White bilge paint?

mccml · Posted: Wed Mar 12, 2008 8:12 pm Post subject: White bilge paint?

I am finishing drilling out holes from angle brackets that were screwed into the balsa core and undercutting and filling with epoxy filler. Now I would like to paint the area that I just repaired with the same white paint that is covering the bilge area. Does anyone know what kind of paint they used at the factory?

Thanks

tsturm · Posted: Wed Mar 12, 2008 8:33 pm Post subject: Re: White bilge paint?

mccml · Posted: Wed Mar 12, 2008 9:09 pm Post subject:

So, the thin white substance that looks like flat white paint is really a thin layer of white gelcoat? I am obviously new at this, I thought gel coat was the glossy substance on the surface of the fiberglass. I didn't know it would look like flat white paint.

Thanks

tsturm · Posted: Thu Mar 13, 2008 12:16 am Post subject:

journey on · Posted: Thu Mar 13, 2008 12:05 pm Post subject:

As I understand it, you've drilled out the holes, epoxyed them, and now want to cover the area before remounting the brackets. I don't think it matters what C-Dory put there. Why not just get some waterproof paint (epoxy or other) that matches, paint the area and reattach the brackets. That area normally doesn't get water, doesn't get walked on, and any good paint will cover it. I understand Navajo white is a good match.

Boris

mccml · Posted: Thu Mar 13, 2008 5:10 pm Post subject:

Thanks Boris, I'll try a waterproof epoxy paint.

Ramon Sr · Posted: Fri Oct 16, 2009 10:45 pm Post subject:

In all the "lockers" on my boat, part of the bilge surface is sticky and everything you store in them (clothing, lifejacket, gear, etc.) gets this white uncured gelcoat on them. I've damaged lots of things with the gelcoat. I called the dealer and he told me to use mineral spirits to remove the uncured gelcoat. I followed his advise and it worked for a while and then I started seeing the white stuff again on some items. Has anyone had this problem? Any solutions would be appreciated.

Westfield 11 · Posted: Sat Oct 17, 2009 10:55 am Post subject:

Rustoleum gloss garage floor coating is a two part epoxy. I coated the floors and floorboards on my Campbell restoration this summer and it was easy to put down, easy to clean up and has been oil proof and water proof so far. It is cheaper than the Marine coatings and is available at Lowe's and Home Depot.

thataway · Posted: Sat Oct 17, 2009 8:50 pm Post subject:

From our experiments on our C Dory 25, near the same vintage; the floor was finished with rolled out thickened gel coat. If you don't put gel coat against a perfect smooth and waxed surface, it will not be smooth and glossy. If you roll or paint it on, it will have to be sanded, then compounded to achieve a gloss, or you can cover it with something like Saran warp, or coat with PVA.

The cockpit of the 25 has the same finsih as the floor of the cabin (or as you call it the bilge). When we re-did the cockpit floor, we took white gel coat, added a very small amount of black and thickened it with Cabosil (fumed silica) to the consistance that it would "stand up" when rolled. If you want to "refinish", use waxed white gel coat, add a couple of drops of black, and a high quality, roller (which will not loose nap, or come apart with the polyester resin) and roll that over the existing clean floor. I would sand off the "Peaks" of the sole, since it is too agressive. Then after washing with soap and water, and a scrub brush, let it dry well, and then roll on the new finish.

You can also use any deck paint, but with the agressive finish, I suspect that most paints will not wear well.