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Old 08-15-2009, 04:16 PM   #1
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Clear coat exterior paint

Has anyone prevented paint oxidation and the need for frequent waxing by the application of a clear coat to the exterior? If so, what product, how applied?

Thanks, fishr
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Old 08-17-2009, 05:40 PM   #2
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Re: Clear coat exterior paint

hello,

If you're speaking about the exterior of an Escape, I assume it is not painted but a "gel coat" as part of the fiberglass composite layer. A gel coat is a hard plastic outer layer used to provide a smooth, hard outer surface. All fiberglass boats have an identical gel coat. I have used "Poli-Glow" on my 22 year old sailboat for good results. It is a clear acrylic polymer that is water based. Boaters rave about it, I'm happy with it. It provides a nice sheen and protection. Application is relatively easy. You could have a clear coat applied by an auto paint shop, but it would be over kill in my opinion. Keep a cover on your rig, Poli-glow or wax it and you'll be doing alot to reduce chaulikng of the finish.
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Old 08-17-2009, 08:24 PM   #3
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Re: Clear coat exterior paint

Applying a clear coat is not going to do away with waxing. It's still paint and it will still oxidize... only it starts looking cloudy. Clear coat is used on new cars as a paint protectant and is absolutely necessary on paints using a lot of metallic ... especially silver paint which has a tendency to "wash off," over the years.

Waxing is a maintenance issue and you'll find it easier to keep it up than trying to "catch up" once the trailer's gel coat starts to turn to chalk. The best is to keep it out of the weather when not in use camping. That helps immensely.

Gel coat isn't really plastic... in the sense of what most people think of plastic (like a water bottle). It's either an epoxy or polyester resin that's sprayed into the mold.
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Old 08-17-2009, 08:50 PM   #4
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Re: Clear coat exterior paint

Wholy Moly Donna!! You must be a chemist as well.. If I ever have a question, I'm asking you first!!
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Old 08-17-2009, 09:34 PM   #5
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Re: Clear coat exterior paint

Quote:
Originally Posted by JeffZ
Wholy Moly Donna!! You must be a chemist as well.. If I ever have a question, I'm asking you first!!
hahahaha, no I read A LOT. But paint, I can tell you about. I've been involved with hotrods for 50 + years. When it comes to spending money and quality work.... talk to a hotrodder.
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Old 08-18-2009, 11:45 AM   #6
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Re: Clear coat exterior paint

Epoxy and polyester are both technically thermosetting plastics and used as gel coat materials. Polyester is used more commonly in this application in trailer & boat construction.


From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia


A gelcoat is a material used to provide a high quality finish on the visible surface of a fibre-reinforced composite material. The most common gelcoats are based on epoxy or unsaturated polyester resin chemistry. Gelcoats are modified resins which are applied to moulds in the liquid state. They are cured to form crosslinked polymers and are subsequently backed up with composite polymer matrices, often mixtures of polyester resin and fiberglass or epoxy resin with glass, kevlar and/or carbon fibres.

The manufactured component, when sufficiently cured and removed from the mould, presents the gelcoated surface. This is usually pigmented to provide a coloured, glossy surface which improves the aesthetic appearance of the article, such as a counter made with cultured marble.

Many marine craft are manufactured using composite materials. The outer layer is often a gelcoat, typically 0.5mm - 0.8mm in thickness. Gelcoats are designed to be durable, providing resistance to ultraviolet degradation and hydrolysis. The gelcoat will often carry a pigment that provides the finish colour to the moulded item. Specialised gelcoats can be used to manufacture the moulds which in turn are used to manufacture components. These require very high levels of durability to overcome the mechanical and thermal stresses encountered during the curing and demoulding processes.

Suitable resin chemistries for the manufacture of gelcoats vary, but the most commonly encountered are unsaturated polyesters or epoxies. Within each of these categories, the resin chemistries are further subdivided.
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Old 02-21-2013, 07:25 PM   #7
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Nice 2006 17
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2006 17 escape.jpg   2006 17.jpg  
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Old 02-21-2013, 07:52 PM   #8
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Yes it is and one of the very few painted Escapes. Last I saw... this trailer was for sale.
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Old 02-22-2013, 10:14 AM   #9
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Yes it is and one of the very few painted Escapes. Last I saw... this trailer was for sale.
It was for sale but we just bought it last week!! It is really nice and the previous owners kept the interior like new...

Now we just need to name her...
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Old 02-22-2013, 10:58 AM   #10
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It was for sale but we just bought it last week!! It is really nice and the previous owners kept the interior like new...

Now we just need to name her...
Wow...first class! Hope we get to see some interior pics. Congratulations!

Too bad your name isn't Robin--then the name could be a given.
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Old 02-22-2013, 12:06 PM   #11
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It was for sale but we just bought it last week!! It is really nice and the previous owners kept the interior like new...

Now we just need to name her...

Blue Bayou ?
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Old 02-23-2013, 07:10 AM   #12
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It was for sale but we just bought it last week!! It is really nice and the previous owners kept the interior like new...

Now we just need to name her...
COOL! Now, let's see some pictures (with big ole grins), the interior and hooked to your tug... taken out camping of course.
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Old 02-23-2013, 08:25 AM   #13
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It was for sale but we just bought it last week!! It is really nice and the previous owners kept the interior like new...

Now we just need to name her...
Hi: Lost Croz... Puts me in the mind of a song..."Blue on Blue" just can't remember who sang it!!! Alf
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Old 02-23-2013, 09:41 AM   #14
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Bobby Vinton sang the song Blue on Blue in 1963 (also Blue Velvet) which was composed by Burt Bacharach
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Old 02-23-2013, 11:32 AM   #15
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OMG as soon as I read Alf's post I started humming Blue on Blue and then John posted and I switched over to Blue Velvet. I think I'm dating myself
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Old 02-23-2013, 12:44 PM   #16
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OMG as soon as I read Alf's post I started humming Blue on Blue and then John posted and I switched over to Blue Velvet. I think I'm dating myself
That's ok - many of us are old enough to know exactly what you are talking about! And now I'm also thinking of Joni Mitchell and Miles Davis tunes.....
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Old 02-23-2013, 02:38 PM   #17
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I was thinking of Linda Ronstadt or Roy Orbison's "Blue Bayou".
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Old 02-23-2013, 07:49 PM   #18
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Im so old, I thought of Ben Blue.....Peter
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Old 02-23-2013, 08:13 PM   #19
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hahahaha, no I read A LOT. But paint, I can tell you about. I've been involved with hotrods for 50 + years. When it comes to spending money and quality work.... talk to a hotrodder.
Donna, D......hmmmmm! Do you remember when Donna Deverona ran the Indy 500 several years back. I was there and it was pretty exciting!
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Old 02-23-2013, 09:24 PM   #20
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Donna, D......hmmmmm! Do you remember when Donna Deverona ran the Indy 500 several years back. I was there and it was pretty exciting!
No that was Janet Guthrie. Donna was an Olympic swimmer....long time ago!
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