Tips on Rolling and Tipping with Awlgrip

Boat restorer and broker Glen Simmons took time out from painting a 2004 Catalina 36 to share some tips with PS. Simmons has perfected a roll-and-tip technique with Awlgrip that will also work with more DIY-friendly products. For more detailed guidance and results of our own paint tests, follow the links in the Inside PS blog post “Painting Your Boat Like a Pro”).

PREP, PREP, PREP

Eighty percent of the work is filling, fairing and sanding.

Repairing: Avoid over-building repairs; this just means more sanding. If possible, use same resins for repairs that the builder did for laminating.

Fairing: Use only premium grade fairing compounds. Feather any damaged areas to at least a 15:1 ratio.

Sanding: Use a dye like 3M Dry Guide to highlight high spots.

Grit: Use 180 grit before the first primer coat to promote adhesion. Simmons uses Diablo Sandnet with his DA sander. Before and between (if needed) coats, he uses 320 grit.

Priming: Strictly follow the paintmakers instructions on surface cleaners, solvents, and primers.

PAINTING TOOLS, CONDITIONS

One person rolling and one tipping with a brush is the norm, but Simmons likes to work alone.

Roller: Must be high-grade foam, solvent resistent. Brush: Use 2.5- to 3-inch badger hair brush. Cut half of the brush hairs off and taper toward the tip. This aids the soft touch needed for a glass-like finish.

Weather: Temperatures of 70-75F (21-23C) are ideal, no wind, and at least 70 percent humidity.

Primer: If the boat is a light color, use a light base primer that is as close in color to the final color. No dark primers for light-colored boats.

PAINTING TECHNIQUE

For his last project, Simmons primed with Awlgrip 545 (D8001) two-part epoxy base primer, the top coat was Awlgrip (G8089), a linear polyurethane paint (LPU).

Primer: Apply two or three (preferred) coats for base. Alternate with very thin vertical and horizontal coats.

Between coats: Sanding between primer coats is not required. If you do, wait at least 16 hours before sanding. Use tack cloth to get rid of dust. Sand (320-grit) and wipe with tack cloth to prep for topcoat.

Mixing: Mix a small batch of Awlgrip paint and Awlcat #3 Topcoat Converter at 2:1 ratio. Let the mixed paint sit 15 minutes. Add about 15 percent of brushing (T0031) Reducer (this will be increased up to 25 percent a little at a time as needed for flow). Pot life is only 45 minutes, so don’t mix too much paint at once.

Flow: To test flow, put a little reducer in the tray, add a little paint, roll and apply. It should flow easily, not cling to the roller at all. If it’s sticky, add reducer.

Working time: Once you pour the paint into the tray, it dries more quickly. You have about 10-15 minutes of painting time, so work in small sections of 2-3 square feet.

Rolling: Roll vertically, bottom to top. Thin coats! Don’t sweat the bubbles, the brush will get rid of them.

Tipping: Brush horizontally, and lightly. The brush is for knocking down bubbles, not painting.

Coats: You can skip sanding between coats if the paint is still tacky. The Catalina took four coats; Simmons sanded between the second and third coat.

Bugs: Wait till the paint dries to buff them out.

For a detailed guide to restoring an old boat back to better than new finish, our new four-volume ebook series “Painting your Boat: The Complete Series,” covers the topic from keel to masthead.