repainting wooden hull

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silverdawn

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Hi, I have a wooden boat with clinker type hull it is in very good condition and was last painted 4 years ago by the previous owner using international toplac paints.
I fancy a change of colour but dont fancy paying £21-00 for a litre of toplac, could I use dulux undercoat and gloss, this must have protection from uv when painting our windows and doors which on average lasts about 4/5 years. has anyone tried this, your comments would be welcome.
 
Dulux weatherseal works for me. I paint every year, but given the bump and grind in our harbour that would be necessary whatever paint you use.

R
 
I tried Dulux Weathershield in cream thinking it would work. It didn't - lost gloss and flaked after two years.

I now use Toplac as I believe that formulation for the marine environment (whatever that may be) is more important than uv degradation.

If uv were the issue I think any paint would last 50 years in this bloody climate.
 
I've been tempted by Weathershield but when I experimented I found it tricky to sand and get a good finish. I know it is good stuff - lasts for ages on the windows at home but it is easy to get a reasonable finish on a window frame compared with the side of the hull. Is there a trick?
In the meantime its a coat of Toplac every year cos I can get a colour match and I have some.
 
Stick with the Toplac. Should easily last 5 years. Might offend to pay the price but is worth it in the long run.
 
What do these guys know?!!
I use snowcem on the outside of the house and that lasts 5 years +.
Then there's green bitumastic on the oil tank. That lasts years too ..................................!!!
 
Dulux trade works well enough, but only if the substrate is stable, which tends to limit the life of any paint on wood.
BTW there is plenty of UV in this country, it is the major limitation in paint and plastic longevity.
 
instead of toplac, get to B&Q and buy Japlac.

its exactly the same stuff made in the same big bucket, in the same international factory as toplac ie - its the same paint -different name!

My boat partners cousin works for international and pointed that one out to us last year. Even the same colour card for the stuff, but half the price
 
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Even the same colour card for the stuff

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Well, I aint seen British Racing Green or Canary Yellow Toplac.
 
Is there a trick? Short answer Yes!

Weathershield is a three part paint system and if used correctly will give an equal shine to any of the Marine paints. The paint however is soft for a long while after painting (about a week) so care is needed during this period but after that it can be repainted and touched up easily.

If you have had problems with Weathershield it you not the paint. I wont use anything else on my boat. I even use Weathershield varnish for the brightwork!

Tom
 
For those who have to paint every year. Do you undercoat before topcoat or just topcoat having rubbed down well first? I did just topcoat last year which seemed fine but I wonder if it might be a bit more resilient over the seams with an undercoat. I guess I know the answer as finish is always more time gives more quality but I would be interested in what others do.
 
I prime the bare bits, rub down again, then undercoat then topcoat. My dad looked after the boat for about 40 years, and he didn't bother with the undercoat, and she did not seem to come to any harm. I think the undercoat gives a better finish, and compared to the scraping loose paint and rubbing down, is a relatively quick and easy job.
 
If any paint has failed then you need to rub down prime and undercoat. Top coat is fine if the paint is in good condition and not loose. Then all you need is to rub down, (I wet and dry) then top coat.

Undercoat is what gives the finish so it must be smooth, Top coat is for decoration and protection.

You will see people trying to build with top coat and they almost always get horrible runs in the paint, a good undercoat will allow you to put a thin smooth coat on which can if looked after be recoated without much aggravation!

In short
Primer protects the wood and allows the undercoat to stick.
Undercoat builds the smooth finish.
Top coat is for decoration and protection.

Tom
 
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Even the same colour card for the stuff

[/ QUOTE ]

Well, I aint seen British Racing Green or Canary Yellow Toplac.

[/ QUOTE ]

They deff do a "bright" yellow as I'm repainting the Mirror at the moment. Colour ref is 101 IIRC
 
I have just done a websearch for Japlac paint in my area (SW), All the stores that I found that had any at all had very little choice, black, silver or white is all, got any ideas?

Are you sure that it is the same or very similar to Toplac?
 
Supposidly, but I couldn't be sure. As far as cost goes I don't think it would work out much cheaper any way. Most of the diy places have Japlac, but the largest tin seems to be 500ml. I have paid 17.99 for 750ml from a chandlers for yellow Toplac. Then there is of course the base coat that will be needed for any bear areas of wood which you need to be compatible. If it were me I'd go with Toplac. It stands up to abuse on the Mirror that I have and a mid year T-Cut brings it back to life and removes light imperfections etc.
 
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