Marine coatings

The subject of applying paints or coatings as the suppliers often call them is complex,the best thing to do is get advice from the chosen suppliers or a company who has worked with them for a good number of years,mixing various makes through primers to top coats may not be the best option unless you know what your doing,so when possible,stay with one companies product range right the way through.
We have experiance with International Paints and all our kits or materials supplied are normally delivered including a free CD on International Paints applications.We are suppliers to their range of Interthane polyurethane top coats and Intergard epoxy primers.

Application of Intergard primers,on a wood epoxy structure,the surfaces must be sanded with a 60 grit paper to allow a key bond,then washed down with a table spoon full of Teepol (not dish washing liquid) in ten liters of clean water,hose down and allow to dry.Application of the primer by spray gun is recomended,also by brush and a fine mohair roller can be used,the surface will not be as smooth but sanding is easy,you should get around 6 square meters per liter,do not apply thinner than this,you will need around three coats to get the full finish.

Application of the Interhane top coats requires light surface sanding,then the wash down routine again,this is the general prictice now,even on large ships,surfaces may have been contaminated with air borne chemicals,exhaust fumes come to mind here.The surface finish will only be as good as that underneath,so if you can see marks in the primers,do the extra filling and sanding then while its still easy,its hard work once the poly urethane paints are applied.

This wood/epoxy built yacht,was last sprayed around twelve (12) years back with International Paints Interthane top coats and Intergard epoxy primer,the decks were painted fouteen years ago and are still in good condition.The GRP Duckling dinghy was restored and repainted a year ago.Left click the picture to view in a larger size.

How long will modern paints last? ten years is easy,fifteen years normal ,after which surface degrade in our African sun may see the shine being lost and you may want to re apply,the surface will still be hard wearing and have many life years left in it though!