Rolling and tipping off Toplac

Many years ago I repainted our first boat with Toplac. Weather ws just warm enough, with enough sun for the paint to go off quickly, but not so warm that you lost you wet edge.

I used a foam mini roller then tipped off horizontaly, the theory being any brush marks would flatten as the paint shrank back better than vertical motion. Its the line of the boat, horizontal too.
 
It's counter-intuitive, but vertical tipping off is what I was shown by a pro, and works better for me.

I think what works best depends on the paint, the painter, the temperature, the smoothness of the substrate etc etc.
Try different brushes etc and see what works for you.
I find the foam rollers (I try to buy Harris) and foam 'Jenny Brushes' are a good compromise.
But you may find the film thickness is quite low.

Practice on a sheet of hardboard suitably undercoated?
 
Whatever you do, spend plenty of time on preparation - that's the key to success. Don't assume the next coat will be smoother. I rolled on with foam and tipped off horizontally with a quality brush. I'm happy with my finish but it could be better.
 
Foam roller and foam brush.

The really critical thing is how much brushing thinners you add. Set up a piece of glass nearly vertical and do a practice roll and tip. If it sags add more paint and try again, if the brush stokes don't flow out add more thinners. Wipe the glass clean between trials.

If you are doing a large boat say 40 ft plus you may need to readjust the thinners half way.

I have seen guys in Trini do this and produce a finish that is near perfect.
 
Foam mini rollers (get good ones. Cheap ones come off the core when the solvent gets to them)
I don't use a brush to tip off. I use the exhausted roller before re-charging it in the paint tray. Always tip off with a downward stroke. Which way do runs go? Downward of course, so you go the same way to take any excess down and spread it more evenly.
If you use the foam roller to tip off there won't be brush marks. Obviously.


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Just done mine.
Used Harris foam roller and tipped vertically at first but tippee (wife) changed to horizontally as it seemed to give a better finish.
Our first attempt, but very pleased with result.
It could have been better but I hadn't perfectly smoothed the boat and even a slight ripple will show, I also missed a spider crack I should have spotted.
Also, I think I could have put more paint on. I didn't use a whole 750 ml can on a 26ft boat and it could really do with a sand and second coat - but I'm going sailing instead!
- Tipping started with a new (expensive) Purdy brush - but it clogged a bit, so swapped to an old Hamilton perfection we'd used on the dining room.
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