Good oil based polyurethane paint available in Georgia, USA

[Ann and Neville Clement]

Many years ago, I bought some Glidden paint which was OIL BASED POLYURETHANE porch and deck paint intended to be used outdoors and exposed to heat and cold, wet and dry, and it all sounded a bit boatish to me.  At the then price of 20 US dollars a gallon, I decided to try it on Peace IV's decks.  It worded a whole lot better than the paint I bought at the marine store back in Britain in 2002 just before we launched which was also polyurethane and extremely expensive.  So after that first test area proved up for us, we did all the decks and topsides on Peace with Glidden oil based polyurethane porch and deck paint.  And when repainting was needed four years ago, we repainted with it again were again delighted with the long lasting and shiny appearance and ease of using this paint.  It has stood up to a whole lot of foot traffic here on Peace because this is a much visited party boat and we do sail a lot.   

After four years since the last repaint, it could go another year, but we wanted to repaint this year and were distressed when we could not find any more of the oil based polyurethane Glidden paint in Rhode Island.  We had some old cans, but did not want to use them for the topsides and we were out of the deck paint which we had used with Behr non skid additive.  It works wonderfully well and is not too scratchy when Nev is out there sunning himself like a happy lizard.  We looked all over New England for the oil based polyurethane paint by Glidden and we looked in Virginia, but I am not the most tech savvy person on the block, so I have to admit that I did not look on line.  Everyone had been telling me that the oil based polyurethane paint was no longer being made because of new regulations.  I had sadly given up pretty much and was considering spending a whole lot of money to buy a poorer product at the marine store.  Then this am a friend challenged me to look on line.  BINGO!

Finally I discovered (confirmed by telephone call) that in the state of Georgia, one can still buy gallons of the oil based polyurethane paint mixed to all the many Glidden colors or to any other color you care to have them match for you, and we are headed for Georgia now on our way south in Peace.  I intend to buy many gallons of this paint in the lovely dark brown we use for the bimini so it will not glare at us when sailing at night, and in the light blue/gray color for the decks, and in the creamy color for the topsides.  I already got several cans of Cetol for the deck slats and bright work.

Nev had already committed to sanding the deck slats so I can Cetol them, and today he agreed to sand the deck and cockpit and all the deck boxes so I can paint them too.  Looks like this winter in the Bahamas will be partly spent in painting clothes.  Next summer we will drive Peace onto the beach again in Cape Cod where there are 11 foot tides and we can paint the topsides also.  Nev has wonderful sanders and does not mind sanding and I have no objection to painting.  It works out fine because I cannot sand due to asthma and he cannot paint due to skin sensitivity.  Together we make one useful person.

Had I not tried it on our own boat, I might not trust using paint designed for porches and decks, but actually those are outdoor structures and so is the boat. Certainly this is not under water paint, and we are putting it on top of good epoxy foundation sanded and undercoated and the first paint just before launch was two part so it is a careful lay up.  This Glidden paint has proven itself in the Bahamas and in New England on our live aboard boat's annual migrations with many visitors and many parties and many miles of sailing in all weathers.  At today's cost of around 25 dollars a gallon, it is good paint and at a good price too.  It goes on well and gets five stars from us.  I think repainting a boat every 4 or 5 years is not a bad practice in any case.  The sanding and then painting brings you close so the boat gets a good inspection as the work progresses.

Ann and Nev

 

[reg]

We used international 10 year exterior gloss on our wood hulled trawler with success, lasted well even though we slapped it on over some pretty poor original paint. We just needed to tidy up the hull a bit, but to my surprise it went on well and lasted several years.

