DBG8492
Senior Member
- Joined
- Jan 16, 2023
- Messages
- 245
- Vessel Name
- Sovereignty
- Vessel Make
- 1986 Marine Trader 36 Sundeck
So I think my boat was previously painted with AwlGrip.
The previous owner passed before we bought her so I can't ask him, and I didn't find any receipts in any of the boxes of records that were on board. Therefore, I don't have any guarantee of this, but when cleaning out the lockers in the flybridge, I found several containers of "AwlGrip Boat Wash" or some such.
Yes, someone could have bought that without having AwlGrip on the surface, but I also noticed that when sanding any of the white paint on the hull above the waterline, it doesn't sand right until you're below the topcoat. When I say "it doesn't sand right," I mean it's difficult to sand at all and once you get a bite, it doesn't sand smooth - it sort of flakes off. The layers underneath will feather easily, but getting the topcoat to feather is an extreme challenge.
I've heard that AwlGrip is famous for being difficult to sand and repair, with exactly these symptoms. Given all the clues, I think that this is what I'm dealing with.
So the question is: If I want to cover this - whatever it is - without sanding everything off, what's the best option? Will one-part primer work? Or do I have to go with a two-part epoxy?
Yesterday, I painted a thin test coat of TotalBoat single-part topside primer on an area at the aft end - probably 5 square feet. I thinned it 25% with the TotalBoat thinner - which is probably a bit steep, but I just wanted to test it. It seems to have cured nicely - no indication of any issues. It sands, and I can scratch it with my fingernail and it doesn't come off. What would I be looking for as indication there was a problem? Or is it one of those things that won't show up until later when everything comes off in chunks?
The previous owner passed before we bought her so I can't ask him, and I didn't find any receipts in any of the boxes of records that were on board. Therefore, I don't have any guarantee of this, but when cleaning out the lockers in the flybridge, I found several containers of "AwlGrip Boat Wash" or some such.
Yes, someone could have bought that without having AwlGrip on the surface, but I also noticed that when sanding any of the white paint on the hull above the waterline, it doesn't sand right until you're below the topcoat. When I say "it doesn't sand right," I mean it's difficult to sand at all and once you get a bite, it doesn't sand smooth - it sort of flakes off. The layers underneath will feather easily, but getting the topcoat to feather is an extreme challenge.
I've heard that AwlGrip is famous for being difficult to sand and repair, with exactly these symptoms. Given all the clues, I think that this is what I'm dealing with.
So the question is: If I want to cover this - whatever it is - without sanding everything off, what's the best option? Will one-part primer work? Or do I have to go with a two-part epoxy?
Yesterday, I painted a thin test coat of TotalBoat single-part topside primer on an area at the aft end - probably 5 square feet. I thinned it 25% with the TotalBoat thinner - which is probably a bit steep, but I just wanted to test it. It seems to have cured nicely - no indication of any issues. It sands, and I can scratch it with my fingernail and it doesn't come off. What would I be looking for as indication there was a problem? Or is it one of those things that won't show up until later when everything comes off in chunks?