Zyrex bottom coatings

[Searaybio270]

OV - it sounds like a plan. I have one more coat to do where the blocks and jack stand were placed. Doing that tomorrow night after work and then with a little luck I hope to splash on 5/14. I hope. I would like to pull my stripes off and put on some new ones. I would also like to get in the water and get some of the gas that is still selling at $3.44 a gallon.
Everyone in my marina is coming by to look at the boat. One guy said he was driving by my boat and had to stop so he could look and touch the bottom. He said I thought it was wet but it wasn't and it is so glossy looking.
It really looks sharp. Can't wait to splash and go.
Keep working and keep me posted.

 

[Old Vet]

Had a long busy day today but coat #1 is on....the bottom anyway...didn't get to do the transom.

The blue I'm using is a pretty cool color.

Question......

I'm sure I read that after applying a coat...we're to go back and "dry roll" it. Correct?

Well....I tried that but....when I got back to the beginning spot to start dry rolling it.....it was already so tacky that it started to pull the damn nap out of my roller. I persevered and went as far as I could...UNTIL...the damn roller fell out of my hand and into the dirt. That was the end of that.

I'm wondering how critical this "dry rolling" step is. I'm not sure what purpose it's supposed to serve.

Also....while applying.....after I moved on to the next area...and looked back....I noticed quite a few places where lines in the paint formed.....very slight lines that looked like fine cracks. Did this happen to you? I ran the roller back over them and smoothed them out but...just looked really odd to me.

While painting it on...it seemed to go a lot farther than I expected. I mixed up one quart each of A and B. I ended up with a full quart jar left over. Put a lid on it and put it in the fridge...hoping it will be good for me to use tomorrow. I think it will be. I hope.

I'm second guessing myself a bit wondering if I put it on too thinly. "shrug"

I may call Steve tomorrow and ask him about the "dry rolling" and those cracks that formed.

A learning experience.

Anyway...all in all...it doesn't look too bad. Coat #2 tomorrow.

 

[Searaybio270]

Old Vet - see my comments embedded within your questions.

Had a long busy day today but coat #1 is on....the bottom anyway...didn't get to do the transom.

The blue I'm using is a pretty cool color.

Question......

I'm sure I read that after applying a coat...we're to go back and "dry roll" it. Correct? Yes, dry rolling with the same brush that you applied the paint. It is really for smoothing it out and getting it deep into the cracks.

Well....I tried that but....when I got back to the beginning spot to start dry rolling it.....it was already so tacky that it started to pull the damn nap out of my roller. I persevered and went as far as I could...UNTIL...the damn roller fell out of my hand and into the dirt. That was the end of that. I had the same problem. So I started back rolling while painting.

I'm wondering how critical this "dry rolling" step is. I'm not sure what purpose it's supposed to serve. See comment above

Also....while applying.....after I moved on to the next area...and looked back....I noticed quite a few places where lines in the paint formed.....very slight lines that looked like fine cracks. Did this happen to you? I ran the roller back over them and smoothed them out but...just looked really odd to me. This did happen to me. I back rolled and my finished product you can't tell they are there.

While painting it on...it seemed to go a lot farther than I expected. I mixed up one quart each of A and B. I ended up with a full quart jar left over. Put a lid on it and put it in the fridge...hoping it will be good for me to use tomorrow. I think it will be. I hope. I had the same problem. Coat one a little over a gallon. Coat two less than a gallon. Coat three and four both about a guart.

I'm second guessing myself a bit wondering if I put it on too thinly. "shrug"

I may call Steve tomorrow and ask him about the "dry rolling" and those cracks that formed.

A learning experience.

Anyway...all in all...it doesn't look too bad. Coat #2 tomorrow.

Pics will help here!!!

 

[Old Vet]

Coat 2 is on...first side is dry already...second side feels almost dry enough for coat 3....I just may get it on before this evening. FINALLY decent weather here so something can be accomplished outdoors. Gotta make hay while the sun shines...rain in the forecast for the coming weekend....with any luck at all I'll get all 5 coats on before then. I'm sure I'm going to have enough of this stuff for more than 5 coats. We'll see how it looks after 5....may just keep the left overs tightly sealed and stored away for next year if any touch ups are needed somewhere.

Snapped a whole bunch of pictures.....will post them later tonight.

 

[Searaybio270]

Steve and Michelle at Zyrex said the paint will last at least 10 years as long as it isn't mixed together. Glad to hear your making some headway. Post the pics.

 

[Old Vet]

A productive day yesterday......2 coats applied....total of 3 on now. Shooting for 2 more coats today and that will make 5 total. Will re-evaluate after that and decide if I want/need to put more on. This stuff seems to be going farther for me than I expected and if I stop at 5 coats..it appears I'm going to have quite a bit left over. I may be putting it on thinner than others are but it seems to be covering well. I may try for a little heavier coats with these last 2 today.

