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Rudder Topside Paint

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DavidBuoy
Admiral

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USA
707 Posts

Initially Posted - 12/31/2015 : 12:41:48

As some of you know, I had a couple issues regarding the finishing coats on my new balanced rudder.
Back-story goes;
I purchased and received a new Foss Foam (Florida) balanced rudder for David Buoy.

Over-drilled for all the hardware then filled with epoxy and re-drilled. I then lightly sanded and used acetone to remove the fresh mold release agent left on the rudder and gave several coats of "Gluv-it" epoxy barrier coating.

It was then installed on the boat in the spring once it was time to haul and do a bottom job.

When the yard workers put the new bottom on, instead of following the waterline they painted the entire rudder with bottom paint.

Come this past winter (2014-2015) I began prepping to add another coat or 2 of bottom paint before putting it back on the boat. Once I began sanding/scuffing I started noticing very small bubbles. This forced me to go deeper in only to realize that the epoxy coating on the part of the rudder that stays submerged had begun separating from the gel-coat. I believe that I didn't remove the release agent properly. So as time alotted, I took the whole lower half of the rudder back to the gel coat.

I then coated it with multiple coats of interprotect, followed by multiple coats of ablative.

Now being winter, the rudder is again resting in my basement awaiting the attention it needs. I would like for it to be white again so I am going to take the topside of it back to the gelcoat again and I will need to seal it and paint it as well. Does anyone have any recommendations for products to use for this? I was pondering using the interprotect again this time for the top as it has held up well over the past year but not really sure what coating over that. It should be very durable and lay down very smooth ideally.

Thank you for the help and Happy New Year!

Captain Rob & Admiral Alyson
"David Buoy"-1985 C25 SK/SR #5053

Stinkpotter
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
9081 Posts

Response Posted - 12/31/2015 : 13:49:50

A 2-part polyurethane like Interlux Perfection is probably your best option (short of gelcoat). Yes, the rudder head should not be a color with any depth (like your blue bottom paint)--that will generate more heat from sun exposure, causing the core to swell and the shell possibly to split.

Dave Bristle
Association "Port Captain" for Mystic/Stonington CT
PO of 1985 C-25 SR/FK #5032 Passage, USCG "sixpack" (expired),
Now on Eastern 27 $+!nkp*+ Sarge

Edited by - Stinkpotter on 12/31/2015 13:53:42

Steve Milby
Past Commodore

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USA
5902 Posts

Response Posted - 12/31/2015 : 14:18:37

If the only thing that's on the top of the rudder is antifouling paint, why don't you just strip it off with paint stripper, and return it to it's original white gelcoat finish? If you use a paint stripper that is specifically designed for fiberglass, it should remove the paint without harming the gelcoat.

Paint stripper will remove Interprotect, so you should tape the edge and apply it carefully.

Steve Milby J/24 "Captiva Wind"
previously C&C 35, Cal 25, C25 TR/FK, C22
Past Commodore

islander
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4024 Posts

Response Posted - 12/31/2015 : 14:53:57

I'm not quit sure as to why you put the GluVit on the upper half of the rudder if you wanted it to be white. What was wrong with the white fiberglass? GluVit has to be covered with paint to protect it from UV damage so were you going to paint the upper half with a white marine paint? Barrier coatings really only have to be applied to submerged surfaces. I don't see the need to put any kind of barrier coating on the top portion but since it is all scuffed up from sanding it down to the fiberglass I'd use a good marine paint like Dave suggested above on the upper half only. Possibly your yard guys saw the barrier coating on the whole rudder and assumed you wanted the whole rudder painted.

quote:
What will happen if the Gluvit is not overcoated?
UV rays can deteriorate the epoxy, it will chalk (get cloudy) and possible crack over time. If there is no exposure to sunlight (ex. bottom of boat), there is no problem.

Scott-"IMPULSE"87'C25/SR/WK/Din.#5688
Sailing out of Glen Cove,L.I Sound

Edited by - islander on 12/31/2015 14:56:35

DavidBuoy
Admiral

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USA
707 Posts

Response Posted - 01/04/2016 : 06:18:05

Sorry, been away for a bit. Yea, looking back the epoxy over the whole rudder was pretty silly. I was under the impression that it needed coating as well and I was going to put a white marine paint over it. I guess now my two options would be to strip the paint and old epoxy from the topside and either buff it or apply a white top paint. Any suggestions?

