Getaway
Well-Known Member
- Oct 13, 2010
- 1,077
- Boat Info
- 1998 290DA Sundancer
Lowrance electronics, Fishhawk, Scotty Downriggers
BoatWheels Tri-Axle Trailer
- Engines
- Single big block 454 MPI Mercruiser engine and Bravo III outdrive.
After many years of dealing with sanding/polishing/waxing that upper red stripe on my 268DA, it still never looked good. Inevitably, it would revert back to that chalky whitish/gray crappy look after being exposed to the sun and rain. It bugged the crap out of me! Somehow water droplets would actually impregnate the paint and leave it looking really bad. I set out on a mission to fix this one way or another for the 2016 season. After speaking with the previous owner, I found out he had painted the stripe with Awlgrip around 1999-2000 time frame. My first thought was to get some Awlgrip and re-paint the stripe above the rub rail. Well, that stuff is not cheap. I was looking at around $500 in materials to start and that was to do the entire job myself. Also, I knew the new paint would only last about 10 years like the old stuff. A quote came back from a local marine paint shop for $1800-$2000 so I was not going that route either.
Well, to make a long story short, I already have a couple quarts of a PPG product called DAU75. This is an automotive clear coat that is tough as hell. I've used this stuff for many years for clear coating raw metals like aluminum and steel. I've made quite a few radar arches in the past and I've always clear coated them with this product. It's a lacquer based clear coat with UV properties that do not yellow in the sun and I've never seen it crack or peel off. Not to mention it is very forgiving to work with. It was actually designed for guys (mainly motorcycle owners) who want to put a protective finish on their polished aluminum motorcycle parts.
So, a couple weeks ago, I started sanding the red stripe down with 200 grit to get the gray crap off and put a good bite in the paint. After doing a test patch successfully, I went at the entire stripe and taped off the boat.
Yesterday it was 45+ degrees here in Michigan and quite honestly, a beautiful day with little wind and best of all NO BUGS out yet!! So, I pulled the boat out in the drive way and sprayed the stripe. It turned out absolutely beautiful!!!! Best of all, I'll never even have to wax the damn thing again if I don't want to. I am absolutely amazed at how well it looks.
Take a look:
Taped off, sanded and ready for clear:
Shooting the clear
Tape and newspapers pulled. Looking shiny!
HUGE difference and saved a ton of money!!!
A little sanding help from my middle son. He likes to put his touch on projects like this.
I sure love making this old boat look better than new.
Well, to make a long story short, I already have a couple quarts of a PPG product called DAU75. This is an automotive clear coat that is tough as hell. I've used this stuff for many years for clear coating raw metals like aluminum and steel. I've made quite a few radar arches in the past and I've always clear coated them with this product. It's a lacquer based clear coat with UV properties that do not yellow in the sun and I've never seen it crack or peel off. Not to mention it is very forgiving to work with. It was actually designed for guys (mainly motorcycle owners) who want to put a protective finish on their polished aluminum motorcycle parts.
So, a couple weeks ago, I started sanding the red stripe down with 200 grit to get the gray crap off and put a good bite in the paint. After doing a test patch successfully, I went at the entire stripe and taped off the boat.
Yesterday it was 45+ degrees here in Michigan and quite honestly, a beautiful day with little wind and best of all NO BUGS out yet!! So, I pulled the boat out in the drive way and sprayed the stripe. It turned out absolutely beautiful!!!! Best of all, I'll never even have to wax the damn thing again if I don't want to. I am absolutely amazed at how well it looks.
Take a look:
Taped off, sanded and ready for clear:
Shooting the clear
Tape and newspapers pulled. Looking shiny!
HUGE difference and saved a ton of money!!!
A little sanding help from my middle son. He likes to put his touch on projects like this.
I sure love making this old boat look better than new.
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