A Spring Primer on Paints and Varnish
Contents
1. HANDS ON SAILOR Wesi Pitom Antitouingg N om gt tifa Be SS CPI lative Antig Abu BY ANDREW BURTON A Spring Primer on Paints and Varnish With so many brightwork Here sa head start on the sorts of finishes that products on the are available a few tips that shelf do a little will make your project less painful and some resources to homework and explore to learn more about products and techniques find just the right one for your next Wood Treatments Different wood fin boatyard projects ishing products are more or less difficult to use and yield re sults that tend to be IT S SPRINGTIME AND CHANCES proportional to the are that if your sailboat was effort exerted in hauled last fall you re facing preparing the surface at least one painting or var Teak and mahogany nishing project before it goes _ are the most common back in the water There are woods used externally basically four kinds of paint on boats with oak ing jobs antifouling topsides being evident every and decks interiors and now and again N 88 CRUISING WortD Arrit 200 FAR OUT GENNAKER SAILING with an extendable Seld n gennaker bowsprit Gives the gennaker more clear air Facilitates rapid gybing Always ready for quick extension Makes for fast and efficient gennaker handling Can be fitted to most yachts Complete kit for deck mounting www seldenmast com SEL2. Does not absorb water No UV degradation Tough construction And surprisingly a very soft hand lf you want lighter stronger more durable sails ask your sailmaker for the new Bainbridge Carbon Fiber Grid Cruising Laminates It is technology that is designed for you AN AT THE NBRIDGE INTERNATIONAL www sailcloth com HANDS ON SAILOR be prepared with special washes and primed with zinc chromate Then the manufacturer s primer should be applied before the topcoat Repainting the Deck Repainting the deck can perhaps get you the most bang for your buck because that s the part of the boat you look at when you re sailing Any paint suitable for use on the topsides can be used on deck with the same caveats On my boat the waterways the areas that collect dirt are finished in white while the nonskid is light gray so the type of foot ing is immediately obvious to those working on deck For the nonskid areas use a clear com pound such as Awlgrip GripTex or Inter lux Intergrip so that when the paint wears off the top of the particles as it quickly does it will still show the color you ve Outfitting and safety experts LANDFALL NAVIGATION ma instruments EPIRBs watermakers drogues sea anchors abandon ship gear rigging cutters medical packs night vision sextants just applied I don t recommend using sand or walnut shells because as the
3. re best applied over several coats of gloss be cause they aren t as durable as the gl for this reason they aren t suitable for terior use Oils will last better on interi ors too as they won t break down as quickly from the sun Linear polyurethanes such as Interlux Perfection or clear Awlgrip are hard clear long lasting finishes that are more difficult to work with than traditional varnishes but the trade off is that they don t have to be recoated as often When varnishing from bare wood I al ways start with a varnish based sealer such as Interlux Interprime Wood Sealer or Pettit Clear Sealer for the first few coats to fill in the grain On mahogany you can fill the grain with a paste stain such as Z Spar Wood Filler Stain or Inter lux Interstain before the first coat of seal er goes on Though foam brushes have a tendency to drip if you re careful with one you can achieve almost as good a finish as with an expensive badger hair varnish brush And when you re finished there s no meticulous cleanup you can just toss the brush See A Good OI Teak Re vival April 2006 Company Contacts Alexseal 314 783 2110 www alexseal com Awlgrip 888 355 3090 www awigrip com Detco Marine for Sterling Paint 714 895 7002 wwwdetco marine com Epifanes North America 207 354 0804 www epifanes com Flood Company for Deks Olje 800 321 3444 www flood com Interlux 908 68
4. 6 1300 www yachtpaint com Jen Manufacturing foam brushes 508 753 1076 wwwjenmfg com Pettit Paint for Woolsey and Z Spar 973 625 3100 www pettitpaint com Semco Teak Products 300 662 0223 Wwww semcoteakproducts com Teak Wonder 44 23 924 65607 www teakwonder co uk 3M 888 364 3577 www 3m com West Marine 800 685 4838 www westmarine com Cruising WoRLD ApriL 2007 Topcoats the Shiny Paint In the life of every boat there comes a time when the topsides need to be refin ished or perhaps a repair needs to be touched up The boat owner has several options when it comes to topsides paints and what a surprise the best and longest lasting is also the most expensi If you have a fiberglass boat the top sides were most likely gelcoated while the boat was in the mold Gelcoat is a colored Premium Topcoat or Interlux Perfection These paints were designed for the do it yourselfer and produce a fine finish If you re in a hurry and on a bud get to get the boat in the water for the summer a one part polyurethane such as Interlux Brightside or Pettit Easypoxy will give you a perfectly acceptable finish and it s easy to apply The downside is u ll find it needs to be sanded and a new coat applied Sin that after a year or two gle part paints may be your best option for your bootstripe as this area takes a beating and needs to be repainted often anyway They re a good choice fo
