Sale of Enamel Paint for Boat
Looking for effective and durable marine paint for your yacht? topRik marketplace offers the most popular types of enamel saints for boats and yachts made of any material. Choose a composition for fiberglass, aluminum, wood, steel, etc. We also selected enamel paints with different compositions, so that you can choose the appropriate paint and varnish material to cover any parts and premises of a yacht or boat: the bottom, sides, hold, deck, engine room, etc.
If you find it difficult to choose an enamel paint - contact our topRik experts. Our consultants are experienced yachtsmen who also monitor the condition of our fleet, located in several marinas in Croatia and Montenegro. So, the process of painting yachts and boats using enamel paints is practiced by them every season and they know a lot about it. Contact us for a free consultation right now through the website’s online connection or call the specified phone number. You can also send a message to [email protected].
Any vessels, both sea and river, need special protection. During operation they are subject to continuous loads. This includes atmospheric influences, constant fluctuations in salinity and water temperature, the danger of corrosion for metal hulls and osmosis for fiberglass boats, as well as attacks from microorganisms. If the hull and other parts of the vessel are not protected with special coatings, the boat will not last long.
Therefore, a whole range of ship marine protection has appeared in the form of paints and varnishes, among which a special place is occupied by specialized marine enamels with anti-corrosion properties, containing special components in their compositions.
Benefits of Enamel Paint
Modern boat paints, including enamel paints form a protective film on the metal surface of the vessel's hull. This film serves as a kind of barrier that protects the boat from external influences. This significantly increases the service life of the vessel, and owners are less likely to have to spend money on expensive repairs.
Of course, like any paint, enamel in shipbuilding and ship repair also performs an aesthetic function, since it not only comes in a rich palette, but also reflects light after application to the surface.
The features of marine enamels partially correspond to the properties of other paints and varnishes, but there are also advantages that distinguish this type of ship paint. To verify this, it is enough to list several main characteristics of enamel paints:
- resistance to water, regardless of its salinity, due to which enamel paints provide reliable protection against corrosion for both sea and river vessels;
- immunity to temperature changes and their extreme values, that is, they can be used even for icebreakers and yachts that are constantly located or visiting the tropics;
- fire resistance;
- environmental safety – enamel paints do not release substances into the water that would harm the flora and fauna of water bodies, and also do not negatively affect the condition of the water itself;
- with resistance to fading in the sun, exposure to air and wind, that is, under the influence of the entire set of external factors, the paint retains its original appearance - it is a durable paint, the coating of which will last for more than one season;
- marine enamels are not susceptible to the action of microorganisms and do not allow their colonies to grow on the surface of the bottom and hull of the boat, so they can be used as an anti-fouling coating.
Thanks to its ideal smoothness, long service life, including the possibility of re-application without removing the old layer, enamel paint is a great choice as a gelcoat upgrade. Of course, provided that the gelcoat is not damaged.
How to Choose Enamel Paint
Selecting enamel paint depends on the type of boat and the composition of a particular brand, as well as what part of the vessel you are going to paint.
It has already been mentioned that the main advantage of marine enamels is the protection of the hull from corrosion. But any yachtsman knows that anti-corrosion properties are relevant both outside and inside the boat, especially if it is made of metal. Decks, holds, living quarters and other elements of the ship need anti-corrosion protection, which is why various brands of paint are in demand.
Regardless of the type of boat, each vessel can be divided into seven main areas, with appropriate enamel paint available.
- Underwater part of the ship, variable waterline. The most suitable ones would be enamel paints with an underlying epoxy composition.
- Freeboard. Paints are used based on the same element, only with a higher concentration. This type has a step difference between the thickness of the dry paint layer that is smaller than paint for the underwater area.
- Deck. The base is an epoxy substance with stabilizers that protect the area from oil and other aggressive substances.
- Superstructures and deck equipment. The main element is polyurethane and epoxy substances. This paint is often used to paint metal doors located on the deck of a ship.
- Interior premises. For these you can use mainly alkyd enamels, but sometimes polyurethane and epoxy compounds are optimal.
- Cargo compartments and drinking water tanks. Enamel paint for them is based on epoxy substances.
