thin but the colour seems to be there. It certainly looks like it will spread a long way. Haven't used it before so not sure how it should really look. Mine is 105 Oxford Blue, is it the same?
 
Tam Lin said:
Yes it does look a bit thin but the colour seems to be there. It certainly looks like it will spread a long way. Haven't used it before so not sure how it should really look. Mine is 105 Oxford Blue, is it the same?
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Used exactly that colour on my boat. Lost count of the years but think the first coat lasted over 5 years and had one refresher for another 5 years. Since then have blasted it all off and refinished with the same stuff. Far better than the previous international enamel, particularly colour and gloss retention.
 
Tranona said:
Used exactly that colour on my boat. Lost count of the years but think the first coat lasted over 5 years and had one refresher for another 5 years. Since then have blasted it all off and refinished with the same stuff. Far better than the previous international enamel, particularly colour and gloss retention.
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+1
 
I have not had any disasters but I just do not 'like' International paints always seem too thin. Epiphanes or Craftmaster for me, depending what I am painting.
 
I bought four tins of Toplac when I changed the colour of my 36 footer to black, topsides only.
When applying the only problem I had was maintaining a wet edge, rolling and tipping, as I was on my own.
A dollop of Owatrol helped.
However, in the first season I found the paint was soft. It only needed a look at a fender to rub down to the primer.
I have just repainted using the same paint becaue I was not going to throw away two unopened tins at the price.
But I wonder if the Owatrol made the cured paint soft?
Thoughts anyone?
In future I will save some money and use Weathershield
 
Tranona said:
Used exactly that colour on my boat. Lost count of the years but think the first coat lasted over 5 years and had one refresher for another 5 years. Since then have blasted it all off and refinished with the same stuff. Far better than the previous international enamel, particularly colour and gloss retention.
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I feel reassured by your post - thanks! I guess the only way that I will find out is by using it!
 
Wow, my two year old post has been kick started!

I dug out my can of Toplac white paint as I had to make good some white along the trim line. Two year on it is still rubbish, still bubbles under the roller and still gives poor coverage. In 50 years of painting boats it is without doubt, the worst paint I have ever come across. I recon I would have been better off with the cheapest smart price B & Q offering rather than this rubbish.

Incidentally, I did take it up with International and they claimed that there were no problems with my batch number, they would of course say that. I think the comments made at the time that it was down to “my technique”.

How is it I can paint the rest of hull with Brightside using a foam roller, tipped it off with a very fine varnish roller and get people asking if I had the hull sprayed professionally?

My technique, my @r$* If as others have said, Toplac is very good then the can i had was substandard!!!!!!
 
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