Changing tack on Paint?

[Ronin NW]

Our topsides are painted with ZSpar Miracote (polyurethane) high-build gloss white, with bulwark,bootstripe, and houstop in Interlux Brightside (Polyurethane) Bristol Beige. In tackling some Caprail repair I'm considering whether or not to take the opportunity to strip down and repaint, and whether to shift to an enamel paint. I like the current finish, but there are cracks (on horizontal on-deck bits, not the hull), and despite everyone raving about Kirby's enamel, I haven't heard a solid argument between enamel and polyurethane here (we're not talking latex housepaint).

I'm trying to weigh touching up the current paint, stripping and repainting as she is now, or stripping and changing to enamel. Hopefully can take care of the bulwarks and 'above deck' in the water and deal with hull topsides proper when hauled. Former owner probably redid topsides altogether 3-6 years ago.

I'm open to any suggestions!

-Scott

ps-any estimates of time required to strip topside paint would be welcome as well! (32' LOD)

[ 03-02-2005, 02:35 PM: Message edited by: Ronin NW ]

[uncas]

How many layers do you think you are going to have to strip. Each layer takes time...
I took 14 off mine to get to bare wood and if you change types of paint, that maybe the way you will have to go.
jamj

[ 03-02-2005, 04:39 PM: Message edited by: uncas ]

[Frank E. Price]

Aww, Scott. What is a caprail? Surely you meant railcap? I don't think I've ever seen or heard of a cap with a rail on it, other than a chock rail.

Sorry about this, but caprails are a pet peeve.

Frank

P.S. Perhaps we'll learn something here from our fellows about instances of rails upon caps.

[ 03-02-2005, 03:24 PM: Message edited by: Frank E. Price ]

[Ronin NW]

Shucks, Frank. Here I try so hard to sound like I'm not an ignoramus, and now I've been exposed. I for one have heard of caprails, but maybe that's just what I get for using a forum where there's never 100% assurance that everyone knows what they're talking about-- but that's also why we're here.

Unless there's some pennance that I should complete, I'll now refer to it as a railcap, and hope that I'll get some suggestions for the question I originally asked...

[R.Floyd]

Generally, the cracking has to do with the substrate moving at a different rate than the linear covering, ie; the poly paints don't expand and contract at the same rate as the surface they are painted on. Alkali enamals are alot more elastic than polyuerathanes. Moisture behind the paint will cuase the wood to swell and expand, creating cracking and peeling. I would try Kirby's simply becuase it is an enamel. Any deck surfaces that are covered with glass would fair better with the linear polyuerathane.

[Wild Wassa]

Don't change tack yet Skipper, there could be a shift.

Maybe consider changing poly, to Boat Craft Pacific's Aquacote. A 2 pack water based polyurethane. I gave Greg H a demonstration of trying to destroy a 1mm thick disk of Aquacote that was placed on concrete, with hammer blows, when he visited me. An enamel or an epoxy paint disk would have shattered and turned to flakes first hit.

Some builders dip strips of canvas in Aquacote and use them as hinges. I have used Aquacote Clear on the window frames of our house, unprimed. This will test it.

I've not seen Aquacote split on any racing dinghy in the last 4 years, I've seen other stuff split, and be brittle when new paint. I ask the Skippers what paint have they used, if I spot paint, it is good to know what to avoid.

The price of Aquacote is a bit exxy, the down side. Aquacote is sold in the US, I should check the US price, it could be horrific ... with the free trade and all.

If you don't like gloss, Aquacote is not a high gloss to start with (the clear is very glossy if not diluted), adding Floetrol (from Flood) and the maximum dilution of water, gives a satin finish for a rolled deck. I've not tried Aquacote with gloss flattening agents, like silica powder, there is no need.

If you do try Aquacote, buy (or order) a second bottle of cross-linker at the same time, you will need it at some stage.

Aquacote comes with 2 paint filters. A good recent addition.

Warren.

[ 03-11-2005, 06:13 PM: Message edited by: Wild Wassa ]

[Stiletto]

I've emailed them to find the NZ distributor. I will be interested to see prices. There have been huge advances in waterborne finishes in recent years. I look forward to seeing what comes up.