how much paint?

margitchris · Post by **margitchris** » Sat Jun 16, 2007 8:32 pm

Hello,
Assuming I get over my sticker shock after looking at the prices for Alexseal products, how much of everything should I buy to paint the deck? It's a 31' boat with a 9' beam. I do plan to do the non-skid in Interlux.
How does this look?
1 gal P3002Super build primer
1 gal C3052converter
1 quart R3040reducer

2 qt P4098 white finish primer
1 qt C4051 converter
1 qt R4042 reducer

1 qt 501 topcoat (again, only doing the "slippery" areas )
1 qt c5012 converter
1 qt R 5015 reducer

I plan to refinish the topsides too, but we're already looking at $500 woth of paint.

Thanks,
Chris Miller
Seafarer 31 yawl
Lloyd, Florida

Post by **Tim** » Sun Jun 17, 2007 7:02 am

You didn't mention whether you were spraying or brushing, but your topcoat reducer and converter choice indicate that you are brushing. Although I am not used to brushing Alexseal, I'd say offhand that your amounts seem roughly accurate, though I have further suggestions.

I assume from your listed amounts that you plan to apply the 302 High Build Primer over the entire deck, so the gallon kit (which makes two mixed gallons, plus reducer) is the proper size. I'd suggest buying more of the reducer, though, since for a possible 25% reduction you'd need 2 quarts of the reducer. I'd suggest a gallon, which will cover all your bases nicely. You really don't want to run out of reducer.

For the finish primer, you didn't specifically say whether you plan to cover only the smooth areas or not, but it would appear that this is your plan. For this, the amounts may be appropriate, depending on how much smooth area you have on your boat. I have found that a gallon kit (1.5 mixed gallons, in this case, plus reducer) is barely adequate to cover all deck areas on up to a 30' boat. Eliminating the field areas where you plan to have nonskid would save a lot of paint, of course. Again, don't skimp on your reducer supply. I'd buy at least two quarts to ensure you have enough. Remember that the suggested reduction ratios are just that, and you may need more.

Assuming you're brushing the topcoat, remember that the mix ratio for brushing is 2:1 (base:converter). Therefore, you need either half as much converter, or twice as much topcoat base. 1.5 quarts total mixed product might do it, but might be cutting things close, depending on how many coats you have to do. I'd buy 2 quarts of base and one quart of converter. Again, consider buying additional reducer. I always buy gallons or each type of reducer (the cost is relatively low in the scheme of things), but I use the product fairly regularly, so it never goes to waste.

margitchris · Post by **margitchris** » Sun Jun 17, 2007 9:42 am

Thank you Tim,
All your assumptions are correct concerning my intents with brushing, and finish priming only the smooth areas. I appreciate your input and will adjust the quantities accordingly. I am still considering spraying. I have a Campbell-Hausfield HVLP sprayer ( basically a vacuum cleaner motor that blows through a hose to a low-quality spray instrument) that I have used for utility spraying and a couple projects like lacquering a piano and car painting. It did well enough, though it was no substitute for a Binks gun. Most of the reason I'm leaning against it is the bulky hose and the way it heats the air one is spraying with.
Of course the decision to go with the Alexseal at all hinges upon convincing myself that my prep work on the deck is worthy of this expense - something only I can decide.
Thanks again,
Chris