Topside painting...DIY? Or pay?

Since it wasn't mentioned when catalyzed/urathane paint was suggested,research breathing,eye and skin protection then think long and hard before useing a urathane. This isn't something you can judge by how strong the odor is or when it's time to break for some fresh air based on how dizzy you feel. If you can't beg,borrow,buy or steal first rate equipment,don't do it. The effects are on central nervious system and last forever(and forever will be shorter than would be otherwise).
Urathanes are great stuff to use where the boat or car is expected to be around a long time. On the other hand,there are some pretty good bottom and top paints reasonably priced and are diy friendly that last several years with a little preventive maintainance.
 
Did my aft end this afternoon with Zep High traffic floor(replacement name for Red Max Pro) Looks great, and will try to post some pics. Curious to see how long it will last, but if I could get away with applying a coat of this every 6 months for the next few years I'd be happy. This is extremely easy and fast to apply basically like putting on coats of water. Must of the work was in the prep using barmates powder and scrubbing cleaning and removing anything that was built up on the fiberglass.
Lessons learned
wear gloves the zep will give your hands a nice hard coat.
water streaks dripping down from my rub rail after the process has started doesn't work to well.
 
There is another way to bring your boat back to life rather than paint. Boat Wrap a product made by 3 m in any color that can wrap a boat haul and deck.The material is a film that is applied to the boat then heated so it will shrink and adhear to the gelcoat.
 
DougLas said:
There is another way to bring your boat back to life rather than paint. Boat Wrap a product made by 3 m in any color that can wrap a boat haul and deck.The material is a film that is applied to the boat then heated so it will shrink and adhear to the gelcoat.
Click to expand...

I own a wrap company in Orlando FL and it is not heated to shrink around the material. It is heated to be stretche around vehicle contours. Wrapping is not made for what mentioned. Yes, they do make colored material and it will wrap on a clean waxed surface. It will not adhere to oxidized surfaces and there will be overlapping seams since the material is only 60"wide. It is made to change the color of a car but is used mainly on race cars, vans for a base material color and graphics over the surface of that. You will find many videos and photos on the internet that say they used this for an Audi A8 for example using carbon fibre black (whatever) so yes it is possible but I am here telling you it is not worth it, well it is worth it to the wrap company of course. IMO and remember I own a company that does these wraps, it is not what you want to put on your boat. Will last only 3-5 years with that much sun exposure especially the horizontal areas.
 
Tom
Are you referring to IJ 180 3M marine boat wrap that was brought out in 2007? I talked to 3m and they told me that in 2007 they brought out a wrap made just for boats that is called IJ180.
I was told in the northern environment it should last longer than 5 years since the boats are out of the water for the winter months. Even if it lasts 5 years for the cost it can be rewrapped since it is cheaper than rubbing a boat out every year. Example here $1,600 to rub a boat out every year for 5 years $8,000. Also there are a lot of the Big deep sea fishing yachts using the wrap in Florida have you done any of these yet look online you will see them. Also at a price of around $2,000 to do the sides of a 36 foot boat it is a lot cheaper than painting.
 
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Have you guys heard of the latest craze "plasti - dipping" cars? My 18 year old son told me about it. They are coating entire cars with plasti-dip! Doubt it would work for a boat but it is interesting. (remember the carpet repair threads!)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F_Dw2fVoIqA
 
Yep, IJ180cv3 or even better material IJ380C. Same material we use on vehicles. To each his own. Painted boat look better to me, last longet and don't require waxing (look it up on the Awlgrip website). We have wrapped boats and don't get me wrong, I like the money we get for them no doubt but I will not wrap my boat for many reason that I thing will lead to failures down the road. VInyl wrap is also easy to damage and difficult to repair a small section without seams.
 
I am not an expert in the field. Although I have painted older boats and money spent just for paint material is more than what it would cost for the wrap job. No a wrapped boat would not shine quit like a painted one. Although it would look better than faded and miss colored gel coat and be less costly. It is true the surface would have to be clean and chalk fad free.
What I am questioning is how or what do they do about the nonskid?
 
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For the original poster I would spend money on having the boat wet sanded and buffed then have a vinyl guy come out and do a wrap of sorts for the green stripe. When it fades, have them come back and replace it.

I bought some vinyl off a website and did the grey sections in between the forward windows of my salon and people can't tell that they are wrapped, everybody thinks I painted them since before they were so faded no amount of buffing would help. Dark colors shouldn't be above the rub rail in my opinion.
 
Some things sound better than they prove to be in actual use. IMO,wrap can easily fall into that catagory. To promote an event or product,wrap is far cheaper than useing a sign painter plus it can be reversed/changed even cheaper. When and if wrap becomes practical as a long term alternate to paint,you will start seeing it as an option on new cars and boats. How cool would it be to order a car repersentive of your college,hobby,plaid or polka dot? If it sells thier product,manufactures will put it to use. That said,there is nothing wrong with being a pioneer and starting a trend but be prepared for trial and error failure. Truck bed liner comes to mind as something that has been improved and adapted to many uses.
 
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