5. DEN for sailing Rig solutions for dinghies keelboats and yachts Aluminium and carbon spars More than 750 authorised dealers worldwide Seld n Mast Inc Tel 843 760 6278 info seldenus com HANDS ON SAILOR hogany and oak must be sealed or they ll blacken and eventually rot varnish is the best finish for these woods al though some may choose paint instead Teak is more flexible Be cause of its natural oils it can be left unfinished and it will take on a silver color that some cruisers prefer because it requires no more attention than an occasional scrub with soap and water If you plan to put a finish on your teak you have to get it look ing good first If it s bare and has oxidized you ll probably want to use one of the many teak cleaners before you sand Beware though All of these will damage the teak to some extent Use them spar ingly and bear in mind that you ll still have to sand the wood after using a cleaner you just won t have to do as much of it as you would were you to sand off all the oxidation When it s sanded and fin ished teak takes on a gor geous luster that s a pleasure to behold There are in gener al three finishes that can be applied to teak natural oil synthetic sealers and varnish Oils penetrate into the wood and give it a rich glow when they re applied but they re thin so if you re not very careful they can end up making a mess of
6. d pays for everything even the fuel It s simple you do the sailing we do the rest Sailing couldn t be easier TU aa SAILTIME THE ALTERNATIVE TO TRADITIONAL OWNERSHIP g Amnn G A 877 SAILTIME WWW SAILTIME COM MORE THAN 40 LOCATIONS WORLDWIDE IN ASSOCIATION WITH Q tusz pentine boiled linseed or tung oil pine tar and a drier varnishes have been used to protect boats for centuries All mod ern gloss varnishes contain UV in hibitors to help preserve the finish The most popular varnishes are the easiest to work and with a few coats they provide a deep brilliant shine Varnish experts in the Caribbean where the sun is especial ly brutal prefer Interlux Schooner and Epifanes Gloss Varnish though Z Spar Captain s and Awlgrip s AwlSpar varnish are popular as well Well outside of the tropics in the middle and high latitudes you can expect varnish to last the whole season and longer if you can keep it out of the sun and if you don t let it sit covered with salt In warmer climes you may find yourself sanding or touching up the varnish several times a year Most manufacturers make a matte var nish that gives a rich satin luster to interi treat yourself to knowledge epoxy instructions from the original Glues Brothers User Manual amp Product Guide Ifyou know nothing about epoxy start here Easy to follow guide provides basic information on using WEST SYSTEM product
7. e good stuff that offers multiseason protection If your boat s hauled out every winter and sailed in colder water you may be able to get away with spending less on an tifouling than your southern neighbors But if your cruising plans include year round sailing in the tropics reach for the top of the shelf One of the most effective antifouling additives tributyltin was very effective at keeping the bottom of boats clean but was banned because it had a negative ef fect on fish and other marine organisms You can expect more of these changes in paint chemistry as environmental regula tions evolve When it comes time to sand and paint any antifouling paint can be dangerous to apply Not to put too fine a point on it Crvisinc WorLD Ark 2007 but all antifouling paint contains a bio cide usually cuprous oxide that poi sons everything with which it comes in contact Therefore anyone applying an tifouling must take precautions to avoid breathing fumes or wearing the paint on one s skin Paper suits and hoods are available at most marine stores as are good respirators Use them Different kinds of bottom paints are suitable for different local conditions and local and state laws sometimes reg ulate the kind of antifouling that may be applied Hulls built of different ma terials require different paints too A paint containing a high percentage of copper is generally unsuitable for use on an aluminum hull b
8. ecause of the chances for galvanic action between the two metals Unless you plan to race your boat you won t need a hard nonablative antifoul ing paint They re formulated more to provide smooth racing bottoms than for their antifouling capabilities Most cruis ers will be happiest with an ablative an tifouling paint Ablative paints gradually wear away exposing a new layer of bio cide to prevent growth The more coats you apply the longer the paint will re main effective Not all ablative paints are alike though Soft sloughing ablative paints such as Pettit Yacht Copper or Gloucester are the rust red antifoulings that because of their relatively low price are a favorite of budget minded cruisers all over the world They typically contain less biocide than other ablatives and work by wearing away quickly As the boat moves through the water the paint sloughs off the outer most layer to which the growth has ad hered so the bottom remains clean They re best used on slower boats be cause these paints are so soft they ll wear away faster at higher speeds Harder ablatives are longer lasting contain more biocide and will suit cruis ers who want a good finish with a mini mum of fuss They work more by poison ing any potential growth than by sloughing off layers Multiseason paints such as Interlux Micron CSC and Micron Extra West Ma rine s PCA Gold Pettit s Ultima Hydro coat and Horizon and Awlg
