Painting pre-painted GRP hull

[allyneil]

I have bought a sailing boat with a painted GRP hull. The paint job looks extremely good but is getting tatty with scuff marks and scratches so I want to paint her and change the colour at the same time.

Before I have only owned wooden hulled boats so am wondering what to do with this and could do with some advice.

1) Can I simply rub down the hull with wet and dry and repaint?

2) Do I need to use special paint (previously I have always used Dulux with good effect on wood - at least as good as International)

3) How difficult is it to get a good finish with specialist paint (ie International 1 pot)

Thanks for any tips.

 

[Phoenix of Hamble]

A popular technique is called 'tip and brush'. One of the magazines (I think it was PBO) did a series on how to do a while back over about 3 magazines...

Done well it can apparently produce a finish almost as good as spraying...

 

[jamesgrant]

A lot depends upon paint previously used.
If it is a hard paint you will be laughing. If it is a 'soft' paint you will have more rubbing down to do (especially if you are going to use International which is a hard paint) No point having hard on top of soft.
if it is a hard paint, and not an expensive boat, i'd wet and dry well, prime , wet and dry, clean, paint - either roll followed by second person with pad or spray for a beaut finish - intnll paint is good, but expensive, there are alternatives, but intll does apply easilly.

 

[oldsaltoz]

G'day Raven-20 and welcome to the YBW forums,

[ QUOTE ]
1) Can I simply rub down the hull with wet and dry and repaint?

2) Do I need to use special paint (previously I have always used Dulux with good effect on wood - at least as good as International)

3) How difficult is it to get a good finish with specialist paint (ie International 1 pot)

[/ QUOTE ]

1-Never start sanding till all contamination has been cleaned off, old polish, chemical spill etc, failure to clean first will result in contaminant being spread rather than removed, silicon can be a big problem.

2-You need to ensure the primer or top coat is compatible with the existing paint.

3- Spraying will give a good result, roll on trip off will also give a good finish but may require 2 people and more then one coat in many cases.

Have look here, it will answer most if not all of your questions.

http://www.yachtpaint.com/UK/default.asp

Andavagoodweekend......