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Author Topic:   Painting Boston Whaler 13

rhysleo posted 08-24-2011 11:08 AM ET (US)
Hey. I was thinking of someday re-painting my 1985 Boston Whaler 13. Anyone have any recommendations on what paint to use, how to paint it, etc.? Also, how hard would you say the job is? I've seen lots of other websites where people seem to do it themselves no problem, but how hard would you say it is for someone who has never done something like this before? TY!
rhysleo posted 08-24-2011 11:10 AM ET (US)
Also, I understand you have to sand the hull before painting. Could someone who has had experience with this before explain the process of sanding and painting?
Tohsgib posted 08-24-2011 12:11 PM ET (US)
Sanding you use this stuff called sandpaper which is available in many grits at any hardware store. You either use it by hand or by an air/electric machine. This removes old paint or gel and preps the surface.
Paint is a liquid that you apply many different ways. It can be done by fingers, brush, roller, or spray. Many use use a roller/brush tip method or spray. Colors vary greatly. Primer should be used first followed by more sanding(refer to paragraph 1)
Anything else?
Tohsgib posted 08-24-2011 12:13 PM ET (US)
Actually a 1985 may be able to be saved unless a wreck. Try wetsanding with 600 grit and then buffing it with 3M super duty rubbing compound...se how she looks first. Paint can severly ruin resale.
Waterwonderland posted 08-24-2011 12:25 PM ET (US)
Semi-cold Nick:)
There are numerous posts on this site on how to paint your whaler, just click on the search link. Closeup photos of your Whaler could help us determine what to recommend. If the surface has just oxidation, rubbing compound or sanding and then rubbing compound may be all that is needed. If there is damage then other repairs would be necessary before even painting.
rhysleo posted 08-24-2011 12:28 PM ET (US)
Tohsgib, I know what sandpaper is and what paint is haha. What I'm asking is what kind of paint is recommended and what primer is recommended. Also, what are the steps when it comes to sanding and painting. Is it sand first, prime, then paint or something else. Lastly, what is the 3M super duty rubbing compound used for. Painting? TY!
rhysleo posted 08-24-2011 12:30 PM ET (US)
Hey Waterwonderland. Didn't see your post until after I posted mine. How do you post pictures?
contender posted 08-24-2011 01:39 PM ET (US)
1st I see you are in Miami, no shortage of boat builders and repair shops, fiberglass places down there, that can help you out or give you info. 2nd There is a place in Ft Lauderdale off of 1-95 by Bass Pro Shops in Ft Lauderdale Called Fiberglass Coatings on Ravenswood Rd. Worth the trip can tell you/teach you anything about painting your boat or fiberglass repairs, and they stock all the materials and paints you will need along with other equipment. 3rd Same site look about 20 threads below this thread/post for Capbobb 8-19-2011 I listed a bunch of paints and primers, fillers I used for boat repair/repaint, I just finish two boats and working on a 3rd....
Binkster posted 08-24-2011 01:50 PM ET (US)
I understand where tohsgib is coming from. If you are a total beginner when it comes to painting, painting your boat with expensive paint is not a good way to gain experience. The materials alone to paint your 13 footer with 2 part polyurethane paint will cost you several hundreds of dollars. On the other hand you can wash your boat down, give it a quick sanding with 150 and then 250 wet and dry paper, and prime it with any primer, and then brush on a top coat of Pettit Easypoxy. It will look OK, and next year you can do it all over again, this will give you plenty of experience, year after year. Just like back in the old days.
Or like Nick also says, try to save the old gelcoat, Not much skill involved, just some hard work.
Tohsgib posted 08-24-2011 02:22 PM ET (US)
Obviously I was just ribbing the new guy.
