Before painting.......

Before I paint my hobie do I need to sand off all the original gel coat or just go over the surface a couple of times to get it roughed up? Also while sanding what grit do I need to use, before/during/after? And finially, what kind of primer do I need for one-part polyurethane topside paint? Thanks for your help!

You do not need to sand off the gel coat. I know Brightside(Interlux) has a primer . Cant remember the name. I think Easypoxy(petit)you do not need a primer. Oh yeah 80 grit should be fine.

If the gel coat you are painting over is in good shape, you shouldnt need a primer. Just rough the surface with 80 grit and start painting. If you are using Brightsides, I would reccomend using a similar color to what you are painting over. For instance, if you use dark blue over white, the first time you drag it up the beach, the white will show through. In between coats, you should sand with some real fine 180 or 220 grit. Also, make sure you thin the paint to the max. The thinner it is, the more it will smooth out the brush strokes. This also means that it will have more of a tendancy to run though

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Marcus
H16
Narragansett Bay, RI

I used Interlux Brightsides without primer, painting yellow hulls white. Didn't thin it out, just applied it sparingly and keeping the surfaces as horizontal as possible.

It came out very well, and survived a summer of dragging up the beach without major defect.

Mathew

good to hear, I used brightsides on my hulls. Originally I was going to use their 2 part interthane, but what a PITA. Brightsides is much easier, looks great, and I'm glad to hear that it holds up well. That was my only concern

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Marcus
H16
Narragansett Bay, RI

Im glad you guys have had good luck with Bright side with out the primer, but Interlux still recommends a primer with it.

My 1976 Hobie 16 was painted in 88 with gray automotive primer and sprayed with white automotive paint. This has lasted so far. I just need the glass recoat every few years on the bottoms.