Forums Forum GP14 Blue Paint

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    • #4597
      Anonymous
      Inactive

      Hi all,

      I recently bought a Mk2 GP14. It is painted a navy blue colour (Mauritius blue?). I need to repaint her as going to have to strip the paint (and add eproxy) due to some water coming in through the keel. I am having an issue sourcing the paint, could anyone help me?

      Thanks,

      Lawrence

    • #4598
      Oliver Shaw
      Moderator

      Don’t you just love computers!!! ….    I have just typed a reply,  and lost the lot during the final stages of typing!

       

      Short answer,  for your particular situation and boat;   I suggest that you consider Toplac,  by International Paints.    The equivalent conventional paint by Epifanes or Hempel/Blakes may well be equally good,  but I have no first-hand experience of them,  whereas I do have first-hand experience of Toplac,  and it is very readily available from most larger marine chandlers and also a fair proportion of smaller ones.   I have used it with outstanding success on a Series 1 (i.e. wooden) GP14,  and a friend has used it with similar success on the restoration of a Mk 2 (i.e. GRP) GP14.

       

      If you intend stripping and repainting anyway there in no need to obtain an exact match of colour;   this is the time to consider whether you wish to stay with (approximately) the same colour or alternatively change the colour scheme.

       

      Avoid two-pot paints;   marvellous though they are,  you <span style=”text-decoration: underline;”>must not</span> apply them on top of existing one-pot finishes.    So unless you know <span style=”text-decoration: underline;”>beyond doubt</span> that your existing paint is two-pot,  which is unlikely in the circumstances,  you can’t safely use two-pot paints unless you are prepared to remove every last bit of the existing paint.

       

      One-pot polyurethanes do exist,  and indeed are made by the major yacht paint manufacturers,  but back in the sixties and seventies I tried them and was disappointed.   I have not tried them since,  but my reading of International Paints’ own website  –  and they make the stuff  –  tends only to reinforce my opinion (or bigotry,  call it what you will) that they are an unfortunate half-way house;    they do not offer the spectacular durability and gloss and hardness of two-pot products,  not the flexibility and gloss of the best conventional paints.

       

       

      Oliver

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