Paint Questions

[tennktm]

I might pull trigger on a 53 classic that needs paint. Luckily that's its weak point and I know it going into it. The price is right and my budge leaves enough for paint. It has to be.... I can probably deal with it for a year or so as I sort out the little things that bother me, but it will need paint. I actually like the idea of getting it looking great. I think I know what I am getting into in terms of costs which seem to be all over the board, but I want to hear from folks who have been down this road. First, I suppose waterline up paint varies in quality and price quite a bit from what I see, but who has first hand experience around the Gulf Coast? Second, anyone had Dog River or Emerald Coast in Panama City, Fla do their paint for them? Also, any strong opinions on changing colors, I am thinking about doing flag blue down low and keeping it original Hatteras color on the bridge and topsides. I often wonder if the dark color hulls (aside from showing dirt and stains) get very, very hot. They look great, but wonder if they are practical. Light blue or yellow would be options too, but that is stepping out a little for a classic boat.

Thanks in advance.

 

[Boatsb]

Paint is relatively cheap compared to repairs and good prep.

 

[tennktm]

Paint is relatively cheap compared to repairs and good prep.

Certainly, perhaps I am using the term "paint" in a generic manner. I mean prep and paint. Not much repair as the hull is in good shape, but taking down old paint would be rather involved.

 

[bigbill]

dog river does fantastic work. i have not used them but have seen many of their jobs.

 

[jim rosenthal]

Don't paint the hull a dark color. The boat will be hotter inside, the paint will age faster because of the heat it will absorb, it will be harder to sell the boat when you are done with her (always think about the next owner, a very wise friend told me) and for a given quality of prep, the dark colors will not look as good as the light.

AwlGrip Oyster White is a close match for Hatteras Off White, and it is a standard color. If you want to get creative, do it with the stripes, and use vinyl tape, so you can peel them off if need be.

 

[tennktm]

Don't paint the hull a dark color. The boat will be hotter inside, the paint will age faster because of the heat it will absorb, it will be harder to sell the boat when you are done with her (always think about the next owner, a very wise friend told me) and for a given quality of prep, the dark colors will not look as good as the light.

AwlGrip Oyster White is a close match for Hatteras Off White, and it is a standard color. If you want to get creative, do it with the stripes, and use vinyl tape, so you can peel them off if need be.

I suspected the dark colors would heat up the interior. Searching some prior threads confirms this theory. Luckily the options are many. I will check out the Oyster White AwlGrip

 

[SEVEN]

If not oyster go with a light yellow on the hull. Very classy. Prep prep prep. Painting takes a few hours. Prep can take 100's of hours.

 

[MikeP]

Have you done this sort of thing before? IOW, to put it bluntly, do you know whst you are getting into?

If the boat really needs paint and there are "little things that bother me," there also may be much bigger things of which you are not yet aware.

I'm not saying a project boat is a bad thing AS LONG as you realize that it can (and probably will) end up costing more than a boat in good condition and take far longer to complete than what you might expect. Obviously if you are planning to do most of the work yourself, the cost will be dramatically less but then TIME becomes the big issue.

Are you comfortable that the boat is in sound/safe condition and that the major systems work correctly? Of course, the survey should give you a general idea re all that. Have you had a quote for painting? As of a couple of years ago, around here I have heard folks paying from 40-50k to paint a 53 using one of the usual two-part paints from shops that regularly do such work. As mentioned, painting is easy...prepping is hard. In any case, good luck!

 

[Pascal]

Dark hulls indeed increase temperature inside and honestly the original AC system can barely keep up in the summer especially in the galley and forward stateroom.

Before you reprint get a good Detailer to polish the existing paint. You d be surprised how awlgrip can be rescucitated. I thought mine was done but came back to a nice shine

 

[jim rosenthal]

Good point. He can buy a lot of detailing work for the cost of a paint job.

 

[piripucha]

 

[SEVEN]

Beautiful.

