Painting
The decision to paint your boat can represent a significant investment. Careful and meticulous preparation can ensure a high quality job that will keep your yacht looking like new for years to come.
In Part 3 of Townsend Bay Marine's Audio Interview Series, Leif Erickson and Trevor Stark discuss what you need to know about painting your pleasure boat.
The age of your yacht’s paint and the type of material in which your boat is made, such as whether yours is made of metal or fiberglass, will determine the paintjob. If you are reluctant to invest in a complete paint job from the top of the mast all that way down to the waterline, do so when you and your yacht are ready. In choosing to do so, your yacht will have a glorious finished look when she is all done in one full sweep. A touch up is indeed possible the caveat is the challenge for the end result to be seamless. But if you decide to go the partial route, you can paint the house or paint the top sides for a nice little lift.
Often the age of the paint will stipulate what work is needed to be done. Lighter colors are by far more trouble-free to repair than dark colors. Also, when radii are not broken and whole panels are completed the result is a more finished look. Repairing a scratch on the side of the hull’s radii requires stem to stern where the surface has to be flawless.
Paint
Over the years experts have debated about which paint is best. Awlgrip linear polyurethane paint (LPU) is the brand consistently recommended by professionals and experts in the know. Repair work is a sizable investment and must be taken seriously and the best and most reliable paint is vital. It is very expensive and even more labor intensive, no doubt about it, and no way around it. Your pride and joy is going to be in the elements for years to come and you want her to look her best always. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. The key to the paint lasting is to take heed in maintaining your yacht throughout the year. Although Awlgrip is as hard as porcelain, it can still get scratched and dinged. Dock your yacht slowly and carefully. Consistently cover her fenders well. Wash your boat regularly. Take extra precaution when passengers are boarding as well as de-boarding. Walking around on a dirty yacht is abrasive to the paint. Inspect her thoroughly for mildew, as it will deteriorate her paint. When it comes time to shop around for work to be done on your yacht, think critically and long term. Seek out recommendations. Go to all of the major yards to check prices and professionalism. Ask lots and lots of questions. Inquire into scheduling. Inspect the facilities. Take the time to get second opinions. Often the best “deal” is not a deal at all if you look at the big picture.
Gelcoat
With fiberglass vessels, after some time, the protective gelcoat will craze. It loses its sheen, and it becomes porous and cracked. When that time comes, it must be sanded down, primed and replaced. Prepping the boat effectively is necessary. The more that is removed and given close attention, the better the finished product. Sometimes taping is all that can be done when equipment is immobile.
Metal
In the event that metal is exposed to air and corroded, it must be rendered inert. The surface must be brought down to bright metal and all of the paint and primers off. When the replacement primer finally holds, forward motion can take place with the final primer and the finishing top-coats. The paint works best between 50 and 55 degrees and above so the buildings are heated and maintain a constant temperature to ensure the best results. Townsend Bay Marine can take care of your painting needs all year around.
Efficiency
Townsend Bay Marine not only has heated buildings, but also filtered air. While having your yacht painted, it is entirely possible to have other work that is on the to-do list. Mechanical and electrical work can be done simultaneously since these areas will be exposed during the painting service. You can feed two birds with one hand. Just think, during the winter months you can drop off your yacht and pick her up sparkling and ready for opening day.
Color
Awlgrip is a three step process. On occasion when a very dark color like “Down East Red” or “Flag Blue Clear” is chosen, a fourth coat is sometimes needed. Preparing the boat begins with examining the condition of the gelcoat. When the long-boarding with 120 grit is complete, then Awlquick primer, then onto spot-fills and 545 finish primer. Depending on how dark the end color, the primer is considered. For example, the dark blue finish will require gray primer, as the darker the color, the less forgiving of flaw.