Painting vinyl dashboard etc

[alpha]

Hi all, and thanks for your answers to previous questions (the cockpit roof looks lovely and the sunroof problem is fixed!)

Next job is to tidy up the black vinyl finish on the dashboard, cockpit sides (internal), bulkhead, etc. It's a good quality vinyl, originally blue, but re-painted some time ago in black.

Now, what paint do I use? I've heard there are special paints for vinyl 'upholstery' but not found any searching the web.

Hope someone's got the answer!

Happy boating all!



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[Gordonmc]

Halfords sell dashboard paint in aerosol form. I was going to try some, but have opted for Polymarine Superflex which is for inflatables. Ordered it from the local chandlers. I am resurrecting a sun-faded sprayhood made from vinyl covered canvas.

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[alpha]

Thanks Gordon (no relation to Gordon Mac of K100 fame?).

Let me know how you get on, please.

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[alpha]

Oh dear!

Superflex is 'Not suitable for use on vinyl'.

Anyone got any other ideas? Or have you used Superflex on vinyl without problems?

(Need to get this solved as the boat is now back in the water and we want to go cruising!)

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[tcm]

Think someone used another esteemed halford product, not so much a paint as a sort of restorative polish "back to black" for faded bumpers and so on. As always, it is suggested that you "try it on a small area first", but bearing in mind that an entire dashboard is in fact a fairly small area anyway, and that you've already spent 15 quid on the stuff, what the hell, slap it all over and hope.

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[mike_kolling]

Try this
http://www.parasolinc.com/Product_General/Display/Product_General.asp?Link=10

I remember an article about Princess 37 in Motor Boats Monthly where the guy used this stuff, looked good in the photos.

Just take a stiff drink before you start painting your dashboard!

Cheers

Mike

PS Are you going to TVR?

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[alpha]

TVR? Enlighten me please?

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[mike_kolling]

Thames Valley Ralley at Henley - or aren't you in Bray Club anymore?

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[BarryH]

Vinylkote is the stuff your looking for. Its OK for a while then starts to look a bit shabby. Best bet is to go to some one like Creech Coachtrimming or Porter Nicholson and get some black vinyl and recover the lot. It'll look alot better and will last a lot longer. You even have the choice of a colour change.

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[Gordonmc]

I said I would post on how I got on with paitning the tired PVC sprayhood.

Did it at the weekend.. I gave the material a good scrub which got rid of some ingrained dirt... but not the blackening of the surface which would not shift with solvent. I assume it is plasticising so left it. The other bad area was the top where the PVC was degraded by UV. First coat went on with a brush. I found thin coats are best and it did not do to overwork as it lifted the black stuff. It only took half an hour to become touch-dry. The carrier is strong stuff... even in the garage with the door open I got a bit light headed and had to go for a breather. It actually softens the PVC surface to get a meld.

Because of some brush-marking I did the second coat with a small roller.

I am fairly chuffed with the result. The top has a lustre again and the blackening has gone. I had to wrestle the frames back into the pockets after leaving it for a few days and this did not cause any damage, so the claim that the paint won't flake stands up so far.

It took one tin to do the sprayhood with two coats with a bit left over for touching up. Fairly dear at just over £20... but worth it if I get a season out of the hood. BTW, Alpha, there was no warning on the tin about using on vinyl. Where did that come from?

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