Hull Blacking options

[dhutch]

Has anyone on here ever applied a 2pack epoxy blacking over an existing good condition vinyl coating?

We have been using a single pack 'pitch free, vinyl copolymer resin based underwater coating' with great success for the past 25-30 years, recoated every 4 years, including using an epoxy aluminium primer on bare metal areas. The cabin in two-pack acrylic urethane.

Only issue is they discontinued it shortly after our previous docking four years ago and we have struggled to find a suitable equivalent replacement.

Hence now looking at alternative coatings which will overcoat the existing coating without removing the current coating system.

[OutInTheShed]

I would ask the marine paint makers what they advise, International, Blakes/Hempel, Jotun. There are others.

[dhutch]

Yes. I've spoke to Sherwin Williams who made our existing paint, Jotun, and SML Marine. But as they are all unable to formally endorse a solution I am interested if anyone has any first hand experience.

[dhutch]

Alternatively, has anyone used International's Intertuf 203 vinyl blacking product?

[Gretchen]

Have you contacted any of the suppliers to see if they still have any stock? I’ve sourced discontinued stuff this way before. It’s laborious but worth sending out a cut and paste email if you haven’t already.

[dhutch]

Gretchen said:

Have you contacted any of the suppliers to see if they still have any stock? I’ve sourced discontinued stuff this way before. It’s laborious but worth sending out a cut and paste email if you haven’t already.

Yeah, it was becoming end of line four years ago when we last docked, and with a two year shelf life, that ship has well and truly sailed! Good idea however.

The paint was Leigh's Paints M535, later Sherwin Williams (Bolton) after take over, but in a reshuffle of products they have decided to discontinue the entire antifouling range, which is what this onepack vinyl product was mainly used with. Unfortunately most other af tie-coat are only produced in a aluminium/silver version which doesn't give the desired look for blacking!

I did find International Intertuf 203, but most places only stock it in silver, with black being a special order and a week or so lead time. It's also only available in a 20l tin, which is about what we need, but not very flexible if you want a bit more or less.

Therefore in the end if placed and order for some Jotun Jotumastic 90 epoxy, having become as confident as I can it will go over the 4yo 'aged' vinyl ok.

We have experience of twopack paints, and the downsides of a two pack are minimised when you're talking about painting what is a big and broadly featureless slab sided box! You can mix up plenty and get it on fast. 2hour pot life at 23c.