This blue color I chose being somewhat transluscent...spots where I did some chip and crack repairs can be seen a bit but they are becoming less and less visible with each coat I apply. Happy about that.

So far...things seem to be going fairly well....except for when my dumb dog who likes to lie under the boat goes under there and brushes against the very bottom and leaves a little tuft of her winter coat she's shedding stuck to it :smt101

The old girl's looking better and better every day. Certainly better than when I brought it home last fall. The wife and I painted the top blue stripes doing the "roll & tip" thing with Interlux Brightside paint. Good stuff.

Oh yeah...and I like the new pulpit I built too.

However...the end is in sight. One pic before...and a few after 2 coats.

View attachment 19298s igView attachment 19294ht.

 

[Old Vet]

270......

you must have all your coats on by now...no???

How smooth is your finish looking? I seem to have a tiny bit of "orange peel" effect on mine so far after 3 coats. Not horrible but....

It may be because of the type of rollers I'm using.....or just my lousy painting techniques. LOL

Gonna buy some new rollers and try to smooth it out more and get rid of that little "orange peel" with these last coats I apply. If not....I can live with it.

 

[Searaybio270]

First the boat looks good and I can tell you with each coat it will get better. As for the color and will it darken or look like it is filling in. It will. I used black paint and I could see the white hull during the first two coats and a little after the third coat. But by the 4th coat it was all black, wet looking and shinny. Smooth yes but with these little bumps that Steve said I could either sand down with some 300 plus sandpaper. However, he also said not to waste my time with it. They will go away with each coat and they did get less and less with each coat.
The blue paint you and your wife did looks good. I am having my wife's cousin do ours. Probably in a light gray to match the canvas.
Make sure you give it at least two hours of drying time between coats. The sheet reads 2 to 24 hours between coats. I am sure this is based on temp.
Keep going -

 

[Old Vet]

"Make sure you give it at least two hours of drying time between coats."

When talking with Steve yesterday....he told me that once I can touch it and nothing comes off on my hand....have at it again. When I started applying the third coat yesterday.....the second coat I put on in the morning was completely dry on one side and barely tacky on the other one. So away I went. Just looked at it just now and felt it.....looks and feels nice. Heading to town to buy more rollers and hustle back here to get coat 4 on...and hopefully coat 5 this afternoon. Getting REAL antsy now to get 'er done.

 

[Old Vet]

"The blue paint you and your wife did looks good. I am having my wife's cousin do ours. Probably in a light gray to match the canvas. "

If your wife's cousin is experienced at doing the "roll & tip" method (assuming that's what's going to be used)...great. If doing the "roll & tip method and you need any tips, I can pass on to you what we learned doing ours if you like. It was our first attempt at doing it this way. And we learned that there's a little knack to it and a thing or two to be mindful of when proceeding.

 

[Searaybio270]

OV - Her cousin owns a very respectable car/bike/boat restoration or remake into something better shop. I have seen motorcycles he has redone and painted that it felt like you can reach your hand down into the paint.
You and your wife are more daring than I am. Even with the bottom coating I was skeptical about my abilities to do it. I'll leave the big job to her cousin. May even have the whole boat re-done with more color next year. Time will tell on that phase. First I need a new frig, camper canvas (unless the PO comes through with it) and gas. LOL

 

[Old Vet]

Ah...good stuff...sounds like you have someone very talented and capable at your disposal. Great.

Coat #4 on my boat is now in the books. Looking pretty darn good. I'm not sure I'm going to bother with a 5th coat...we'll see. If time permits I may but as of right now...I can live with what I've got. The only reason they recommended the 5th coat was because of the color I selected being somewhat see thru....but it's covered quite well so I may end up saving myself some work and stop at 4.

I asked them about the "orange peel" effect I have. Here's the reply I got today:

"The slight orange peel is how it is. It gives lift to the boat kinda like a golf ball. If you didn't buy new rollers don't spend the money, it sounds like you are all good"

 

[Old Vet]

Coat # 4. Love that reflection in the paint of my blocks.

Almost done....doesn't really need it I don't think but coat #5 going on today and that will be it.

 

[Searaybio270]

Ov - She looks good. Is it smooth to the touch? Now that I am not going to put my boat in until next week, I plan to give it one more coat tonight. That will be 5 for me. Buy Prop Speed tonight as well and plan to do the props/shafts/rudders etc. Now that gas hit $4.08 (on the road) yesterday.

 

[Old Vet]

Since I had the time...good weather...and paint left over....I let 'er have a 5th coat this morning. It is smooth to the touch....a very slight "orange peel" effect.....but Michelle says that's the way it is.