9. hat more closely mimics the look of natural teak Semco meanwhile comes in five tints plus a clear Many cruis ers swear by these products because of the low mainte nance they require See Our Favorite Upgrades page 82 Many sailors consider var nishes to be the prettiest fin ishes because of their clear amber glow which shows off the wood in all its grainy glory Using a pretty basic formula which includes tur topsides and bottom paint for instance but the tape can only be left on for a maximum of five days If you want a really crisp clean paint line then the best tape is 3M s light green num ber 218 Fine Line masking tape the downside with this product is that if used outside it can only be left on for one day With all tapes make sure you press the edge down thor oughly to prevent bleeding Oh and about that brown tape If you went ahead and used it 3M Adhesive Remover is a good solvent for removing the residue AB Heed the Call Buy a brand new yacht in the SailTime fleet and SailTime will make your monthly payments for you And we ll pay your marina fees And all maintenance and repairs And your insurance And Sound too good to be true It is good And it is true As the world s leading fractional sailing program SailTime has made the dream of owning a yacht practical and affordable You enjoy vitually unlimited access to your boat and SailTime manages maintains an
10. ing between coats and can be built up to an al most varnishlike finish Sealers including Inter lux s Sikkens Cetol Teak Wonder and Semco Teak Sealer are thin solvent based finishes containing pig ments that actually color the wood to which they re ap plied They contain UV in hibitors to block the sun s rays so they last longer than oils Some of them must be recoated more often than var nish but they don t require sanding between coats Some sealers such as Cetol need to The largest manufacturer of masking tape in the United States is 3M The tapes come in different grades with the stuff that you can leave on the longest being the most expen sive Trust me It s worth spending the money to avoid the torture of trying to re move baked on tape The company says its number 2090 blue tape can be left on for up to 14 days and still be re moved cleanly This tape is probably the best for varnish jobs where a perfectly clean tape line isn t necessary The company s bright green num ber 256 will be good if you need a clean line between CRUISING WORLD Apert 2007 be roughed up with a scratch pad and recoated seasonally once base coats have been ap plied After several coats have been applied the pigments incorporated in some of these finishes will cause them to ap pear muddy and you ll have to remove them and start over again In the past year Cetol has come out with a new color t
11. paint gets scuffed off the tops of the sharp grit the grit will show black all over your new deck job and it ll wreak havoc on your foul weather gear Bottom Paint So there you are standing in the ma rine store before a wall of antifouling paints and wondering what to put on your boat this year The simple answer is the same stuff you applied last time But there s a catch In these times of changing environmental laws it s not always possi ble to put on the same stuff because it may not be made anymore Or perhaps you cleaned the garage in the past year and tossed those old cans with only the dregs left in them Not to worry Most manufacturers provide antifouling compatibility charts to help you decide what paint to use if you re switching Applying an in compatible paint can be a really messy disaster but a coat of primer between the old and new paints will often ensure a good bond It s easy to pay more than 300 a gallon for antifouling paint so choosing your bottom paint isn t a decision to make lightly One CW editor who used his boat only in the summer took pride in apply ing the cheapest bottom paint he could find The best deal was 2 gallons for less than 35 When he started living aboard year round though he found that the cheap stuff didn t seem to hold up to a year and a half in the water During a haulout last fall he was forced to cough up the big bucks perhaps you heard the scream for th
12. part series in April and May 2006 and A Crash Course for a Do It Yourselfer April 2006 One mea sure of a paint job s quality is how far away from the boat you have to be for the finish to look good a 5 foot job should be within reach of even the most ham fisted owner Bear in mind that breathing the fumes from linear polyurethanes is dan gerous it s necessary for anyone within sniffing range to wear a good respirator For a first class job and if the budget allows the best bet is to have a profes sional painter spray your boat I chose just such an Awlgrip job on my boat and the result was amazing With a ruler placed on end against the mirrorlike top sides finish the reflected numbers could be read more than 3 feet out A more economical choice might have been to apply a two part polyurethane such as Epifanes Polyurethane Alexseal CRUISING WORLD Apnit 200 Carbon Fiber Cruising We Have the Technology Better Stronger Faster than before Carbon fiber sails started with the America s Cup but Bainbridge developed our new DIAX C FG Carbon Fiber Grid technology specifically for the performance cruising sailor you This new cloth has carbon warp and fill fibers and the bias is supported by our proven Spectra Dyneema DIAX for superior strength in every direction Strength Durability Performance It s a great combination e Lighter than polyester or Spectra e Proven 12K carbon fiber
