By McKenzieDriftBoat.com

Toplac Paint Questions?

I am new to the site. Thanks to all for your tips and tricks that you have posted. I can't seem to find an answer to this question. I am building a 16' Don Hill and want to paint the inside and outside, but leave the frames natural (alaskan yellow cedar). I have coated the panels with 2 coats of System 3 general purpose and am currently sanding them prior to installation and paint. Can they be painted with Toplac while laying flat prior to installation? I have not used this paint before and am unsure of its flexibility. I understand the bends are not that severe, but will they chip when installed around the frames? Also, is the Interlux primer the best choice for this paint? Thanks is advance.

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Permalink Reply by Shawn Jensen on February 9, 2010 at 1:21pm: Did I offend some by saying that I want to paint a wooden boat? There must be someone who has done this. Thanks.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Mike Baker on February 9, 2010 at 5:20pm: Hey Shawn,
Short of saying wooden boat people are an odd group of detail oriented people with way too much time on there hands we are prety hard to offend. I have seen the look you are going for on several boats and I love it. Honestly I don't know the best way to do that. I have painted a few boats but not on the inside. I can't imagine building the boat without beating the hell out of the inside paint job. Maybee someone who has done that will chine in.
Toplac is very good paint, as for primer I read an interesting article in a WoodenBoat magazine about a guy back east (I think) who doesn't use primer. It kind of made sence, he sanded every coat with 320 to get it dead flat, not using primer means you will never sand through the paint.
Mike
http://www.bakerwooddriftboats.com/index.html; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Randy Dersham on February 9, 2010 at 6:40pm: No Offense Shawn. I paint boats all the time. Our shop boats are red because Debbie loves the red boats on the water. Ray Heater, pro boat builder out of Portland Oregon, just posted a note on another discussion about his epoxy encapsulated boat that is painted a dark green. Still looks new after six years.

I use Toplac in the shop at McKenzieDriftBoat.com. We use Interlux Pre-Kote as the primer. It is about half the price of Toplac so should be used for your build up and fair sanding coats. Then two or three coats of Toplac will finish off.

We glass our boats sides, assemble them, then prime and finish coat. You could prime and finish the sides before you do the build; however, you will ding it up and will be doing some sanding and finishing after. This will stress the paint some. It can take it but is not likely the best.

We usually leave the inside of the boat bright using Bristol finish to protect the epoxy, then paint the outside of the boat Toplac Bounty Red after the gray Pre-Kote primer is applied.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Dave Z on February 9, 2010 at 7:29pm: Randy,

Your red boats are awesome. I almost stole that color scheme from you on my last boat.

Dave; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Randy Dersham on February 9, 2010 at 7:48pm: Thanks, Toplac happens to come in four colors that seems to be made for rivers. They are the "craftsman" pallet with black, dark blue, dark red, and dark green. I like 'em all.

There are a number of other companies that make high quality marine paint. I like the one part of the Toplac and the body that the paint has. Just my preference.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Shawn Jensen on February 9, 2010 at 7:42pm: Thank you all for the input. I will not be painting before assembly, will have to do it the hard way.

Shawn; ▶ Reply to This