How To Find the Right Topcoat

Manufacturers of professional yacht coatings offer various solutions for the “final finish.” But which choice is ideal—a PU (Polyurethane) topcoat, an acrylic system or a polyurethane high-solid base coat/clear coat layer structure?

To begin with, it must be said that there is no ONE paint system. All three systems have unique strengths and advantages that give each of them a clear reason for being in the yacht market. The choice for the topcoat can depend on two aspects: properties during the application process and long-term properties after the actual coating.

In short, the owner must balance their desires against the available time, costs and general conditions of the coating process. From these considerations, one can determine what paint system to choose.

Let’s look at the three ALEXSEAL^® YACHT COATING systems and where they lead to the best result based on his many years of market experience.

Polyurethane Topcoat

A High-Performing Evergreen for Every Yacht Size

Two outstanding features of the ALEXSEAL^® Premium Topcoat 501 are always why this system is chosen—the impressive gloss level of the finish on the result side and the good overspray uptake on the application side. If one also looks at the maintenance and servicing side, there is also the aspect of good repairability. Polyurethane topcoats are thus a safe choice for both small and large yachts and have established themselves in the market for decades. The system can be applied with the spray gun and is also rollable.

Acrylic Topcoat

Fast and Shiny Finish for Smaller and Medium-Sized Yachts

An acrylic topcoat is also highly important in the market. Compared to the other two systems, it is much more workable when the painting conditions are not quite optimal. Two functionalities of the ALEXSEAL^® Acrylic Topcoat X shine above all. Firstly, it has a faster drying time and therefore offers less surface for dirt particles to adhere to the still-wet paint film. In addition, the dried coating has very good polishability as it is slightly softer than a PU topcoat or a BC/CC system. In the US, where there are many end users who design their smaller yachts themselves as DIY users, Acrylic Topcoat X has gained a considerable foothold. Another extra benefit is its excellent hiding power, which often requires fewer coats even in direct comparison with other Acrylic yacht paints.

Base Coat/Clear Coat System

With One Extra Layer to High-Gloss Durability

The situation is reversed with the ALEXSEAL^® Base Coat/Clear Coat (BC/CC) system layers because with this polyurethane system, the crucial advantage lies in the last, extra layer—the clear coat. The application of this system is clearly in the hands of experienced painters and is suitable for special requirements. But the effort of the extra layer and the craftsmanship required to achieve it pays off especially well. The BC/CC build has the greatest Hiding Power and Depth of Image (DOI) of all three systems. Satisfactory results also emerge in terms of gloss level and gloss stability.

More Details

www.alexseal.com/colorfulchoices

Mankiewicz Coatings LLC

1200 Charleston Regional Parkway

Charleston, SC 29492, USA

Tel. +1 (843) 654 7755

sales@alexseal.com