spar paint

[De_sv_Taz]

I will soon face a mast painting problem -- birdsmouth construction wooden mast -- and would like to find some intelligent discussion of paint options for long-term exterior use. I've heard some rumbles lately in the boating world about using floor paint (water based
acrylic I think) for masts and wooden upperworks, as it is very tough and long lasting and costs far less than special boat paints sold under "marine" labels. polyurethane porch paint/coating has also been mentioned.

has anyone had good results using paints for floors, porches, or industrial surfaces as exterior paint for wooden boats? anyone have a URL to a good discussion I can go and read somewhere? my boat has a workboat finish and I am not interested in fancy brightwork, just in a really durable UV resistant paint that will look tidy and stand up to a few years of hard use.

[Ian McColgin]

Ahoy there.

You might open this up on the WoodenBoat Magazine Members Forum.

I seal and prime with a product called CPES - Mr. Smith's Clear Penetrating Epoxy Sealer. Over that - and I've experimented with many modern finishes - I've had best luck with either old fashioned spar varnish or (as I use on my current cat boat mast) a traditional paint made by a marine paint specialist. I use Kirby's - still family owned and real stuff.

The point is that spar paint takes a lot of abuse between flexing, chafe and weather. The paint must be both durable and most important easily repairable. The modern goos are nice and hard and durable up to a point but they are hard to just repair.

By the way, I'm not against new or odd uses. On my last boat I used exterior latex housepaint for the topsides.

G'luck