So I'm done with it.....have about 3 quarts of A & B left over to save for...whatever/whenever.

I'm shooting for a launch late next week....Thurs or Fri....so it can sit and cure for a week now. Have to put my outdrive back on and fire it up on the muffs. I think that will be Monday or Tuesday. Better start. LOL LOL

And a few minor things to take care of....but for the most part....she's ready to get wet.

 

[KevinBN7]

I have been reading this with some interest. I will start my bottom coating project this weekend. Is there a rule of thumb for how high above the actual water line I should put the caoting? I have the white Zyrex on a white hull.

Your opinions are appreciated.
Kevin

 

[Searaybio270]

Kevin,
my recommendation based on experience and talking with Steve is not to go to high if you haven't sanded the side. Zyrex needs a rough surface so the paint will stick to it. After that it is all Zyrex to Zyrex. Also, don't mix too much paint. I mixed a gallon for the first coat on a 400EC. Wasn't enough. The second coat took less than a gallon and the third and fourth coat only 2quarts.
Everyone in my marina is itching for me to splash. One week and I am in.
Good luck - PM me if you need some advise.

 

[Old Vet]

Kevin.....good luck with your project. I think you'll find this isn't a terrible project at all. The stuff goes on pretty easily.

Based upon my experience with this stuff I'll offer a couple of small points:

If you bought the rollers from Zyrex...good. I didn't and the rollers I found at Lowes and Home Depot really SUCKED! I made them work..but if I was doing it again I'd want the rollers the Zyrex folks use themselves and supply.

Your boat is a bit smaller than mine. I'd recommend you mix up 1 quart only for the first batch....1/2 quart Part A & 1/2 quart Part B. Maybe slightly more but that's it. If that's not quite enough you can always mix up a tiny bit more to finish that 1st coat. I mixed 1 qt of each giving me two quarts....I ended up with one quart left over at the end of my first coat. I would guess that 1 1/2 quarts total should do you.

If you do have any left over.....I put it in a jar and sealed it tightly and put it in a fridge. Steve at Zyrex told me to just mix my left overs in with the next new batch I mix up for the next coat.

To dispell any myths out there about how long it takes....Steve told me on a good day with good weather you should be able to get 2 coats a day applied. When you can touch it and nothing comes off on your hand...have at it with the next coat. I put on 2 coats Monday, 2 coats Tuesday, and my last coat yesterday afternoon. Done. Now just leaving it sit to cure.

I didn't really time myself but I'm guessing it took me roughly an hour...maybe a bit more per coat.

As for how far up the sides to go.....I simply went up the same height as the old bottom paint that was on there. You can see in my pics that it's not very high. But as 270 says...make sure you sand wherever you're putting this stuff to ensure it adheres properly. If you have a mark where the ACTUAL water line is...I don't think I'd go any higher than maybe an inch or so above that.....or just stop right at the actual water line.

Use the best masking tape you can find. I used the green Scotch 3M tape #233 from an auto body supply house and ended up with "bleeding" under it. Not happy about that. I then found some blue Scotch 3M tape that worked much better. No bleeding at all with the blue tape. When taping for the second coat I moved my line up an 1/8" or so....so I could cover over those little spots where the bleeding occured. Make sure that as soon as you're done your application you go right back and remove all the tape.

The "back rolling" step is simply to remove any runs that may have developed. If you look back while you're painting...back to the last area you did and don't see any runs...don't worry about back rolling it. I stopped doing it after the first coat. The routine I got into was....I'd paint an area.....then move on to the next area and look back at the first area I did....if need be...that's the time to go back and just very lightly "back roll" if necessary..not applying any more paint. That cleans up any runs....and any darker lines between roller tracks you've made. If you wait too long and then try to go back and "back roll"......mine was very tacky by then and started pulling the nap out of my rollers.

And lastly....if you have a dog like I do that likes to lie under the boat.....keep it away. I've got 2 spots with tufts of my dogs winter coat stuck to the bottom of my boat. :-(

Good luck...I'm pretty sure you'll like the end result.

Keep us posted.

 

[Searaybio270]

Well, Said OV. Well said.

I spent about 4 hours washing and some waxing of the boat last night. The guys are still coming by to look. Now they are thinking in the fall - Zyrex.

 

[Old Vet]

Well 270...I guess we can sit back and pat ourselves on the shoulder now for a job well done.

BTW....guess what the long range forecast is for here.......solid rain for the next 6 days straight. Think I'll slap on the outdrive and my trim tabs today while the sun is still shining.

Now all we need is for this stuff to LAST....and PERFORM...as advertised. What I'm looking forward to most I think now is hopefully much easier cleaning at the end of the season....and hopefully.... NEVER having to paint the bottom of this thing again.

Time will tell.