How long will a paint job last?

[David]

Been reading the topic about painting ones boat.  I am just wondering how many years the paint will hold up if boat is outside but covered with tarp in winter.  Hopefully, boat to be sailed maybe 40 time/yr at a rate of 5 hours water time each time and washed afterwards.

Am new, so I have just been reading all the excellent info. here.  Somewhere I read that it takes the same amount of prep work to paint a boat as to spray 4 coats of new gelcoat on it.  I have a 80 model 16 and the gelcoat seems to be a little thin, as I can see daylight when in the cabin and looking toward the stern area.

David

[newt]

My paint is 14 years old and I am just now going to do the topsides....

[lostsailor101]

David,

I have painted two boats using Interlux Brightsides. The first was a 1986 24 foot Auqasport, we kept that boat for 2 more years after completing the paint job and when we sold the boat the paint still looked good. The second boat painted was a 1994 O'Day Daysailer, on this one we covered a fairly oxidized green hull with 3/4 to 1 mix of yellow and white. We first applied 2 coats of primer, with some of the yellow mixed in , and 3 top coats of our special blend  yellow / white mix. We painted outside in our back yard, using a roller and foam brushes, the whole process took less than a week. Lightly sanding and wiping clean between coats. After the paint dried I never waxed the boat, just washed with soap and water and after 5 years the paint was still looking good. My friend Keith at the Sailboat Company had nothing but compliments on the way she looked. Although the complements were nice to hear I thought it was kind of funny because it was so easy to apply. So to answer your question : if you are using Interlux's Brightsides from my personal experience at least 5 years, and if I were to make a big assumption .... probably longer, but I never seem to keep a boat around long enough for the paint to wear. This one vice drives my #1 crazy, she says I spend to much time and money making my boats look good just to move on to the next one do it all over again........ But I think she secretly enjoys it too.

Newt 14 years, now that's a relationship....

Happy sails to all

[Bob23]

Lost:
   Tell your wife- think of all the money I'm saving by avoiding repainting! Just buy another boat!
I used Brightsides on my Annapolis Wherry and got so-so results. I think it was the painer, not the paint because I've heard very good things about brightsides. If it were around in the 70's, I might have brush painted some of my old cars!
Bob23

[brackish]

The picture of the Columbia 8.7 from the thread you referenced was done in 1994 IIRC.  The hull has not been repainted and still looks good.  The topsides has been redone, but not because the paint was bad, the new owner chased some more core rot later on and decided to repaint.

It is Dupont Imron catalyzed polyurethane.  Not hard to apply but requires protective equipment with supplied air recommended.  The case studies of health problems from Isocyanates in the catalyst all reference cases of significant exposure either from long term use or a massive concentration.  I applied it with a NIOSH mask, outdoors with no supplied air.  Took about 45 minutes to do the whole thing, no apparent health issues.  But you should be aware and read the MSDS.  It will give you the hardest finish with the best gloss retention over time.

Here is a more recent photo of the boat done in 94.

http://www.sailingtexas.com/scolumbia87a.html