Spray painting the boat

[oxman]

I am looking at purchasing a compressor and spray gun kit from Screwfix to paint the boat, however am I kidding myself that it will not be too difficult to get it right?!!

I just dont see that painting by hand is an option for the whole boat in terms of time and finish - am I wrong!

I do intend to do this under cover so wind should not be a problem!

Thanks for your comments!

 

[deisel]

To Spray Anything As Large As A Boat You Will Need A Very Large Compressor To Keep Up With A Spray Gun! You Would Have To Out Lay At Least 1,000 On It. 2 Pack Paint Contains Arsnic So Another 200 On A Air Fed Mask, Plus Your Neighbours Getting Covered In Overspray!

 

[fluffc]

Correctly applied, some international (etc) marine paints give a mirror finish. Toplac is one that I have had great results with when applied by brush.

 

[bigwow]

By the time you have masked up the boat you could have painted it by hand. Spraying is not as easy as it looks.

 

[30boat]

It can be done,don't be afraid of the idea.You'll need a 2hp 100ltr compressor minimum and a proper spray gun.I was advised to use a 1.2"(whatever that is) tip.
It's quite a lot of work especially with two hulls,wich will have to be filled (were necessary)and sanded .
First, two coats of epoxy primer,again sanded and and on top of that two or three coats of topcoat that should be two pack polyurethane.
According to the International Paints man I've been talking to,the gloss coats,in this case International Perfection,must be applied lightltly .After going around you touch the paint(on a masked off area) and when it is almost tack free,apply another coat,always lightly,and so on.
It can't be done too early in the morning or too late in the afternoon,because of condensation on the hull.
I'm considering doing it on my own old thing but the amount of work is not really compatible with the amount of available time.Guess she'll look scruffy for another year.

 

[PuffTheMagicDragon]

I did mine some eight years ago using Gipfast two-part paint and a borrowed compressor. It's the preparation that takes a lot of time, not the actual spraying. Previous experience was sailing boat models. Owner of paint shop (ex-car sprayer) talked me out of applying by brush as was my original intention. He said "It's only a bigger surface". Followed his instructions and was very pleased with the result.

Most of the preparation was removing the old two-pack paint that had been applied by brush leaving brush strokes. Holding up a vibrating sander <u>and</u> pressing it against the hull was back-breaking because the Makita that I was using is Heavy!

Spraying was quite straightforward and the first three coats of primer / filler served as practice runs for the finishing coats. You soon get the hang of it. The original colour was very dark blue and now it is white.

As has already been mentioned, avoid early morning and try to finish at least 2 hours before sunset because of condensation.

I would go for it. You might consider renting the equipment as the actual painting does not take more than a couple of days.

 

[Strathglass]

I have sprayed quite a few boats. Usually with the two part professional stuff. They did have a range of about 60 colours.

I also have had good results with perfection, when using the correct thinners. It is a bit less expensive and it is easier to get a matching touch up small can a few years down line.

I normally use a 1.2 nozle on the gun. That is the size recomended. Thus a smaller compressor will do. I ALWAYS use an air fed mask fed from a second remotely mounted compressor, well clear of any fumes. This can be quite a small one.

Essentially the paint dries so quickly that as you walk round the boat spraying you can continue from where you started when you reach the end. I normally put on three thin coats on this way.
Using a glaze coat on top or mixed with the last coat gives a fantastic finish although it is not absolutely necessary.

If you are doing it under cover then you will require about 4 feet clear all round to make spraying possible.

I have used both preheated enclosures and outside on windless sunny days. Under cover you will require plenty of light as the air fed helmet cuts the light dowm a bit.

The fumes mist etc can be very toxic and you need as much of your skin covered as possible. Also watch what is down wind from you.

I have used toplac which can give a very good finish. But the surface hardness is nowhere as hard as two part polyurethene. Thus it scuffs very easily and will not last nearly as long.

I still have 5 litres of Maritous? Blue and the thinners / accelerators. I intended to spray my own hull but instead I will be polishing it.

Cheers

Iain

 

[Pasarell]

Lots of good advice already given so I won't repeat. 2-pack polyurethanes give much better finish than 1 packs and if you're going to all the trouble of preparation properly it must be worth the small extra cost.
However 2 pack polyurethanes use isocyanate curing agents (not arsenic) which can be very dangerous. They paralise the lungs so a proper airfed hood is essential. Also be aware of the fumes and overspray getting to anyone else.

 

[oldsaltoz]

G'day Brenden,

The actual time spent spraying 3 coats of 2 pack will be well under an hour. It's the sanding, filling, sanding again, masking and cleaning, then removing tape and cleaning up that time.

You can hire a very good spray painter and his compressor and bits for a fraction of the cost of getting all that kit and having no experience and risk losing the not so cheap paint as well.

Do the easy stuff and save a bundle; get the right man and equipment for an hours work, well worth it.

Avagoodweekend......

 

[rogerthebodger]

Did my new yacht about a year age used 2 skilled guys and 5 unskilled to fuil, sand and spray up fo under coat using normal air compressor and spray gun used for DIY car spraying.

Hired specialist to spray topcoat did deck in one day 2 hours spraying max and same with hull next day after masking to prevent over spray.

Used aircraft 3 pack which is same as allgrip.

Used 2 large single phase compressors about 3 Kw each with pressure tank spray gun and all the protection equipment as already specified.

This is the result