[Shaun]

So Ann, Nev and Reg,
I am nearly to the stage of glassing the first hull of our Tahiti Wayfarer and have been investigating various paint options for the outside of the hulls. Considering the fact that this style of boat is by its nature a beach loving vessel, meaning that for the most part it's water borne life is journey time and mostly overnighting on the hard, in your opinion would this paint live up to this requirement?
Obviously, I am not looking for definitive guidance, simply your thoughts on a more rugged use of these particular top coatings.
Cheers,
Shaun

[reg]

The International paint took a beating without any real problems, it was on a Danish Trawler built for the North sea and Baltic, we used Nordhavns for fenders. You will be painting over epoxy and I do not have any experience of the paint over epoxy.

[Ann and Neville Clement]

We are totally happy with the Gliddens over lightly sanded epoxy.  The paint is its own undercoat so we just put two coats and it seems to be fine.  Our boat was built with marine Okume or Gabbon plywood and fiberglassed from new, then sanded and undercoat (two part) and then lightly sanded and two coats of two part paint all before first launch.  This lasted ok and we repainted after about 5 years using the Glidden.  It has been about five years again and time to repaint.  I am so glad to find this Glidden paint again!  After this, I suppose I will be buying the International but cannot expect it to be as inexpensive or as good either.  The Glidden goes on easily, is not runny, comes in many, many colors, and has high gloss which some folks love.  I actually prefer less gloss, but that is just my preference.

All the best luck to you on your Tahiti Wayfarer.  Ann and Nev

[Shaun]

Thanks guys, I appreciate it.
Cheers,
Shaun

[alex]

Ann, Nev

Are you sure that you dont work for Glidden?? if not, they should hire you to advertise their oil based porch painting, you might get several thousand dollars and a endless provision of paint for the boat!!!

guess what... after reading this posts i will try it too, :-)

I was sad that I missed you guys when we came down from Canada...

Alex

[Ann and Neville Clement]

Hi,

   I don't work for Glidden at all.  They make good paint and it is harder and harder to find due to regulations that are leaving wooden boaters with the choice of latex (yuck for boats) or expensive paint from the marine store that does not work better.  I am associated with Wharrams in that I sell plans.  Beyond that, I am RETIRED and that is wonderful!

   Alex, you can come down from Canada again and we can get together.  FUTURE is where we are able to correct errors in the present.  Future is not only fantasy land.  We can have our daydreams there, but if we plan today, those daydreams can come true in the future.

   Ann and NEv

[alex]

Ann/Nev

Of course i was teasing you, and I hope you took it with a smile. that was the purpose. I just was thrilled about your clear and enthusiastic description while supported by years of experience.

NOw we reached Uruguay and we will stay here for a while, perhaps 1 more year till we sell all we have here in order to be free for travel around the world. We don't expect to travel by boat to the states for now, but we might go to FL to buy and dispatch some materials we still need to the boat in order to prepare it for the big tour.. in that case i would contact you right in advance.

cheers

Alex

[hans boortman]

Ann and nev,

glidden  floor and porch paint is still available west coast of florida,i checked today with home depot and here as far as they know the paint will be available,I have painted my new woods saturn with glidden ,ilike the paint , i humid conditions it seems to mildew  real fast,after what you have said i will invest in a few gallons.

[Ann and Neville Clement]

Hello Hans,

   We have had no problem with mildew with our Glidden which we use outside on the boat.   We may put some Glidden inside the boat on the steps and will select a light color so it will be comfy on bare feet in sunny and hot weather.  We like Behr non skid additive which is good non skid but kind on bare parts of  body.  Nev loves to lie out in the sun wearing his Wharram suit (nothing)!  That is one reason he likes to sail offshore..... 

   Ann and Nev

[hans boortman]

Hi Ann and Nev,

I have used some glidden inside the boat although it takes a while for the smell to fade,for nonskid i had some interlux  intergrip left seems to work fine,purchased another gallon of porchpaint as home depot is now saying there is no guarantee for long long they will stock it in regard to high v.o.c. I t might be a good idea to give the nonskid  a good sanding to avoid butt-rash!!!

Hans.

[Ann and Neville Clement]

The Behr non skid additive is safe on bare butts.  Nev has researched this extensively.  :-)