13. r interi ors too Bear in mind that almost every topcoat you use will first require the application of a suitable primer see the manufactur er s instructions for the paint you choose The same goes for metal Aluminum hulls and masts for example will need to resin that gets its luster and finish from the perfectly smooth surface of the mold used to shape the hull Though strong and durable gelcoat over time will even tually fade and crack Regular waxir extend its life but sooner or later ag docks will make it necessary to re your boat s topsides Some owners think they can simply have a boat s gelcoat nish reapplied and start the whole process over again but Larry Colantuono of Brewer s Cove Haven Marina in Barring ton Rhode Island says that they ll be dis appointed An owner can have his boat sprayed with gelcoat he says but I don t see any value in it it s not going to last because it ll have to be sanded smooth and polished which opens the pores of the gelcoat and shortens its life For refinishing topsides Colantuono recommends a two part linear polyurethane such as those from Awlgrip or Sterling Linear polyurethanes are hard high gloss durable paints devel oped for the airline industry You can with a modicum of effort do a very good job of refinishing the topsides by rolling and tipping the paint See The Awlgrip Topsides Job a two
14. rip s Awl star are suitable for boats that are hauled out over the winter and re launched in the spring because they don t lose their effectiveness when dried out and exposed to air Crutsinc WORLD AFRI If you re going to be cruising for an ex tended period a paint designed for warmer waters Interlux Ultra or Pettit Trinidad will suit you best A good idea is to apply a couple of coats of one color then a few more of another on top of the first When the first color starts to show it s time to repaint the bottom Many of the leading marine suppliers include detailed paint selection charts and information in their catalogues and most paint manufacturers post a wealth of technical and how to information on their websites With a little research be fore you head off to the chandlery you can arrive there as an informed consumer and find the products you ll need to have your boat shipshape come launch day Andrew Burton is a Cruising World asso ciate editor He s made all of the finishing mistakes mentioned in the article PROUD WINNER OF THE 2006 NMMA INNOVATION AWARD TO SAVE SP WE DECIDED NOT TO INCLUDE OUR ACCEPTANCE SPEECH With over 10 years leading the way in small boat design and manufacturing Walker Bay has been recognized by the boat building industry as the 2006 Innovation leader for our Genesis inflatables Each Walker Bay boat is designed and built to t combine durabili
15. s Covers safety surface preparation bonding coating fairing applying fiberglass cloth and more Softcover The Gougeon Brothers on Boat Construction Sth Edition Thirty five years of boatbuilding innovation and experience are detailed in the 5th Edition of this classic on Wood and WEST SYSTEM Materials This newly revised expanded and updated edition includes discussions on the fundamentals of wood epoxy compos construction core boatbuilding techni Repair Manuals Final Fairing amp Finishing Fiberglass Boat Repair amp Maintenance Vacuum Bagging Techniques Gelcoat Blisters and Wooden Boat Resoration amp Repair These manuals guide you through a variety of professional level repairs renovations and construction techniques Softcover NEW WEST SYSTEM Epoxy How To DVD A compilation of our three instructional videos demonstrating basic handling and advanced epoxy repair techniques for fiberglass boats Topics covered include Basic Application Techniques Fiberglass Repair with WEST SYSTEM Re and Gelcoat Blister repair mes DVD 59 minutes hull construction methods and an extensive chapter on hardware bonding Hardcover 406 pages Available at your local WEST SYSTEM Dealer WestSystem Info or call us toll free at 866 937 8797 West System Inc PO Box 665 Bay City MI 48707 0665 WestSystem com or surfaces toning down the brilliant shine you get from gloss varnish They
16. the sur rounding area Most oils go on clear so any spills won t show up until they ve dried and then they re hard to re move Because most have few if any ultraviolet absorbers the sun causes oil to deterio rate quickly so the wood must be recoated several times a season to keep it looking good see Most natural oils N Buy the Right Masking Tape hen painting and varnishing you can achieve straight lines and eliminate runs and drips if you take the time to properly mask off the area on which you re working If you plan to do the whole job in one go use a long last ing masking tape If you re going to spread the job over several weeks then use a less expensive tape and remove it daily Don t use the typical light tan stuff outside The sun s rays will make it adhere to the surface you ve taped off and chances are that you ll have a very hard time remov ing it It also has strong glue so it ll often pull up the finish to which it adheres CRUISING WORLD ApriL 200 ANDREW BURTON Some sealers must be recoated more often than varnish but don t require sanding between coats others such as Cetol need to be roughed up and recoated seasonally stay sticky for some days after application the more coats that are applied the longer they stay sticky so they can attract dirt Oils such as Deks Olje are thicker and like varnish have driers in them They don t re quire sand
17. ty versatility comfort and performance Visit your local Walker Bay or Walker Bay Genesis dealer to find out what makes our boats so unique N WALKER BASF Simply Smart www walkerbaygenesis com
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