- Specialized cargo holds designed for storing and transporting flammable substances. Such types of enamel paints are called heat-resistant paints for metal. Their production is based on epoxy substances, but without a solvent.
How to Apply Enamel Paint
In order for any paint’s correct application, preliminary treatment of the surface being painted is always required. Enamel paints is no exception. Let's look at the most common types of boats for mass use - aluminum and fiberglass.
Aluminum Boat Preparation and Coating Using Enamel Paint
Aluminum is one of the most popular metals used to make boats. The high demand for the material is due to its lightness, high strength, durability and corrosion resistance. However, there are also difficulties, for example with painting. While paint adheres easily to surfaces made of steel and other ferrous metals, not every composition will adhere to aluminum surfaces.
First of all, you need to remove old paint from the surface of the aluminum boat, if any. Both brute force and technology can be used for this task. The simplest, but time-consuming method is cleaning with metal brushes. Processing with a sandblasting machine, a grinding machine with abrasive wheels, or a special chemical wash-off agent, which are widely represented in the topRik marketplace, will be faster, but more expensive.
It is not necessary to remove all the paint - it is important to eliminate the peeling areas that are already crumbling. Where the paint is holding, it can be left as is, but you will still need to sand the entire surface using sandpaper or abrasive pads on a sander. This will significantly increase the adhesion of the new paint to the boat's coating.
The final stage of preparation is degreasing the surface. It is important to treat aluminum not with solvent, gasoline or acetone, as many people unknowingly do, but with a special degreaser. The fact is that solvent and acetone react with old paint, and gasoline leaves greasy stains. Only a degreaser cleans the surface without any consequences.
There are two primer options for aluminum surfaces - epoxy and phosphating. The technology and sequence of application of the composition depends on which of the two types you use. And the use of filler primer will help hide minor coating defects. All these soils from the best manufacturers are presented in the corresponding sections of our marketplace.
For metal boats it is better to use epoxy or polyurethane enamel paint. The enamel is applied in two or three thin layers one after another as it dries. Be careful - without a primer, polyurethane paint only applies well to galvanized and regular steel. In the case of an aluminum boat, you will still have to make a substrate from phosphating or epoxy primer. Epoxy enamel paint is exception - it also works well on aluminum.
Enamel paint application technique requires the use of a high-quality brush or roller, but for large areas you can use airless spraying units. In this case, strict process technology must be observed. This directly affects the wear resistance of the coating.
Typically, manufacturers recommend applying two to four layers of enamel. In this case, each subsequent layer is applied only after the previous one has dried. Each layer takes an average of three hours to dry, but it all depends on the type of coating used.
It is advisable to carry out painting work indoors, protected from rain and wind.
Applying Paint to the Gelcoat of a Fiberglass Yacht
It should be taken into account that all cracks in the gelcoat, even small ones, will appear on the enamel layer paint. So be prepared for them to appear again on a new, freshly painted surface. If the surface of the body under the gelcoat does not have cracks and damage, then there is only one recipe for getting rid of cracks in the gelcoat - remove the entire gelcoat and change it. Only this will give a guaranteed result.
If the integrity of the gelcoat is reliable enough, but you just need to update its unkempt appearance, enamel paint can help. It is necessary to thoroughly sand the top layer of gelcoat and coat the surface with an anti-osmotic agent. This will give a fairly thick layer of gelcoat onto which enamel paint can be applied on top of an intermediate primer. This application technique will work great on a small boat, but again, as long as the hull underneath the old gelcoat is sound and intact.
FAQ
What is the difference between enamel paint for yachts and regular enamel paint?
Enamel paint for yachts have high anti-corrosion resistance even to high salinity sea water.
Do I need to prime the surface before applying enamel paint?
It depends on the place of enamel paint’s place of application, boat material and surface condition - read above for more details.
How many coats of paint should I apply?
Depending on the type of paint and material of the surface to be treated, it is recommended to apply from 2 to 4 layers of enamel paint.
Is it possible to apply enamel paint to an already coated surface?
Yes, it is possible if the surface or the previous coating does not have damage that cannot be removed by sanding, and if the previous composition is compatible with enamel paint.
How to properly store leftover paint
The manual usually indicates the period and storage conditions of enamel paint after opening the can.