PaddleWise by thread

From: <JCMARTIN43_at_aol.com>
subject: [Paddlewise] Practical paint selections
Date: Thu, 14 Jan 1999 15:23:21 EST
Okay, thanks for the valuable support on electric pumps.  Another question.

I'm finishing off a Chesapeake Light Craft "North Bay" stitch'n'glue boat, and
will have to make some decisions on painting.  The hull is pretty nearly
faired out and getting better, but I'm sure there will be sags somewhere in
the epoxy that I'm going to miss. I really want this to be a <kayak>, not a
living room coffee table; I want to be able to paddle it without worrying
about dinging its pristine finish.  However, I've got a lot of sweat equity in
this beauty, so making it look good is still an objective.

Seems to me that a black or very dark blue glossy hull would look great on the
North Bay, but I'm concerned that a very dark hull would show the sags and
blemishes that I'm sure will be in there.  I'm guessing that the same's true
for a very bright white hull.  Concurrence on this?  Experience to the
contrary?

As to quality of paint, any theories out there on whether it's worth the time
and the money to use any of the two- and three-part polyurethanes, or is a one
part polyurethane adequate?  And how 'bout experience with any of the hi-build
primers out there?  Interlux has some nice off-whites in both single and
multi-part paints --- including a nice looking, creamy "Hatteras Off-White"
color that looks like it might optimize the durability and hiding power I
assume I'll need --- any thoughts on that kind of choice from a practical and
not a cosmetic viewpoint?

Not really looking for art critics --- everybody knows what they like.  Am
really looking for first hand experience with the practical aspects of paint
choices from the standpoint of durability, hiding capability and --- what the
heck, sure --- <looks>!

Thanks for any and all advice.

Jack Martin
***************************************************************************
PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List
Submissions:     paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net
Subscriptions:   paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net
Website:         http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/
***************************************************************************
From: John Waddington <waddinj_at_recorder.ca>
subject: Re: [Paddlewise] Practical paint selections
Date: Thu, 14 Jan 1999 16:19:36 -0500
JCMARTIN43_at_aol.com wrote:
>
> Seems to me that a black or very dark blue glossy hull would look great on the
> North Bay, but I'm concerned that a very dark hull would show the sags and
> blemishes that I'm sure will be in there.  I'm guessing that the same's true
> for a very bright white hull.  Concurrence on this?  Experience to the
> contrary?


I put white on my hull and left the deck varnished.  I picked white even
though navy blue or forest green would have been my first choices, just
for safety reasons.  One of my old kayaks is navy blue coloured and it
is very hard to see in many light conditions.  The white is glossy
Interlux Brightsides, and does show any unevennesses (is that a word?). 
I have been assured by a friend who sells paint that almost any one part
polyurethane is good enough and that two part ones are a pain to work
with.  You need to be careful with hi-build primers since they can pick
up a lot of moisture from the air before you paint.

I would be glad to hear how you like the North Bay when you try it out. 
I built a Chesapeake 16 last winter and am making a Guillemot striper
now, but like the looks of the North Bay.  I was considering it for next
year.

John
***************************************************************************
PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List
Submissions:     paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net
Subscriptions:   paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net
Website:         http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/
***************************************************************************

This archive was generated by hypermail 2.4.0 : Thu Aug 21 2025 - 16:32:55 PDT