 

[Toolsntoys]

I ran across this a while back and save the pic. I love the blue with the red stripe but also agree with all the other comments posted here also. But to each there own

 

[SEVEN]

Can you imagine wiping that hull off every time you came in from a cruise.

 

[Toolsntoys]

No thank you. I'll stick with white.

 

[tennktm]

I think keeping blue hulls clean would be a PIA. I do not mind washing my own boat, but hulls are least favorite part. I do like the pic of the yellow hull, beautiful. Have a friend who had a Rybovich that color and it was simply stunning. I have brought back the hull on my current boat which had been allowed to chalk by the prior owner. It's taken years and a lot of money, but it now shines. But, it's a gelcoat boat. Someone will enjoy my money on that one. I intend to give it my best shot to bring the boat back without paint, if possible. I have access to some people who know what they are doing in terms of restoration, but as we all know, sometimes the paint is just shot. It's like an old car......sometimes they eventually need another paint job. I am thinking $30-50k would be conservative on a good paint job from waterline up. Anyone think it would definitely be more like $50-100k?

 

[tomrealest]

I had a professional craftsman, painter, detailer when I bought my 58. One of his customers told me to give hima a year and he would bring the paint back. Working on it from time to time, I saw an unbelievable difference as he slowly brought the paint back. Fast forward. Brought the Hatteras to Florida and some "hack" buffed through the paint in one area. Be careful who you hire.

I think the idea of waiting a year or so until you are confident in the quality of the boat is a real good idea. If she's turns. out to have problems you didn't anticipate you don't want to have spent your money on paint. My Hatteras had no problems so hopefully the same will happen to you.

A lot of painters want to use AwlCraft. It's a soft paint and it is easy for a painter to fix his mistakes. I used it on another boat and was not happy with it. The paint wears too quickly in my opinion. A hard paint takes more talent to use but I'll pay for the talent.

Pascal is absolutely correct about the A.C.. I like the boat cool. When the original salon/galley unit finally wore out, I replaced it with two units with more btu's. If you paint the hull dark, you'll need more ac.

I have really enjoyed my Hatteras and I hope you thoroughly enjoy yours.

 

[tennktm]

I had a professional craftsman, painter, detailer when I bought my 58. One of his customers told me to give hima a year and he would bring the paint back. Working on it from time to time, I saw an unbelievable difference as he slowly brought the paint back. Fast forward. Brought the Hatteras to Florida and some "hack" buffed through the paint in one area. Be careful who you hire.

I think the idea of waiting a year or so until you are confident in the quality of the boat is a real good idea. If she's turns. out to have problems you didn't anticipate you don't want to have spent your money on paint. My Hatteras had no problems so hopefully the same will happen to you.

A lot of painters want to use AwlCraft. It's a soft paint and it is easy for a painter to fix his mistakes. I used it on another boat and was not happy with it. The paint wears too quickly in my opinion. A hard paint takes more talent to use but I'll pay for the talent.

Pascal is absolutely correct about the A.C.. I like the boat cool. When the original salon/galley unit finally wore out, I replaced it with two units with more btu's. If you paint the hull dark, you'll need more ac.

I have really enjoyed my Hatteras and I hope you thoroughly enjoy yours.

I am hoping my guy can bring the paint back to life, but who knows. I wish he could look at the boat, but logistically, that does not work. I have read a few bad things about AwlCraft. I guess it's like house painters- anyone can paint with water based paints, but takes talent to put down a good oil with a brush on trim, etc. It would be great if I did not have to get it painted, of course. I like the colors now, trad Hat color scheme.

 

[Pascal]

Hard to see how bad the hull was before but this pic shows the shine of the revived paint

 

[Pascal]

View attachment 22708

What s the name the yellow color. Really nice and prett much what i m looking for

To update my relpies in this thread, i need to repaint the hull due to storm dmaage, even though the awlgrip had been nicely revived. Going for pale yellow like yours