Painting an inflatable

[2copplane]

Dug my old Wetline 265 airib out of the shed today and it seems the fabric has perished to a beige colour. Apart from the naff colour scheme the dinghy is in great shape with no patches and seems to hold air.
Has anyone positive experience of painting an inflatable and if so which product do you recommend?

 

[AntarcticPilot]

Can't advise, but it would have to be something made for the job. It'll have to fold and stretch like the material of the inflatable, and that'll be different depending on the fabric.

 

[Graham376]

Polymarine sell pvc paint in various colours but it's expensive - PVC paint | Polymarine Paints, Adhesives, Parts & Accessories

 

[Refueler]

My Redcrest was painted by previous owner years before I bought it off him - basically to cover up the RN ID on the stern. I've had that Avon for about 25+ years and over that time - the special paint used has 'rubbed off' in small flake like bits. Even today - it flexes / moves with the material ....

 

[Yngmar]

Friends painted their dinghy with PVC paint every year and swore by it. It was 15 years old and looking spiffy. In the Med that's quite a high age for a PVC dinghy with no chaps - others were falling to bits after 2-3 years (mostly from the glue melting in the sun). No idea what paint it was exactly, but knowing them, it wasn't an expensive one!

 

[2copplane]

Thanks for the advice. Today I went mad with bleach, Siff and pan scrubs and I have to say it was a miracle. Pretty sure I’ve taken a significant layer off the polyester fabric but the dinghy looks pretty good, apart from the Wetline badge which remains stubbornly scabby and brown.
As an experiment I’m going to spray with algecide and then seal with a grp renovation product I found in the shed. The test patch gave a nice satin sheen. I think it’s a urethane sealant so if needed I should be able to strip it off.

 

[arcot]

MDR Amazon not the Amazon
was exceptionally good according to the Practical Sailor article comparing paint for inflatables.
One product lasted a month before looking worn.