Repainting an all wood El Toro

[RonR]

So I picked up a little 1960’s El Toro. All wood, no fiberglass. The paint was a bit chipped and flaking. So I’m going to paint it. Figured a light sand and a new coat of Interlux Brightside Polyurethane yellow. Well as I sand it flakes off... I don’t need show boat smooth, but I would like to fill the deeper spots so it’s somewhat presentable. I plan on sanding all of the LS stuff off the bottom. The sides are not flaking anywhere but the seam. Should I be sealing the wood with something before paint? Any tips/tricks or recommendations?

Thanks
Ron R

 

[Northern Spy]

I suspect it spent too much time in the water for the paint that was on it.

I used interlux brightsides on my dinghy, but I only keep it in the water for a week at a time. I used their precoat primer and sanded and re-primed. The brightsides got quite hard after a few months.

I would spend some time on their website as I am unsure of which primer to recommend.

 

[Larry M]

Have you asked your question on the Wooden Boat Forum?

http://forum.woodenboat.com/

Looks like a fun project/boat.

 

[Boat]

I think it needs one more color on it, around an edge or something. Maybe two. What a fun project.


Steve DAntonio's avatar:

 

[Pete Meisinger]

Oil based primer

pete

 

[syjos]

Smith's Penetrating Epoxy will seal and prime the plywood. It will take multiple coats.

smithandcompany.org

A layer of glass cloth in epoxy would give you abrasion resistance but a lot of work.

 

[RonR]

Have you asked your question on the Wooden Boat Forum?

http://forum.woodenboat.com/

Looks like a fun project/boat.

Thank you I will do that.

 

[RonR]

It’s got a little color. Was going to do yellow/blue again. Wife thinks it should be red/white/blue like our big boat.

 

[RonR]

I’m not all that good at glass work, and am afraid I will make it ugly and heavy!

 

[RonR]

I ended up going with the Interlux Pre-coat. I like the Interlux products so far, and as soon as it warms up a bit I will try it out.

 

[Nomad Willy]

Ron you’ll like the Per-Cote.
It brushes beautifully .. so much so that you’ll look forward to using it.

I agree on the glass.
If you treat a boat w respect you’ll have no need for glass. I built a 28’ plywood boat and painted it with “Boat Kote” .... a vinyl coating from the 70’s. Don’t remember priming it at all. Used Resorcinol (sp?) glue and that worked very well.
Got snow?

 

[RonR]

Ron you’ll like the Per-Cote.
It brushes beautifully .. so much so that you’ll look forward to using it.

I agree on the glass.
If you treat a boat w respect you’ll have no need for glass. I built a 28’ plywood boat and painted it with “Boat Kote” .... a vinyl coating from the 70’s. Don’t remember priming it at all. Used Resorcinol (sp?) glue and that worked very well.
Got snow?

We have a little snow here in Lake Stevens, prob about 3". I was expecting much more last night!

Now that hard part, picking colors for the El Toro. I don't mind the yellow, but may do a red/white/blue or just a white hull and a blue top, inside is varnished.

 

[RonR]

I got the el toro sanded down to bare wood, removed all the old joint filler and got it 1/2 way smooth. I ended up going with the interlux epoxy primer. I have 3 coats down and its filling all the little cracks up nice. I am on the fence if I am going to lay down some filling primer or filler and get it glass smooth. Probably just call this good enough for now. I am painting the hull red, the top, dagger, rudder will be dark blue. The interior will stay varnished with only needing a touch up in a few places.