Painting - Top coat

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m1taylor

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Hi, on my first wooden boat I have done as much prep as I can (or am prepared to do - SWMBO already fed up!) - loose paint stripped off, primed etc. Rest of paint sanded to provide a good key. So now the top coat. I have been looking at Blakes 'Billiant Enamel' which says it is good on wood. Any views on Blake's paints? Are their better choices? Also colour - the previous was horrible light blue - bit like this website! So are there any pitfalls to avoid in colour choice - I would rather go for solid than pastel. Cream is nice, but on a mud drying mooring not good. Dark blue classy - but shows up dirt? And seagulls love to crap on it? Red - does it fade badly? So possibly green - best choice for a practical colour?
 
I had to get rid of the green on my boat's topsides. Even in Scotland the heat build up causes the planks to move. I went for Blakes Pearl White... just a hint of cream.
Keep it light.
 
Would agree with keeping the colour light - bit more waterline scrubbing needed on a drying berth but no worries about it opening planks. As to paint choice - first year I used International enamel of some sort but never again! Went off rock hard, and as boat took up cracks appeared in the paint on just about every seam! Last year I used Johnstones non drip gloss at £3.99 a litre pot from CDS/the Range here in Plymouth. Needs a long time to go off before letting fenders ride on it, (couple of days at least) but it seems to have a very high latex (or similar) content which lets it stay flexible enough not to crack with seam movement. Have also had very good reports from others on the performance of the Jotun paints range, and know lots of wooden boat owners who swear by, rather than at, Dulux Weathershield.
 
Green a big no-no on a boat .... bit like sailing on a Friday or whistling when you shouldn't .... applies to everything too - sail covers, towels, socks, knickers - don't do it!
 
I've heard that Blakes paints are very good.

We however used International 'Toplac' which has proved very durable. It is considered a 'hard' paint - but it does last and gives a very nice gloss.

Agree with others that a light colour is best.

Donald
 
Now't wrong with green boats, /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif Shame we hadn't got the fenders in before the photo was taken though.
[image]http://i122.photobucket.com/albums/o271/Mickshep/SailingJaninaSCoast2.jpg?t=1171919540[/image]

Double diagonal Burmese Teak, 61yrs old and not a soft spot/cracked frame anywhere,
 
First, my experiences with the colour of topsides:

First boat dark blue - bad plan, seams opened

Next boat bright red - bad plan, seams opened

Third boat was originally pale green - worst plan of the lot, as we lost the rudder off the North Foreland. When she was repainted cream she was fine for the next 11 years.

Fourth and last boat was black when bought, then left-over Navy grey, then Blakes' "Biscay" and is now Epifanes no 26 (pale cream). The pale cream is best for the wood.

Having tried several makes of paint I have come down firmly in favour of Epifanes undercoat and gloss. Definitely out-lasts Blakes and International. Costs a couple of quid more but so what in the boating scheme of things!
 
Any views on Temac paints sold by TRADBOATS?

Mark

Their primer and undercoat are excellent but.............. the top coat is ???? lets say not the quality you will need on a pleasure boat. On a commercial vessel it would probably be OK IMHO!

I used their primer and undercoat and then went with Dulux Weathershield and will do the same again.

Tom
 
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