Topside colored gelcoat LP Paint job

[jroyle]

I bit the bullet and had "my guy" LP paint the topside and cabin colored gel coat. It looks incredible and no more buffing and waxing. The unrelenting UV exposure down in So. Cal. is brutal on any and all colored gel coat requiring a 2-3 month ritual of buffing and waxing. I will recoup my cost in a couple of years and the maintenance free aspect of the paint has me smiling. I understand the cost associated with this type of prep and paint job is prohibitive to boat manufacturers but it sure is nice 😀 ...the wet tipping method delivers a finish that I would say is better than spraying...definitely an art and not recommended for a novice such as me.

 

[Rwnorton]

OK, what is an "LP" paint job please? Wet tipping?
Further explanation or links would be appreciated.

 

[R Baker]

LP = linear polyethylene, such as Imron or Awlgrip. There are other manufacturers.

 

[sleepyboat]

LP (linear-polyurethane)

You can find most anything on Google. Try this.

http://pacificfiberglass.com/

Then go to Marine Services
LP Topside paint.

A member brought this up before and left a link to show how it’s done. Sanding, tenting, painting. Very labor intensive.

wet tipping? you're on your own. probably brush painting.

 

[sleepyboat]

google again.

best i can figure, roll the paint on and then with a broad, fine brush, light horizontal brush strokes with the tip of the brush. best done with two people working the paint while it's still wet.

 

[jroyle]

google again.

best i can figure, roll the paint on and then with a broad, fine brush, light horizontal brush strokes with the tip of the brush. best done with two people working the paint while it's still wet.

This is the definition of "wet tipping". The guy I hired was able to perform the process by himself. 1 coat of primer and 3 coats of AWLGrip with sanding in between. It is the smoothest finish I've ever encountered and a very hard finish. And the best part is he was able to do it in my slip, no haul out required.

 

[nzfisher]

I suspect that while it is a superior finish (had a 240z with Imron) it will still fade to some degree in intense ultraviolet sun light. Let us know how it lasts. If you have piece of the material "scrap" and you keep it out of the light then you can compare it to the exposed finish to get a sense of how it resists fading.