Awl Grip 545
I have a 50-year old wooden boat that is professionally maintained. I had the yard wood the hull this winter, and told them to repaint it with oil-based enamel. I had told them I explicitly told them that I didn't want to use Awl Grip, and just found out that they've put a coat or two of Awl Grip 545 primer on the topsides. They did this because they'd heard some other yards had been using it on wooden boats with good results. They were planning on using Z Spar 100 - Gloss White for a topcoat after applying more coats of the 545 primer.
I'm concerned that the epoxy primer will seal the grain and may prevent the planks from breathing, possibly leading to rot. Or, it may be brittle and not flex as the hull works, resulting in cracked paint. Could the epoxy paint in the plank seams restrict the planks from swelling when the hull is wet? Does anybody have experience/data regarding the use of Awl Grip 545 primer on old wooden boats?
The yard has stated that they will remove the 545 primer if I don't want to use it. How difficult is it to remove? Can it be completely removed?
What does the community at-large think about using an epoxy-based primer on a wooden hull?
Reply With Quote