Paintshops for the body of the boat

Discussion in 'Boatbuilding' started by Daryush, May 19, 2009.

  1. Daryush
    Joined: May 2009
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    Daryush New Member

    Hi everyone...

    I work for a company which design Paintshops (plans for automatic paint application) for vehicle's body...www.geico-spa.com

    as you for sure know, this is not the best period for the automotive market, thus I'm looking for new opportunities and fields..

    I'd like to know how the boat production in made...especially what i'd like to know is how boat manufacturers paint the body of the boat...

    of course i'm talking of high production capacity...

    thank you in advance
     
  2. Landlubber
    Joined: Jun 2007
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    Landlubber Senior Member

    Daryush,

    Well mate, unfortunately for you and your paint booth company, not many small craft are actually painted at all.

    They are made from female moulds, a gelcoat is applied first, it becomes the outside finisg coat, as the mould has been polished to suit and waxed before use, the finish does not require painting. Certainly in high production capacity....and right now, most high capacity yards I know are also slowing down or have stoppe building...no sales either.
     
  3. Daryush
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    Daryush New Member

    landlubber,

    thank you for the info...although it wasn't the answer i hoped to receive
     
  4. lymanwhite
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    lymanwhite Junior Member

    Current economics aside, in the general boat industry gel coat is the main story.
    However at the custom built level, from back yard guy to big time and fancy where the real profits lay, more and more boats are being finished with automotive finish products. While fine for many good boats, chopper guns and gel coat just lack critical performance.
    The high end design performance standards for weight and strength simply won't tolerate 2nd level builds or finishes. The boats are built with high quality composite laminates in epoxy, under heat and pressure. The finish is then usually the much more advantageous automotive type. These systems include full range systems like PPG Deltron, etc.
    There is another large volumn paint for boats: Awlgrip. This type is a very high build LPU product that is put on by roller or gun. It produces a good looking tough / thick product. It is quite limited in design, color, and flexibility compared to automotive systems.
    What is interesting in your idea is that many boat yards already employ high tech booths not only for painting, but for heated layup as is similarly employed by modern automotive paint systems.
    I think your idea is good to pursue, long term. The custom market is growing and like custom anything, value is created by differentiation. Look into the boating world, especially the performance and high end side. You will find many sailboats, and powerboats. They already have a working knowledge of the science behind your automotive finish 'principles' due to their building technologies. In some ways, the market at this level would be easier to bring on, compared to the old world of auto body shops...
     
  5. lymanwhite
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    lymanwhite Junior Member

    Here is a quote from another thread that provides insight into boatings contrasting paint worlds.

    imron versus Awlgrip

    --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Some people wonder what differences there are between Awlgrip and Imron. This little "copy and paste" from a Sailnet discussion can clarify a little (I have not read all of this thread yet so don't know if this discussion has been covered).

    """Both Imron and Awlgrip can be touched up and repaired by an experienced professional. The key word there is experienced!

    There are, however, significant differences between these two linear polyurethane (LPU) paints. Both Imron and Awlgrip happen to be the best-known examples of the two main classes of LPU coatings but they are not he only ones. There are two basic types of LPU's acrylic polyurethanes (Imron, Awlcraft 2000, Interspray 800, PPG Concept, Sikkens Yachtcryl) and the polyester polyurethanes (Awlgrip, Interspray 900, Sterling, etc.) Both acrylic and polyester LPU coatings produce a beautiful wet-look shine that, with proper care, will last a full five or six years before any noticeable difference appears. The main difference is the polyester LPU yields a harder, more weather- and UV-resistant finish so your boat stays glossy longer, with less work, with Awlgrip than with Imron. This is the claim any way!

    Hatteras Yachts used Imron for years and years with very good results, this is why I say, "this is the claim".. If I'm not mistaken they have now switched to using Alwcraft 2000 which is very similar to Imron just made by Akzo and not Dupont..

    The problem with the polyester LPU's, like Awlgrip and Sterling, is that when they cure a thin hard surface is formed like a built in clear coat. This becomes a problem when and if you try to buff Awlgrip or a polyester LPU. Most people don't realize it but are actually only buffing this very thin surface layer made up of mostly the clear solids. Picture oil and water. As you shake the bottle they almost form together but if you let it sit the oil rises to the surface. This, in a sense, is what Alwgrip cures like with the clear solids rising to the surface to protect the pigment layer. It's really more complicated than that but it's about as easy as I can explain it. In most instances, when buffing Awlgrip, you will burn through this thin outer layer quite quickly using compounds & polishes. Once you've done that you'll be a slave to the Awlgrip until it's worn away or re-painted.

    We've all seen Awlgrip that's been chaffed by a fender or a winter cover. This chafing has basically worn through the "clear solids" and has exposed the base layer of the paint leaving it unprotected from the sun.

    Many smaller boat shops recommend and use the acrylic LPU's because they are a lot easier to work with. An acrylic LPU, like Imron or Alwcraft 2000, dries faster, and because it’s a solid paint, it’s easier to perform the buffing required to force a smooth shine onto a mediocre spray job full of dust and dull areas. We did an after the fact buff job on Tim's Imron (the red boat above) and I can tell you this paint is plenty hard! Finesse It II and Chroma 1500 barely touched it until after we had buffed it with Superduty Rubbing Compound and a foam "polishing grade pad".

    Awlgrip is quite unforgiving and it’s a lot harder to get good results in marginal painting conditions with but it purportedly lasts longer. Both types, acrylic and polyester LPU's, can be repaired by spraying a patch or brush touch-up and then wet sanding and buffing to blend it with the surrounding finish. Special blending additives help as well as experience.

    One of the biggest problems in repair work is color matching and that's where Awlgrip shines. Alwgrip reportedly, I say reportedly because of the red boat above, has better fade resistance to the acrylic LPU's and an Awlgrip hull color stays stable and fade-free longer than an acrylic. How much longer I don't know but these are the claims.. The problem then becomes how good is your repair guy at feathering an Awlgrip job vs. the much easier feathering of a acrylic LPU like Imron. I'll take an acrylic LPU over a polyester LPU for just the ease of repair any day.

    Tim's boat had some definite ghosting where the old name was but hell it's fire engine red, the color that fades easiest, and even Awlgrip would have ghosting at that age.


    The take away here is to know that Awlgrip should not be buffed unless it's a last resort and Imron or Awlcraft 2000 can be polished but don't over do it because you only have 2.5 - 3 mils to play with...""""
     

  6. Landlubber
    Joined: Jun 2007
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    Landlubber Senior Member

    lymanwhite,

    Your first post is so very true, yes the specialist and top end boats are certainly only painted, such as small racing craft, both power and sail, but unfortunately these are small in relation to the industry in general, and their relevance is only in the 1%.

    I guess though, that 1% is still a market.....good luck to Daryush if he can tap that market at least.
     
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