Marine Ply Flooring Help

[HighlandR]

Having now decided to paint the floor panels and Transom on my 12ft sib rather than varnish them, what is the proper way to prepare and refinish the plywood to make it last?

The panels ( 5 of them ) have been varnished long ago and it has now started to peel and flake off.

I'd like to paint them black, or possibly a grey ?

How should I prepare the surface?
Will the ply need to be sealed and also primed first ?
what type of sealer / primer ?
What type of paint should I use ?
Will the paint or chemicals in them damage the Hypalon bonded to the Transom ?

Thanks for any advice !

[Nos4r2]

This stuff will seal the floor nicely. I 've been using it to seal seat bases and a few other things. It's flexible too.
Strip the floor bare first, then apply it. Follow the overcoating instructions as if it goes shiny, paint won't stick to it

Timberseal PS a solvent free epoxy wood primer

You could actually varnish over it with a polyurethane varnish after and it'll look beautiful. Your floor looks pretty good under the varnish.

You won't damage the hypalon without really trying, and epoxy/polyurethane won't hurt it in any way.

[prairie tuber]

This is what I've used on my floorboards and have found it to be extremely durable.

WEST SYSTEM | The 105 System of Epoxy Resins and Hardeners

[Nos4r2]

Originally Posted by prairie tuber

This is what I've used on my floorboards and have found it to be extremely durable.

WEST SYSTEM | The 105 System of Epoxy Resins and Hardeners

Same sort of thing. Timberseal does exactly the same job (it's effectively a flexible penetrating epoxy varnish), but the West System stuff is a bit expensive over here.

You've got to overcoat any of the epoxies with either varnish or paint though as they aren't very UV stable and will yellow.

[HighlandR]

Thanks Nos4r2, this epoxy primer looks good stuff, what price is it and what amount would be needed for both sides of the floor and transom?

What paint would you suggest using on top ? ( lower-ish priced stuff preferred !! ) I'd like them to be painted black or maybe a grey colour

[Nos4r2]

link to buy it here-a litre should do:-

Wood Primer 2 pack epoxy extremely tough & long lasting

Regards painting it, not sure, just make sure you use proper marine paint.

Personally I'd varnish it with something like Epiphanes or another polyurethane one-you'll have to strip all the old varnish off to seal it anyway. It's tougher than paint and won't show as much if it gets damaged.

[HighlandR]

I've been kinda undecided wether to varnish or paint - I realise the varnish is more hard wearing than paint, but the ply does have alot of staining.. a few black spots etc, id hate for them to show through, also some parts of wood have been replaced with different types of wood and the colour stands out alot, so i thought it may be best to just paint the lot and touch up when needed. But the paint being not as hard as the varnish...... grr !

Is it possible to add a colour pigment to the polyurethane varnish ??

That would give the best of both worlds ?

[Nos4r2]

It's not the hardness you want, it's a combination of toughness and flexibility.

I suspect if you used polyurethane varnish, you could use a gelcoat pigment in it BUT get advice from someone better at GRP work than me before you try it!

A transparent pigment might look good and hide any dark spots?