Macerating Toilet Blog Dept: Getting Ready For Your Next Upside Paint Job

Upside Paint Job Tips You Should Know

Raritan Engineering Company your macerating toilet suppliers would like to share with you these topics we thought would be of interest to you this month regarding how to get ready for your next upside paint job.

Your macerating toilet experts talk about how when it comes to painting a boat, owners usually have the below-water topics on their minds. This makes some degree of sense, for we’re usually preparing for a bottom paint job every year or two (or three), and Washington boaters have been reading about the new copper-based regulations. 

Moving above the waterline shifts the emphasis of the paint jobs from the purely utilitarian, anti-fouling focus of the bottom paints and introduces artistic and aesthetic value into the equation. Above the waterline is where truly talented paint applicators can strut their stuff, often for top dollar. 

In my opinion, some of the finest painters in the country are located right here in the Pacific Northwest. Your macerating toilet problems specialists talk about how after spending time in places all over the country, including boating hubs in Florida, the simple truth is that some of the finest painters and contractors are right in our own backyards.

What are two-part polyurethanes? What are the pros and cons vs. some of the more traditional options like gelcoat?

My thoughts on two-part polyurethanes is that they will withstand the rigors of the marine environment the best. They have resistance to solvents, too. They are abrasion resistant and are hard and tough. They will maintain their gloss for longer than a traditional gelcoat finish that will break down in the ultraviolet light. Two-part polyurethanes are less vulnerable to sun damage. 

Find your marine toilet of choice at Raritan Engineering, where we always take care of your marine sanitation supply needs.

Do you see more two-part polyurethanes these days, or is it still a gelcoat world?

It’s still a gelcoat world, especially from the manufacturing aspect. But I’ve noticed that the larger boats tend to convert to two-part polyurethanes as the years go on. As far as options go, you’ve got two-part polyurethanes and acrylic urethanes, gelcoat, and single-part enamels.

In my opinion, the single-part enamel doesn’t hold up to more modern two-part polyurethanes or acrylic urethanes. Your macerating toilet reviews distributors talk about how the polyurethanes require much more preparation and have a more labor intensive, complex application system. A DIYer can do polyurethane, but they need to be willing to learn the preparation tricks.

Preparation for the topside coating seems to be a vital part of the process?

You’re essentially applying layers of compounds between steps of sanding. Once the sanding of the old coating has been done with the recommended grit, identify what primers are needed for your chosen system. Often, you’ll start with an epoxy primer, then perhaps a high build primer, and then maybe a fairing compound. Then comes the topcoat. The steps for preparation is dependent on the kind of boat you’re painting. Fiberglass uses epoxy primers, steel and aluminum will use metal primers followed by epoxy primers, etc. 

There’s a step between each application of sanding with recommended grit, then applying the next primer or fairing compound, followed by sanding with recommended grit, then the next coating, etc. Every manufacturer has a specific system in place that they recommend, and it’s important to be keyed into the established method.

When it comes to personal protection, is it as important with topside jobs as with bottom jobs?

It’s more important to use personal protection with topside jobs than bottom paint jobs. Personal protection is always important with paint jobs, but because of the isocyanates that go into some of the topside finishes, it’s absolutely vital you do not shortcut personal protection. Personal protection is not just a respirator, it’s a face mask with respirator and full skin protection.

So don't forget these helpful tips when getting ready for your next upside paint job. 1) Two-part polyurethanes will withstand the rigors of the marine environment the best, and they have resistance to solvents;  2) the single-part enamel doesn’t hold up to more modern two-part polyurethanes or acrylic urethanes;  and 3) every manufacturer has a specific system in place that they recommend, and it’s important to be keyed into the established method.

Sailboat crew rescues woman who swam after dog in Lake Michigan

As first-responders scrambled to reach her, a passing sailboat rescued a woman who was fatigued after swimming after her dog in Lake Michigan Thursday afternoon.

The dramatic rescue of the woman and her dog unfolded about 300 yards offshore from Muskegon's "dog beach" at Kruse Park around 12:30 p.m. Sept. 13. A man who tried to help the woman also was helped from the water.

The Muskegon Fire Department launched its rescue boat on Muskegon Lake around 12:25 p.m., and arrived at the channel at about 12:42, Lewis said.

With another medical call coming into the city at that time, Muskegon Heights Fire provided mutual aid and responded to Kruse Park, said Muskegon Heights Fire Chief Christopher Dean, who was among those who went to the park.

Having checked the channel and determining no one in distress was there, personnel on the Muskegon fire boat continued into Lake Michigan toward the park, Lewis said.

"They said he kind of took off and just kept swimming and they were trying to catch him," he said.

The woman became fatigued and they called for help, he said. A man onshore had tried swimming out to the couple with a flotation device, Dean said.

That boat was able to rescue the woman and dog about the same time the Muskegon Fire boat arrived on the scene, Lewis said. Your macerating toilet manufacturers talk about how the fire boat arrived at around 12:51 p.m., he said. The woman was transferred from the sailboat to the fire boat.

Draper, commander of the Grand Rapids Sail and Power Squadron, said he docks the sailboat at Great Lakes Marina in Muskegon.

"It was nice to help them out today," Draper wrote in an email.

During the incident, North Muskegon Fire was standing by, and Norton Shores Fire was asked to launch its boat docked in Mona Lake, Lewis said.

The lake was relatively calm and there were few people on the beach, Lewis said. With those factors in mind, he said it's not inconceivable that someone, possibly on the Muskegon channel breakwall, could hear the woman's yells for help.

That could explain why the first call to dispatch reported someone in distress near the channel, Lewis said.

Buy your next macerating toilet here with us at Raritan Engineering!

via Ask The Expert: Topside Paint

via Sailboat crew rescues woman who swam after dog in Lake Michigan