Painting advice needed

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Wandering Star

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I’m about to start painting the topsides which are presently in a poor state. i’ll be painting using a 2 pack paint system.

Research seems to show conflicting advice re the application of the 2 pack primer coats. What I’d like to ask is, do I fill & fair directly onto the topsides gelcoat before applying the first coat of primer or should I apply a first coat of primer and then start the filling & fairing onto the primer once it’s dry. followed - in both cases followed by more filling & fairing as necessary? The hull be cleaned and dewaxed in either case.

Thanks.
 
I agree with Concerto.

Get a first pass of filler on, knock that into shape, get a primer coat on and flat that back.

Then you start to see where you are.

As much as 2 pack paints are tougher and last longer, the wet flatting is a lot harder work.
 
Concerto said:
Personally I would fill and fair before applying the primer. The first coat may will show up areas requiring further filling. This makes the job a lot easier to ensure minor imperfections are picked up. Preparation is everything to obtain an excellent finshed top coat.
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Fixed that for you :)

Get the finish of the gelcoat perfect, then give a coat of primer. That will show up all the bits you missed, Fix them and prime again. Rinse and repeat until it is perfect or you decide life's too short. You're the only one who'll see the minor imperfections, anyway, no one else will notice.
 
Before you start I’ll highlight that a sanding long board is a better tool by a country mile than anything electric. Better finish and way faster
 
Red - it’s red gel coat and I’m too scared to change to a weaker on the eye, colour. For now though, it just prepping & priming and I’ve had a stroke of luck, my next door neighbour worked for Sunseeker in Poole and has offered to help with the Job.
 
Wandering Star said:
Red - it’s red gel coat and I’m too scared to change to a weaker on the eye, colour. For now though, it just prepping & priming and I’ve had a stroke of luck, my next door neighbour worked for Sunseeker in Poole and has offered to help with the Job.
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Sensible choice. Keeping the colour the same means the inevitable dings and scrapes won't show nearly as much. White paint on a red hull, then a fender slips out and you scrape on the pontoon - yikes!
 
Stemar said:
Fixed that for you :)

Get the finish of the gelcoat perfect, then give a coat of primer. That will show up all the bits you missed, Fix them and prime again. Rinse and repeat until it is perfect or you decide life's too short. You're the only one who'll see the minor imperfections, anyway, no one else will notice.
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Agreed. I'm sure it will pass the "fine from twenty feet" test. And yes, I would fill and fair first, then prime. I used single-pack polyurethane and have been very pleased after 3 years, but scuffs have needed touching-up. I might try two-pack next time, which should be more durable (but see post no. 4 above).
 
burgundyben said:
What does your chosen brand of 2 pack paint say about colour of undercoat? And does it allow the final undercoat to be half-n-half?
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I’ve just ordered International Interprotect Epoxy Primer paint (grey) & international Perfection (Rochelle Red) - enough paint for 2 coats of primer and 3 coats of topcoat. Do I need to use an undercoat? I had considered mixing the second coat of primer 50/50 with the red topcoat but then thought since the primers grey, the red topcoat should be fine without my attempts at creating an undercoat? The International Perfection undercoat only comes in White which seems a worse undercoating colour than using the grey primer.
 
I always do a 50/50.

But I reckon if your planning on 3 topcoats you'll be fine.

What brush will you use? My preference is a Hamilton Perfection Plus Synthetic.

Lots of wet flatting ahead.

I love painting boats!
 
burgundyben said:
I always do a 50/50.

But I reckon if your planning on 3 topcoats you'll be fine.

What brush will you use? My preference is a Hamilton Perfection Plus Synthetic.

Lots of wet flatting ahead.

I love painting boats!
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Just finished 2 long days toiling in the sweltering heat prepping Foula for her repaint. How anyone can claim to love painting boats is beyond me! I’m absolutely knackered - seriously! My neighbour is young, strong as an ox, a really hard worker and a perfectionist to boot which means (because he’s doing me a favour) I’m working far beyond my natural physical capabilities! Did I mention how knackered I am?

Anyway a bit more prep on the transom and she’ll be pretty much ready for her first primer coat says my slave master.3D5E5D94-0AD3-41B2-8B3C-EAC7F011B453.jpeg3704BA40-3318-43E2-8AED-FF1E3DD8CA9D.jpeg
 
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Good point. With two pack always remember it’s the temperature of the surface not the air temp. The topsides could easily be 40 degrees in the sun
 
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