Painting A Steel Boat

[raven]

I've recently acquired a 28' steel Robert Tucker designed yacht. I am mindful of the importance of keeping her well protected / painted. Whilst the current paint job is okay I want to use the opportunity of the winter lay-up to get another coat on.

The boat has been painted with chlorinated rubber which, whilst not giving the glossy finish associated with other types of paint, provides good protection against dinks and scrapes. However, I understand it is difficult to apply and apart from that, I have a hankering for something more shiney.

Anyone on the panel got any advice / experience that they would care to pass on?

 

[Ships_Cat]

Depends on whether you want to start again from sand blasted shiny metal and apply epoxy build and polyurethane top coats and carry the cost of all that.

If so you will find specifications on any of the marine/industrial paint supplier's sites or they will give you one if you call them. If not prepared to start again from blasted metal then you are pretty much stuck with continuing with the comparatively poor performance system that you now have.

John

 

[cliff]

As John says, to change the paint system you will need to blast back to bare (white) metal and start again. the alternative is stick with what you have.
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"Artificial intelligence is no match for natural stupidity"
sailroom <span style="color:red">The place to auction your previously loved boatie bits</span>

 

[raven]

Thanks John,
The performance of the current paint coating seems okay - it has provided good cover and will stand a dink or two. The surveyor actually commented on the quality of the paint job. There is absolutely no corrosion evident either visibly or from meter tests. The inside of hull has been coated in bitumen pitch and further covered with wax oyl.

My main concern is, as a new owner, to keep it up to scratch and if possible to improve the aesthetic appearance.

It would certainly worry me (at this stage) to blast it back to bare metal, but is there any harm in keying in another topcoat and is it possible to cover chlorinated rubber paint with another (higher gloss) type of coating?

 

[Ships_Cat]

Chlorinated rubbers are now rarely (and that for a long time) used on pleasure vessels and assuming it is an industrial grade one, as far as I know they can be recoated with themselves and vinyl acrylics, but you would be well advised to seek the advice of the paint manufacturer whose products you intend using.

Whatever, as best I know you will end up with an "industrial" finish rather than a "yacht" type one such as would be obtained with epoxies and polyurethanes.

However, while I have used chlorinated rubbers but it would be more than 25 years or so ago now. Had a quick look and it seems most industrial paint manufacturers keep it in their product range still, for occasions where it is not pactical to use a more modern two pot.

John

 

[tugboat]

I am in the same situation as you except that the finish on my topsides is so rubbish that I really have to do something. Problem is you can't overcoat chlorinated rubber with anything else. The rubber paint is essentially a slightly soft coating, so if you overcoat with a conventional paint (assuming you could get decent adhesion), as soon as you nudge against a quayside/other boat your new paint will crack as the c-r paint flexes underneath. You would probably also get crazing of the new paint due to expansion and contraction over the seasonal changes.
Chlorinated rubber is a bu**er to remove as abrasives instantly clog and become ineffective. Blasters tell me that the blasting medium tends to just bounce off the c-r paint so the job takes a long time and is expensive. I contacted the Farrowsystem people as well but they weren't able to help either. The only method I have found effective is paintstripper which is a long arduous job and promotes doom, gloom and despondency. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif
My advice, for what it's worth is, if your c-r paint is sound and the finish is 'acceptable' leave well alone.
Incidentally, all of us with c-r coating will eventually have to do something as c-r paint is being phased out for the marine market. Modern c-r conconctions for other purposes such as cargo containers are not compatible apparently. I'm cussing the previous owner who put the stuff on my boat!

 

[rogerthebodger]

If you wish to have a nice glossy finish on your steel boat this is what you need to do
Grit Blast

Then Paint with Epoxy

Then fill and sand then fill and sand then fill and sand >>>>>>>>>>>

Which I am currently doing

Then Spray with polyurathane

 

[raven]

Thanks Tugboat,

You've dealt with one of the other concerns I had, that of trying to key an overcoat into the existing one. I had worried that by it's nature it would be difficult to abrade the cr and you confirm this.

I have been in touch with a paint manufacturer in Bolton Lancs called Firwood who make a range of cr paint preparations as well as other "compatible" coatings. I will investigate further and let you know if I find out anything new.

 

[raven]

Cheers Roger, like the look of your Hartley - and the band of willing helpers that you seem to have on hand - do they travel?

If I was starting from a bare hull, I think I would follow your lead, however I'm loathe to blast back to metal given that there is nothing really wrong with the protective layer I have other than aesthetice. Guess the time will come when I'm going to have to swallow hard.

A good friend of mine had a Hartley Tahitian in Ferro. Fantastic boat that you could sail anywhere - looks like yours is shaping up the same - good luck with her.

 

[rogerthebodger]

Hi Raven
Band of willing helpers well ??? this is Africa.

Yes she is comming on OK but interesting this is a lavranos 50 with all bells an whistles my Hartley is next door and has cancer which we will repair after we finish L 50
My Hartley is in the background

The designer's web site is here

 

[tugboat]

You're welcome, sorry I couldn't be more positive. I've done my transom (which took ages) and I'm 'waiting for the sap to rise' to start on the sides. My decks were done as well, between the non-slip pads (I think the previous owner must have bought in bulk!). Blakes suggested I try their Multicoat to overcoat that, but I've been caught out by the weather. I'd certainly be glad of any info you glean from your contacts. Fortunately I'm not working to a deadline to get afloat (due to a family situation) but it would be nice to get the boat looking smart as she sits in the yard in full view. Hout Bay 33 BTW.