engine compartment
 

ok i have a 94 conquest enforcer 30' and im redoing my interior. That being said i have carpet in my engine compartment which looks like s***. I tore up the carpet and noticed it is fiberglass under. Its not colored just clear. Well my transom is the same way but is grey in color, and i would like not to put carpet back in. So what i can paint/spray or whatever over the clear fiberglass to make it match the transom. Someone told me epoxy paint? Any suggestions thanks

West Marine sells a bilge paint that works good

how does it hold up to wear and tear...... anybody else?

Engine Room Decor
 

Accessability is probably the main factor here.
If possible , flowcoat the fibreglass surface.
First , degrease thoroughly.
Scuff surface real well with 80 to 100 grit.... Dont be scared to rough it up when applying flowcoat.
Blow down and rag off with liberal amounts of acetone.
Catalize flowcoat at 2%.Dont try to make too much at a time as it will beat you to set.
I found, unless you could really lay it up on a flat surface,1 to 2 inches max in a 2 litre ice-cream container will have you hurrily applying to get it all on.
Ambient temp is the major factor here.
When it shows signs of turning , dont try to wack the rest on as it will look like s**t.
Turf it and start again gradually guaging the time and amount to mix to suit.
Brushes and small rollers are the easiest applicators and are a throw away item after each batch.
Your ice -cream containers can be re-used after they set. Simply bend and peel out.You will still need quite a few.
If you need to you can recoat but do as soon as possible.
If you have to leave overnight , be sure to re-sand before you overcoat.
Find yourself a shipwright/ boatbuilder or fibreglass specialist that will sell you product from his bulk supplies as this will halve the cost of materials.
Also his further advice will be invaluable!
This is a brief description of what is required but that is the guts of the job
If you have further questions dont hesitate to ask as it was through the generosity of time given to me by Artesian Shipwrights of Gladstone owner Frank, that i can pass on help to you.
Cheers

I used Bilge Coat from West Marine in my last boat and it worked great. Make sure you follow the directions exactly - pretty easy stuff to work with. As far as durability goes, I re and re'd the engine the next season and it hardly got marked up at all. Fuel/oil don't affect it.

there's a thread on here about this but rustoleum works awsome and holds up unreal, just clean lightly sand and brush it on....Rob

any pictures of the bilge coat, is it glossy or flat, i need it in gray

The Interlux Bilge Coat is available in white for sure. I think the only other color is grey. They only have 2 colors. I have used it many times and love it. It is not affected by fuel, oil, etc. and is simply brushed or rolled on.
Eddie

thanks young you have some good advise, but can u post some pics of one you have done .... thanks

hey eddie dont mean to bother you, but if you have some pics that would be awesome, and how easy was it to do? thx

I will dig some out from my other computer later today for you.

Here ya go Conquest. These were done with the Interlux Bilge Kote in white(obviously)

The first pic is a before in white gelcoat.

Here is another before and after. You will not be disappointed if you use the Bilge Kote. Hope this helps, Eddie.

thanks for the picture. after reading the application process it seems very time comsuming. any tips?

Not at all. Just rough up the surface and either roll or brush it on. It's that simple. I like to hit the surface with 80 grit paper on a DA or orbital sander. Then wipe it down with acetone or similar and paint it. You will probably need 2 coats, depending on what you are going over. Put on one coat, wait 24 hrs, and recoat it. That is all there is to it. It will flow out great and not leave any brush or roller marks. It will look like it was sprayed on. It really is some good stuff. Hope this helps, Eddie.

how should i prep it, its stock so i dont know what surface it is, but its clear. probably fiberglass underneath? i dont know if its clear coat or epoxy?

First u need to find out if its a epoxy built boat or a conv. resin built boat.:ernaehrung004:

I don't think its clearcoat !!!! either one of the above.
but not everything sticks to epoxy ,,only epoxy related products will stick to it,,with polyester or vinalester its a difrent story !!!!!:eek:

well im using bilgekote, and i believe it is resin cause it has that on other parts of the boat, but the floor looks perfectly laid, its a older boat if that helps 94 conquest. the was carpet down before

Yes ,, thats what u need . I think 99% its not epoxy !!!

Just sand it so all the erea is skuffed up and then clean with a rag and aceton ,,then mix the bilgecoat with wax (if its not premixed with it ) then just roll it on ina nice thick coat and let it dry !!!!

cool thanks for the help, i have fiber solvent wash 202, and brushing liquid 333. what do i use to wipe down. thx for the help daredevol im planning on doing this is the morning

Wow! That stuff looks better than when my boat was new. I am going to do it as I am getting an engine built now anyway. I looked it up in West and see they sell in quarts or gallons. It is $36 per quart. Any idea how much would it take to do a single engine bilge?

Sledge
Plan on using about 2 quarts in your boat.

Conquest,
You can wipe down with acetone, Prep Solve, or something similar.

Eddie

i used brushing liquid 333 after sanding, then painted and came out awesome, 2morrow im going to sand with 220 and use that brushing liquid and re coat

Post some pictures !!!!!:ernaehrung004:

What is brushing liquid 333? What paint did you use?

Also pictures please!

u use brushing liquid to get sanding particle off the surface, but its mainly used for when your brushing the paint on, it helps it smooth out better when it drys, i cant post pics cause im not a gold member or some crap