: If you're used to shopping at a box store those prices sound really
: expensive, but it's about the same price a commercial finish
: like Awlcraft or Coelan marine coatings, and less than a
: professional interior wood coating like Kemvar.

: If you check the coverage, it's almost double what box store
: acrylic latex covers. Beyond coverage there is also a
: significant performance difference between consumer and
: commercial products. If you're using it on a skin and plan to
: replace the skin after two seasons, exterior latex should last
: you about right. But if you want to varnish your stripper once
: and not have to worry about it again, it's worth it to spring
: for the Awlcraft rather than revarnish constantly, and if you
: think that the skin of a SOF should last like the hull of a
: stripper, Coelan is the best choice. My wife's great Aunt last
: painted her barn with linseed oil paint just after WWII.

: Everyone has a different matrix for decision-making. That's why
: there are different products.

: m

Hi Mike,

While a two part paint like Awlcraft (there are alot of these from other companies) will certainly work, they have isocyanates (sp?) in them and really should be sprayed, so specialized equipment have to be used to allow this to be done safely. Like using a supplied air respirator, not exactly cheap. You'd be far better off having a professional shop paint it for you, like an automotive body shop.

There are always marine paints which are oil based, mostly.

I've got one boat here that I painted with latex and it's held up ok, also took a whole bunch of coats to get it to cover.

On my friend's boat we'll be trying Behr house paint, has an oil based primer and a latex finish coat, we'll see how that works, Home Depot sells it and he works there.

Bill H.