Dear All

I'm in the middle of repairing and renovating 'Water Nymph's' centre board.  The board looks like it could be mahogany and it's painted white.  I've sanded-down the paint and would like to know what paint you'd recommend.  Unfortunately, I don't know what paint is on the board at the moment (single coat or two-pack).  How can I test what the paint is?  I'd really rather not remove all the existing paint.

I used a polyurethane single coat but found it so smooth and glossy when I capsized it was a hell of a job to climb onto it!!  I'll be glad to get an answer too!!

It depends really on whether you want ease of application or long lasting.

The easiest stuff to get a good finish with is white cellulose primer. It comes in a aerosol and you just keep dusting coats on (Takes ages) and then flat it down so that it's smooth afterwards.

Cheap, quick and easy. U Pol do one called a power can, available at all good car paint shops. The snag is that it doesn't last very long and is easily damaged. Definatley not the stuff to use on a fixed rudder as it will rub off on the varnish inside.

The hardest wearing stuff is probably either Hibuild or two pack polyurethane paint. Hibuild is made by SP, and is hard as nails. Of the polyurethane paints, the Veneziani offering seems to be the weapon of choice among the pros. Of the two i'd be inclined to try the Hibuild first as you can always put two pack over it afterwards if you want. Again you brush or roller it on, then flat it down with 800 followed by 1200 to get rid of the worst of the bumps.

I wouldn't bother with single pack paint realy as it's no better than the celly primer option, and unless you leave it for ages it never seems to go hard.

as an aside if the paint has been on for years and years the chances of a reaction are slim. If using two pack just be extra careful that the edges between coats already applied are well feathered in as this is where it will react, especially is the old paint is not well stuck to the previous coat.

Thanks Chris.  I'll run with the 2-pack option.  Will let you know how I get on.