Paint over epoxy (cheap, not pretty)

[Oscar]

I'd like to give the inside of the floats a quick coat of paint. Preferably white or gray. What can I slop over the epoxy that will not flake without having to sand/prime? Although a primer may work..... Doesn't have to be pretty, just stick. And, not kill the budget (or what's left of it....)

[Peter]

Oscar,
You may want to check this post before you dab the paint on.

After a good scrub, my personal preference for this type of work is a good quality outdoor porch and deck urethane.

[Tim]

What can I slop over the epoxy that will not flake without having to sand/prime?

You can use whatever paint you feel is appropriate, but if you don't prep the surface adequately you're probably creating more future trouble than it's worth, if the paint doesn't adhere.

To me, proper prep in an area like this this means water wash with Scotch-Brite pad, and a light sanding followed, of course, by a thorough cleaning. It won't take you long, but if you skip these steps you may well regret it.

[Oscar]

Excellent. I like the porch paint idea.

[Quetzalsailor]

I'm quite sure that I would not paint the interiors of those hulls. It's way too much trouble to get them clean enough for any sort of sucess and even more trouble to get it cleaned of paint after failure or in preparation for subsequent repair.

I've tried Wests' stuff for tinting epoxy for repair of screw holes. Not wholly (...) successful. If there's a same-material coating which would do the job, it'd be ideal; subsequent repair would be fine.

[Hirilondë]

I'd like to give the inside of the floats a quick coat of paint

Why?

[Oscar]

Aesthetics. I am installing two watertight bulkheads to section off crash zones in the fore and aft. The 10" flimsy screw hatch in the center is being replaced by a proper rectangular hatch. In there, there will be fenders and boat hooks and the likes. (Nothing heavy). I'd like it to be somewhat spiffed up.

[Hirilondë]

I guess the reason I asked why was that your heart didn't seem to be really into the preparation necessary for any paint to last, even a cheap but not pretty application. Like Tim said, if you don't prep it well then any paint you use won't last. If it isn't worth doing well, I would question whether it is worth doing at all. Pealing new paint isn't any more aesthetically pleasing than your old finish. If time and energy are tight this year, then just wait until next year or when ever it becomes important enough to devote the time needed to do it well.

[Oscar]

Oh no, I don't want peeling. I guess it's all relative. When I mean cheap and not pretty I mean not Awlgrip expensive and pretty. And yes, surface prep is always in order. Guess we're talking utilitub vs Corian sink here, but that doesn't mean the pipes can leak. How's that for a metaphor...... ;)

[Tim]

What can I slop over the epoxy that will not flake without having to sand/prime?

Perhaps this statement is what led to the confusion over your needs and desires for the job.

[Oscar]

Hmmm, after re-reading I see that now. OK, there is no magical-self-etching-omni-bonding-universally-adhering $5/gallon paint that will do the job.......

[Hirilondë]

Hmmm, after re-reading I see that now. OK, there is no magical-self-etching-omni-bonding-universally-adhering $5/gallon paint that will do the job.......

Haha, let me know if you ever find one, I like being lazy as much as the next guy.

[LazyGuy]

Friends and I have discovered Interlux Bilge Coat. While you will still need to do a proper prep, The stuff is easy to apply, easy to clean, and seems to last.

I find that the gray is too dark and the white is.... well, just white so for the inside of my dingy (see post in this section on boat graphics) I swapped 8 oz in a can of white and a can of gray. I was very pleased. The light gray is the inside of the hull and seats, the darker gray is the transom, thwart supports and gunwale (as well as the cat paw prints.) For more volume, I would simply do the Gallon of white and a quart of gray.

[Oscar]

Hah! Bilge coat....why didn't I think of that. May have some in stock!