Thanks,
Rob

Captain Rob & Admiral Alyson
"David Buoy"-1985 C25 SK/SR #5053

Steve Milby
Past Commodore

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USA
5902 Posts

Response Posted - 01/04/2016 : 06:33:04

Paint stripper won't remove epoxy. The only way I know of that you can strip epoxy is to sand it off, and, if you do that, you probably won't be able to buff it out anymore. In that case, you'll have to paint it. That being the case, you might as well leave the epoxy on the top, sand it just enough to smooth it, and paint it. Leaving the epoxy on certainly won't hurt anything, and will make the rudder even more impervious to moisture.

Steve Milby J/24 "Captiva Wind"
previously C&C 35, Cal 25, C25 TR/FK, C22
Past Commodore

Stinkpotter
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
9081 Posts

Response Posted - 01/04/2016 : 07:25:51

...and the epoxy is probably a better base for painting than gelcoat.

Dave Bristle
Association "Port Captain" for Mystic/Stonington CT
PO of 1985 C-25 SR/FK #5032 Passage, USCG "sixpack" (expired),
Now on Eastern 27 $+!nkp*+ Sarge

DavidBuoy
Admiral

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USA
707 Posts

Response Posted - 01/04/2016 : 09:53:13

Well i need to sand the bottom paint off, which will probably compromise the epoxy underneath.

Captain Rob & Admiral Alyson
"David Buoy"-1985 C25 SK/SR #5053

Stinkpotter
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
9081 Posts

Response Posted - 01/06/2016 : 07:59:39

It'll give it some "teeth" for the paint you put on.

Dave Bristle
Association "Port Captain" for Mystic/Stonington CT
PO of 1985 C-25 SR/FK #5032 Passage, USCG "sixpack" (expired),
Now on Eastern 27 $+!nkp*+ Sarge

JanS48
Navigator

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USA
144 Posts

Response Posted - 01/09/2016 : 03:49:28

Greetings - I'd try for sanding the epoxy good and re-applying gel-coat - just use some extra colorant. Gel-cote is more work but the finish is beautiful. While gel-coat is best applied over polyester resin, it will adhere nicely to a strong base like epoxy. That has been my experience anyway. Good luck.
Jan

82 C25 SR FK
Sailing out of Newport Harbor.

DavidBuoy
Admiral

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USA
707 Posts

Response Posted - 03/08/2016 : 17:48:02

Finally, a white rudder topside! With haul out less than a month away I'm starting to feel some pressure so I managed to finally sand off the god awful topside bottom paint and used interlux products to finish it. Pre coat then topside white. One thing off the list!

Captain Rob & Admiral Alyson
"David Buoy"-1985 C25 SK/SR #5053

DavidBuoy
Admiral

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USA
707 Posts

Response Posted - 03/09/2016 : 17:17:06

1 coat of Interlux precoat, 150 grit smoothing and first coat of Interlux brightside. Tomorrow 250grit sanding and another coat followed by the same the next day. First coat is turning out good.

Captain Rob & Admiral Alyson
"David Buoy"-1985 C25 SK/SR #5053

DavidBuoy
Admiral

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USA
707 Posts

Response Posted - 03/13/2016 : 18:33:04

All finished. Smooth as silk.

Captain Rob & Admiral Alyson
"David Buoy"-1985 C25 SK/SR #5053

Steve Milby
Past Commodore

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USA
5902 Posts

Response Posted - 03/13/2016 : 18:38:36

Beautiful! That would make Norm Abrams proud!

Steve Milby J/24 "Captiva Wind"
previously C&C 35, Cal 25, C25 TR/FK, C22
Past Commodore

DavidBuoy
Admiral

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USA
707 Posts

Response Posted - 03/27/2016 : 08:22:35

Got the rudder and outboard installed today. One step closer to the season and man what an improvement not having a blue rudder! Impressively, the motor started on the second pull.
one week till haul out for a weeks worth of work on the hard, then were sailing!

Captain Rob & Admiral Alyson
"David Buoy"-1985 C25 SK/SR #5053

wanderer13
1st Mate

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USA
76 Posts

Response Posted - 03/27/2016 : 16:15:22

Boat's looking good!

1981 Catalina 25 FK/TR

DavidBuoy
Admiral

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USA
707 Posts

Response Posted - 03/28/2016 : 04:39:10

quote:
Originally posted by wanderer13

Boat's looking good!

Thanks, but the outside hasn't been touched yet. This weekend going to powerwash the topside and polish where necessary. Then while the boat is on the hard next week I am going to do the hull and get it looking nice and spiffy again.

Captain Rob & Admiral Alyson
"David Buoy"-1985 C25 SK/SR #5053

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The Officers, Staff and members of this site only provide information based upon the concept that anyone utilizing this information does so at their own risk and holds harmless all contributors to this site.