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Imron anyone?

ndaniels

ndaniels

Well-known member
I've been looking at a boat that has an Imron paintjob- a very, very well done one, with clear. How is durability for imron?

It looks fantastic, but I've been wondering how it compares to gel (I'd think not as durable- tougher to repair, maybe). I know alot of guys use it, but I haven't, so lets hear some opinions:banana:
 
I had my old Nova (car) painted with it. It was durable. I think they used Imron to paint Over the Road tractor trailers or air planes, but look into it for yourself to be sure.
 
imron is very durable but it is just like any other paint/gelcoat, if u neglect it overtime it will look like crap. it is alot harder and stronger than car paint. i like imron better then gelcoat, paint has a much higher shine and depth to it.
 
My Convincor was painted with Imron about 5 years ago, still looks like new. Wax it once in spring and that's all. Only problem I found, as compared to gel, is that you need to be extra careful around docks to prevent scratches which you can't repair as easily.

Also, you need to use a very clean, cloth covered fender or else the rubber will scuff it. In fact, I get scuffs every spring from the shrink wrap on the boat. I had 3 coats of clear put on, so I can buff out the scruffs - but eventually, the clear will wear out.
 
I found Imron paint looks good, but in real boating it is not practical. How many of us never hit a dock? As well, if you leave your boat in the water I would DEFINITELY use gelcoat, I find the Imron blisters off over time(even when applied properly). The Imron is easier to apply but I find needs a lot more maintenance over time.
 
Your in luck, I have a good bit of experience with Imron. I love it on just about everything. I sprayed my Jetmate with it. It has the look and feel of gellcoat, and should hold up on your boat for at least 10 years if applied properly.
Check out pics of my boat... http://checkmate-boats.com/forums/showthread.php?t=14018 . Imron was developed in the 1960's to be a durable industrial paint for trucks and equipment. Dupont soon realized the paint was way better and much more durable than they had exspected.

One of their promotional adds showed a piece of tin foil that was sprayed, let dry, then crumpled, and then uncrumpled, and the paint did not crack or break. Imron now is advertised as aviatoin paint and is used on all types of airplanes from small Pipers to the largest Jets.

I have used Imron on three boats with success and would not use anything else on a boat. That is if your pocket book will permit, as it is a bit pricey. I spent over $800.00 for the Imron for my boat 3 years ago, and that was the discount price. I'm sure it may be more now.

The method I use for painting a boat in Imron is simple but effective. Fiberglass flexes especialy on a boat. Imron too is very flexable. That is why it works well on fiberglass. So to insure the integrity of the paint I apply it directly to the gelcoat, no primers, no sealers that may not be as flexable as the Imron. In other words I am putting a flexable paint directly on a flexing surface, nothing in between that does not flex or give with the boat or the Imron.

Prep for the boat surface is simple. If you are preping a boat that has never been painted and the gellcoat is still intact, I sand the boat with 100 grit sand paper. Never go any courser than that. DO NOT USE 80 GRIT PAPER! Gellcoat is very hard and 100 grit paper cuts the gellcoat about as much as 320 grit does to standard automotive paint. Along with normal surface cleaning and dewaxing (very important) with something like prepsol, that is all I do before painting a boat. Wash, dewax, sand, dewax again right before paint, tack, and paint.

Good luck if you decide to paint or buy one already painted. Hope this helps. :thumb:
 
Great thread with great information especially since I'm going to need to paint my mate.

Jetmate- Did you spray the paint on or did you tip and roll?
 
THATS some awesome info! The prep is 99% of the finish results- and obviously mine was not preped right ( not Imron pain on mine ) Since I have blisters and cracks here n there in my candy apple red paint. I have been planning on sanding and re-painting mine for spring- and after reading this- I just may go with an Imron! Thanx Jet!
 
fbpd227 said:
THATS some awesome info! The prep is 99% of the finish results- and obviously mine was not preped right ( not Imron pain on mine ) Since I have blisters and cracks here n there in my candy apple red paint. I have been planning on sanding and re-painting mine for spring- and after reading this- I just may go with an Imron! Thanx Jet!
Click to expand...

I like the color combo on your Mate, it sets the boat off!
 
I have used IMRON on several occasions...the stuff is great..even high $$ boat manufactures use it for their graphics fountain for instance...very durable....about the most of any paint, I know you can roll and tip which I have done many times with interlux poly..not imron though...can beat it for paint ! Rob
 
Jet, did you mold a scoop into your bow deck? It loos AWESOME!!! Totaly kewl idea! Have never seen that before. Great job!
 
I've used it with great success on the outside of a boat including clear on a flake job, and on my current little mate I recently did the interior in low gloss grey and put it on with a roller... added interlux non-skid (the little plastic spheres) and it turned out great and has been holding up REALLY well for 6 months or so. we drop things on it, including props anchors, etc, etc... and it has yet to chip, etc... I did the engine compartment as well and it is holding up great to everything I've spilled or done to it. Great stuff and especially attractive since price has gone way down on it as other, new technologies are more attractive for auto finishes...

just my two cents...

ps don't spray it without the right kind of equipment and a little forethought. You can screw around and wind up dead.
 
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