Hull Painting

[Mark Sr]

Has anyone out there painted there boat using IMRON paint.
Is it sprayed on, does it need to be topped with a gel coat.
Any info greatly appreciated

[Captain]

You might want to try talking to this guy selling his 19' on Ebay. Looks like he used Imron.

[John Jones]

Imron or Awlgrip are good to go without gel coat.

Either can be sprayed or "rolled and tipped" where it is put on with a foam roller, then very lightly smoothed with the tip of a dry brush with almost no pressure.  You would be amazed at how smooth it comes out.

Remember, in painting anything, it's all in the preparation.  

Hope this helps.

[Wilson]

John's got it on the prep.  You can't do enough.  Shoot some primer fix as much as you can.  Shoot some more primer, fix as much as you can.  And so on.  

Imron or Awlgrip are finish coats.

[Anonymous]

Hey Guys,
Thanks for all the suggestions,they say you learn something new everyday.Great help

[Argo]

Just sent my boat out for a paint job with imron, will keep you guys posted on how it comes out.  Should be a little over a month before it comes back, I told him to take his time.

[Poon-Time]

Is it better to paint or re gelcoat the hull?

[RickK]

I painted mine with Imron.  It's very thin paint so be careful not to put it on very heavy and if you do it right, it's like a mirror when dry.  You can see pics in my gallery.

[Mark Sr]

Where can I find your gallery at

[Anonymous]

Click on "Photo Gallery" on the top teal bar of this page, click "Member Galleries", click on "R" and then click on "RickK".

[Miguel]

RickK, for some reasons when someone clicks on your personal galleries it appears empty.  To see your pix, we have to click on "Click here to see all of RickK's photos"

[RickK]

I see that happen sometimes too  
Anyway, I prepped my gelcoat and bought the Imron (ain't cheap). The gal at the paint place told me that I should mix it and to keep walking around the boat until the sprayer's can was empty. It was gorgeous - you could see the house beside mine perfectly in the reflection, like a mirror.  I went back into the garage to put the spray gun down and then came back to admire the job again and it was then that I saw THE PAINT SAGGING (not running) DOWN THE BOAT IN A FEW PLACES.  Doh! Guess I put it on a little too heavy (musta been the last trip around) - it is very thin paint.  I wiped the saggs off, let the rest harden and then went back to sanding the boat again.  The next time I sprayed it I was afraid of getting the same results so I went maybe a little too light and never quite  got that mirror look again, even though it is still shiny, just not the depth that I had before.    Been pretty durable (someone told me it's the paint they use on aircraft), has been a couple years already.  Boat washes off easily, no staining from gunk in the water I'd been boating in.  Does still scratch though.

[oyster77]

Hi Guys,

Please use care with IMRON...its fumes can kill by suffocation!

1983 200 XF

[Anonymous]

Like Oyster said be careful spraying Imron.  You are supposed to wear a fresh air spray helmet when applying this stuff.  It killed many a paint boot operator back in the unregulated days of painting.

If your Imron is running when you put it on just a little heavy add a little more accelerator or what I like to call "rocket fuel" .  You need to play with the amount of accelerator based upon humidity and temperature.  You want the paint to dry quickly but not to quick.  Correct mixing and then good spray technique is the name of the game.

Imron is terrific product.  Keep it waxed and will last a long time.


Kevin

[RickK]

KL - thanks for the tips.  I sprayed mine outside and knowing how dangerous this stuff is can't be stressed enough.  Next time I do it, I'll still do it outside and play with the "rocket fuel" a bit since if you look up "heat and humidity" in the dictionary, there is a picture of FL (although it's tough here in Chicago today).  Probably be a few years though.