You need to know if you can save the old gel first...it costs about $40 in materials and on a 13 would take you about 5 hours top and bottom. My 1981 looks almost showroom after 28 years of neglect. Most amatuers can not handle nor do they have the equipment to use a paint such as Awlgrip. It is very dangerous to say the least not to mention EXPENSIVE. It is not like auto paint, it takes knowledge to spray it and hence why many use the roll & tip with it. If you get a drip with Awlgrip, you can't just sand it out because the stuff turns to steel. If the interior is really spidercracked you may be better having a rhino liner sprayed inside for a couple hundred. It REALLY comes down to condition.
rhysleo posted 08-24-2011 03:02 PM ET (US)
I understand where you guys are coming from. Honestly after thinking about I really don't think it needs a new paint job. I most likely just got caught in the moment after looking at all the forums and sites about people who make their whalers look like they were built yesterday! I've decided no on the painting but I am seriously considering varnishing or refinishing the wood. Any ideas on that? I have a general idea about how you would do it. You sand the wood and get all the old gunk and old varnish off of it. Then you would gradually raise the grit on the paper until it's very fine. Lastly you would have to just paint the varnish on? (I'm probably sounding like a complete newbie to everyone on this site :) )
And Tohsgib, I kind of figured you were kidding! haha!
-Rhys
Tohsgib posted 08-24-2011 03:28 PM ET (US)
Wood is the BEST thing you can do for a classic. You want to strip(if necessary) the varnish down to bare mahogany. This can be done chemically or by sanding(harder). Sand until very smooth then apply a 10% thinned coat of a good MARINE varnish. 2 quarts are needed for the whole interior. let dry and give a light sanding between coats(220 grit or so). Put on at LEAST 5-6 coats. When done you will bring your friends into the garage to admire your beautiful work. Go to Theft marine and buy the best varnish(about 6 different kinds) but usually one is on sale for $30 instead of $45+...buy it. Do NOT skimp on the varnish as it is a pain in the arse and trust me you won't want to do it again soon so pay the piper for a good varnish.
Theron1033 posted 03-06-2012 11:10 PM ET (US)
never cheap out on paint for a whaler, these things are hard to restore and the paint is it's protective shell. i would highly recommend awl grip, or imron, don't bother with gel coat, it's porous, brittle, and dulls out very quick in the sun completely worthless, also stay away from cheep commercial paints like pettit

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Author	Topic: Painting Boston Whaler 13
rhysleo	posted 08-24-2011 11:08 AM ET (US) Hey. I was thinking of someday re-painting my 1985 Boston Whaler 13. Anyone have any recommendations on what paint to use, how to paint it, etc.? Also, how hard would you say the job is? I've seen lots of other websites where people seem to do it themselves no problem, but how hard would you say it is for someone who has never done something like this before? TY!
rhysleo	posted 08-24-2011 11:10 AM ET (US) Also, I understand you have to sand the hull before painting. Could someone who has had experience with this before explain the process of sanding and painting?
Tohsgib	posted 08-24-2011 12:11 PM ET (US) Sanding you use this stuff called sandpaper which is available in many grits at any hardware store. You either use it by hand or by an air/electric machine. This removes old paint or gel and preps the surface. Paint is a liquid that you apply many different ways. It can be done by fingers, brush, roller, or spray. Many use use a roller/brush tip method or spray. Colors vary greatly. Primer should be used first followed by more sanding(refer to paragraph 1) Anything else?
Tohsgib	posted 08-24-2011 12:13 PM ET (US) Actually a 1985 may be able to be saved unless a wreck. Try wetsanding with 600 grit and then buffing it with 3M super duty rubbing compound...se how she looks first. Paint can severly ruin resale.
Waterwonderland	posted 08-24-2011 12:25 PM ET (US) Semi-cold Nick:) There are numerous posts on this site on how to paint your whaler, just click on the search link. Closeup photos of your Whaler could help us determine what to recommend. If the surface has just oxidation, rubbing compound or sanding and then rubbing compound may be all that is needed. If there is damage then other repairs would be necessary before even painting.
rhysleo	posted 08-24-2011 12:28 PM ET (US) Tohsgib, I know what sandpaper is and what paint is haha. What I'm asking is what kind of paint is recommended and what primer is recommended. Also, what are the steps when it comes to sanding and painting. Is it sand first, prime, then paint or something else. Lastly, what is the 3M super duty rubbing compound used for. Painting? TY!
