- What is SRC TUFFCOAT?
- Where can I buy SRC TUFFCOAT?
- How do I apply SRC TUFFCOAT?
- What about PVC Boats?
- What is the coverage?
- What about really worn areas?
- Is there any blending or mixing necessary?
- Is there any stirring necessary?
- Is it applied to all surfaces of the inflatable including the bottom?
- Must it be evenly spread?
- How heavily do you apply it?
- Can it be spread with a regular paint brush?
- Can it be applied in the winter?
- How long should it take to do a 9 foot AVON?
- Do you paint over the rubber strips?
- What about layers peeling back, Is this type of damage from UV (Sun) damage and can SRC help?
- How pliable will the boat be after using this system?
- Can my boat be folder or rolled after applying SRC TUFFCOAT ?
- Does SRC TUFFCOAT crack or peel
- Why is the gray less expensive than other colors?
- Can repair patches be glued on after SRC has been applied?
Note: When applying SRC, always wears safety equipment as recommended by the manufacturer of SRC, the solvents and other tools and liquids you may be using during application. These may include rubber gloves, overalls, eye protection, a portable air filter respirator, and others. Read the MSDS sheets for further information.
What is your Major Restoration Paint?
Don't compromise with others that only supply one coating! If there isn't a base and top coat, it likely won't adhere as well and last as long!
BASECOAT
Tuff-coat - basecoat is a super tough, waterproof, impermeable coating which will bond directly to hypalon covered material. It can also make a mechanical bond with PVC.
TOPCOAT
Tuff-coat Topcoat is an easy to apply acrylic latex product designed to bond with Tuff-coat-Basecoat. It will create a rugged flexible surface that seals and shields the material it covers. Topcoat provides an extremely tough flexible surface. Its properties allow consistency of color and additional UV protection.
Where can I buy it?
You can order online through our secure online store here. Or email us directly. Or call us toll free at 1-888-309-0990.
How do I apply
it?
BASECOAT
Surface preparation must provide a clean dry material free from mildew, oil, wax or grease. Leaks other than pinhole size must be repaired prior to application. If mildew is present wash boat thoroughly with a solution of one part household bleach and three parts soapy water. Boats need to have a mechanical bond with the basecoat and require a scuffing with a 3M pad or equivalent prior to application. Boats should be wiped with a clean, dry cloth immediately before application. After surface is cleaned, dried, prepared and repaired, begin application of Basecoat.
Stir well. Coat worn and problem areas first. Deflate boat until flaccid. Allow to fully dry. (24hrs minimum) Fully inflate and test for missed pinhole leaks. Rinse, dry and repeat application to any problem areas. Allow 24 hrs for any problem areas to dry, then paint a complete coat over entire tube surface area. Cleanup is with water. Proceed to topcoat application
TOPCOAT
Surface must be clean and dry as well as free from wax, grease, oil and mildew before application. Do not apply outside if rain is forecast within 12 hours. Stir well, Allow 3-4 hours for topcoat to dry before applying second coat (if required). Tuff-coat Topcoat cleans up with warm soapy water.
What About PVC Boats?
Tuff-coat works quite well on PVC but it requires an additional step for a satisfactory restoration. There are two main difference in applying Tuff-coat to PVC (rather than hypalon) First a mechanical bond must be created with a light sanding or scuffing of the surface with a 3M pad or equivalent before application of the basecoat. The second difference is that you must wait longer for the SRC to cure. This could be as much as a week. With Hypalon the basecoat dries upwards and downwards while with PVC the Xylene carrier must vent upwards only. Topcoat will apply the same as on a hypalon boat. Learn more about fabrics here.
What is the Coverage for major restoration kits?
On our secure online ordering page, you will find conveniently packaged "Pontoon Kits" and "Pontoon & Floor Kits" for a variety of sizes of boats in a variety of colors so you don't have to calculate anything. Simply choose your boat size, color, and if you want to paint just the pontoons, or pontoons and floor, and "add to cart". We'll get it shipped to you right away.
COVERAGE OVERVIEW
Coverage is 40-60 sq ft per quart for base coat and 60-80 for topcoat. As an example, one "8 Foot Pontoon Kit" (contains one qt. Basecoat and one qt. Topcoat) to do the pontoons only of an eight foot inflatable boat. This does not include covering the outer floor. To cover all pontoons and outer floor you need one "8 Foot Pontoon and Floor Kit" - this gives you extra basecoat. For larger boats the basecoat and topcoat configurations are pre-calculated and packaged based on our experiences in selling over 1,200 kits.
On our secure online ordering page, you will find conveniently packaged "Pontoon Kits" and "Pontoon & Floor Kits" for a variety of sizes of boats in a variety of colors so you don't have to calculate anything. Simply choose your boat size, color, and if you want to paint just the pontoons, or pontoons and floor, and "add to cart". We'll get it shipped to you right away.