rhysleo	posted 08-24-2011 12:30 PM ET (US) Hey Waterwonderland. Didn't see your post until after I posted mine. How do you post pictures?
contender	posted 08-24-2011 01:39 PM ET (US) 1st I see you are in Miami, no shortage of boat builders and repair shops, fiberglass places down there, that can help you out or give you info. 2nd There is a place in Ft Lauderdale off of 1-95 by Bass Pro Shops in Ft Lauderdale Called Fiberglass Coatings on Ravenswood Rd. Worth the trip can tell you/teach you anything about painting your boat or fiberglass repairs, and they stock all the materials and paints you will need along with other equipment. 3rd Same site look about 20 threads below this thread/post for Capbobb 8-19-2011 I listed a bunch of paints and primers, fillers I used for boat repair/repaint, I just finish two boats and working on a 3rd....
Binkster	posted 08-24-2011 01:50 PM ET (US) I understand where tohsgib is coming from. If you are a total beginner when it comes to painting, painting your boat with expensive paint is not a good way to gain experience. The materials alone to paint your 13 footer with 2 part polyurethane paint will cost you several hundreds of dollars. On the other hand you can wash your boat down, give it a quick sanding with 150 and then 250 wet and dry paper, and prime it with any primer, and then brush on a top coat of Pettit Easypoxy. It will look OK, and next year you can do it all over again, this will give you plenty of experience, year after year. Just like back in the old days. Or like Nick also says, try to save the old gelcoat, Not much skill involved, just some hard work.
Tohsgib	posted 08-24-2011 02:22 PM ET (US) Obviously I was just ribbing the new guy. You need to know if you can save the old gel first...it costs about $40 in materials and on a 13 would take you about 5 hours top and bottom. My 1981 looks almost showroom after 28 years of neglect. Most amatuers can not handle nor do they have the equipment to use a paint such as Awlgrip. It is very dangerous to say the least not to mention EXPENSIVE. It is not like auto paint, it takes knowledge to spray it and hence why many use the roll & tip with it. If you get a drip with Awlgrip, you can't just sand it out because the stuff turns to steel. If the interior is really spidercracked you may be better having a rhino liner sprayed inside for a couple hundred. It REALLY comes down to condition.
rhysleo	posted 08-24-2011 03:02 PM ET (US) I understand where you guys are coming from. Honestly after thinking about I really don't think it needs a new paint job. I most likely just got caught in the moment after looking at all the forums and sites about people who make their whalers look like they were built yesterday! I've decided no on the painting but I am seriously considering varnishing or refinishing the wood. Any ideas on that? I have a general idea about how you would do it. You sand the wood and get all the old gunk and old varnish off of it. Then you would gradually raise the grit on the paper until it's very fine. Lastly you would have to just paint the varnish on? (I'm probably sounding like a complete newbie to everyone on this site :) ) And Tohsgib, I kind of figured you were kidding! haha! -Rhys
Tohsgib	posted 08-24-2011 03:28 PM ET (US) Wood is the BEST thing you can do for a classic. You want to strip(if necessary) the varnish down to bare mahogany. This can be done chemically or by sanding(harder). Sand until very smooth then apply a 10% thinned coat of a good MARINE varnish. 2 quarts are needed for the whole interior. let dry and give a light sanding between coats(220 grit or so). Put on at LEAST 5-6 coats. When done you will bring your friends into the garage to admire your beautiful work. Go to Theft marine and buy the best varnish(about 6 different kinds) but usually one is on sale for $30 instead of $45+...buy it. Do NOT skimp on the varnish as it is a pain in the arse and trust me you won't want to do it again soon so pay the piper for a good varnish.
Theron1033	posted 03-06-2012 11:10 PM ET (US) never cheap out on paint for a whaler, these things are hard to restore and the paint is it's protective shell. i would highly recommend awl grip, or imron, don't bother with gel coat, it's porous, brittle, and dulls out very quick in the sun completely worthless, also stay away from cheep commercial paints like pettit