Remember....as boats get longer their tube diameter and overall surface area gets larger therefore more paint must be ordered to take this into consideration, not just added length. It is the basecoat that is the most important for covering rough areas, chafed areas, pinholes, etc, to build up the sealing/protective layer. The topcoat is the finishing layer to bring it to a beautiful appearance. This is why more basecoat is required when doing the floor also and when boats get larger.
If in doubt about your needs, especially if your boat is in rough shape with patches and chafed areas to cover, etc, you should order more paint as you do not want to get part way through your project and need more paint. This will delay your project completion schedule and cost more money in the long run. Order an extra amount of base or top coat subject to your specific needs - these added accessory packages can also be found on our secure online ordering page.
Both base and top coats will last over a year of shelf life so this offers you a quantity to have in case you require extra for repairs, touch-ups, etc in the future.
What About Worn Areas?
Hypalon base coat should be applied to high wear areas first and recoated if needed prior to Topcoat being applied. If the area is really worn a patch can be applied by coating coating the worn area first with a coat of Tuff-coat Basecoat and then before it dries coat a piece of canvas with SRC Basecoat and apply it to the worn area, recoat the patch with Basecoat once it is in place. Make sure the hypalon base coat is dry (not tacky) it may take anywhere from 12 hrs to 4 or 5 days depending on temperature and humidity. Then apply finish coat .
Is there any blending or mixing necessary?
Tuff-coat comes in two parts but they are not mixed they are applied separately. The basecoat or undercoat is a specially blended synthetic rubber, it is formulated very aggressively for adhesion and the reason we can do this is because since it will be coated with Tuff-coat Topcoat we don't have to worry about how sticky it is. If it was not to be top coated it would stick to itself when the inflatable was rolled up. The topcoat is a liquid vinyl that is formulated to bond with and actually vulcanize to the basecoat.
Is there any stirring necessary?
It is very important to thoroughly stir the contents before application.
Is it applied to all surfaces of the inflatable including the bottom.
It may be applied to all surfaces made from PVC or Hypalon. it is not recommended to apply SRC to the fiberglass bottom of a RIB.
Must it be evenly spread?
For a good looking job the basecoat should be thinned with a high quality Xylene thinner. The consistency should be like light cream, or tomato soup.
How heavily do you apply it?
On severely damaged areas - like where the fabric is threadbare - up to three coats may be applied to restore the integrity of the material. On areas where there is less or little damage one coat should suffice.
Can it be spread with a regular paint brush?
SRC can be brushed, rolled or sprayed.
Can it be applied in the winter?
Yes but temperature must stay above freezing and drying times will be much longer the colder it gets.
How long should it take to do a 9 foot AVON?
Like anything else it depends on a number of factors. Proper preparation is critical for any coating and SRC is no different. The boat needs to be clean and free from any contaminants (like oil or Armorall) I recommend rubbing down the surface with a 3m pad prior to application of the basecoat. Once the boat has been prepped application of basecoat should take about two hours. The basecoat needs to dry thoroughly before applying topcoat. There should be no strong chemical (xylene venting) smell when topcoat is applied. Again a couple of hours should do it.
Do you paint over the rubber strips?
For the best finish any rubber strips should be cleaned with MEK and then taped off and not painted.
What about layers peeling back? Is this type of damage from UV (Sun) damage and can SRC help?
Yes this is common and it is from UV Damage. SRC has been used successfully to fix this type of damage. It of course depends on how extensive the damage is. The best results are from regluing any loose fabric or patching large holes, leaks and worn areas first.
How pliable will the boat be after using this system?
It is quite pliable and when applied properly will bond completely with existing surfaces.
Will I have any issues folding or rolling up the boat when deflated?
Boats can be rolled or folded and stored once the SRC has fully cured.
Does TUFF-COAT Crack or peel?
TUFF will not crack or peel (within tested temperature and environmental conditions) providing it has been applied to a properly prepared surface in the correct environmental conditions.. Take care and patience when applying Tuff-coat to ensure a long-lasting quality outcome.
Why is the silver gray less expensive than other colors?
The other colors besides gray require a special pigment to color the foundation liquid. This coloring pigment adds an extra cost to the product.
Can repair patches be glued on after SRC has been applied?
Repair patches can be applied to a boat coated with SRC paint however the top coat must be sanded/ground off to apply the patch to the basecoat only. Best results are achieved by sanding/grinding the SRC top and base coatings down to the original inflatable boat fabric for a "fabric-on-fabric" bond of the patch. Then repaint the new patch with left-over SRC or order a touch-up kit from us.
Note: When applying SRC, always wears safety equipment as recommended by the manufacturer of SRC, the solvents and other tools and liquids you may be using during application. These may include rubber gloves, overalls, eye protection, a portable air filter respirator, and others. Read the MSDS sheets for further information.
