In the meticulous and exacting world of superyacht coatings, with projects often involving up to 15 layers of paint, the promise of new products that reduce the number of application steps whilst maintaining a high-quality performance may seem too good to be true. When each stage of the painting process has previously been deemed essential to achieving the premium finish demanded by today’s superyacht owners, is there really a new way to save weeks on the vital priming and finishing task with no compromise on quality?
With the launch of Awlgrip®Gloss Finish Primer in North America and Asia-Pacific, the answer, which will ease the pressure for owners, captains, project managers and yard professionals, is ‘yes’.
The first product on the market to offer this two-in-one solution, Gloss Finish Primer simplifies the coating process and delivers significant time savings by combining a finish primer and a show coat into a single product. AkzoNobel’s patented technology supports enhanced efficiencies and reduces steps in a project while delivering the same standard of finish that professionals need, both for custom build superyacht projects and the maintenance and repair sector.
For captains planning their launch schedules and cruising itineraries, as well as the project managers, applicators and professionals behind each refit, that means guaranteed predictability and a shorter route to the same flawless result expected of the Awlgrip brand.
Praise from Below Deck star
Established in Europe, Gloss Finish Primer has already received endorsements from applicators working on real-world projects, with time savings of several weeks. Mike Voogd, founder of Excellence Yachtpainting with a background of more than 20 years in the industry, used Gloss Finish Primer for the coating phase of a 27-meter newbuild in the Netherlands and estimated the single product enabled him to streamline the preparation process for a time saving of two to three weeks. Working on the same project, Richard Harmsen, Technical Manager at Van Dongen Verf, said the time saving increases to five or six weeks for a larger yacht due to the quicker sanding and surface preparation.
Evidence of the high standard of finish the Awlgrip primer provides also comes from Below Deck Sailing Yacht star Captain Glenn Shephard. The figurehead of the 54-meter Perini Navi charter yacht, Parsifal III, trusted his own beloved Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 42DS, Avalon, to undergo a full coatings refit with AkzoNobel and its Awlgrip brand.
With the aim of refreshing the 18-year-old yacht’s jaded surfaces to achieve lasting beauty, Captain Glenn selected Gloss Finish Primer, followed by Awlcraft 3000, the next-generation high-gloss premium acrylic urethane topcoat from Awlgrip.
The refit, carried out at STP Shipyard in Palma, in partnership with Nautipaints, was completed smoothly and on schedule, with a timely launch back to ensure Glenn’s plans for a season in the Caribbean remained on track.
Glenn was thrilled with the results, commenting: “The benefit of a project like this is that she now looks brand new. In fact, even better than brand new. I’m amazed at how beautiful it is! The work was so thorough to get the ultimate finish, and I was really reminded of the importance of the preparation process in guaranteeing a top-notch outcome. I know Awlgrip, and also Nautipaints, do amazing work on superyachts. I’ve worked with them before, but they applied the same level of skill and attention to detail for my little boat, and I’m just blown away.”
How two steps become one
Traditionally, a finish primer would be applied and sanded before a separate high-gloss show coat was used to identify surface imperfections. Any defects would then need to be repaired and sanded again prior to the final topcoat application. While effective, this method is time-intensive and disruptive to build schedules.
With the unique high-gloss formulation of Awlgrip Gloss Finish primer, applicators can detect and address any imperfections before the final topcoat application to avoid reworks during a crucial phase in the superyacht project. As a result, two steps become one, without cutting corners or compromising on the high quality expected of an Awlgrip system.
System simplification supports a more efficient repair process, while also contributing to the superyacht industry’s sustainability targets. Fewer layers, combined with higher volume solids, reduce system VOC emissions by 50% per square meter when compared to using a separate show coat and finish primer. These results prove that new innovations can reduce material waste and the opportunities for applicator error, while also saving time.
Approved for maintenance and repair
For the first time, the benefits of Gloss Finish Primer extend into the maintenance and repair cycle, allowing the easy identification and correction of defects that become apparent as yachts move and settle during service.
Compatible for use as part of the Awlgrip high-performance coatings system, Gloss Finish Primer is approved for application over High Build and 545 Epoxy Primer; and every Awlgrip finish goes over it, including Awlgrip HDT and Awlcraft 3000. It is available in white, gray, and dark blue to suit a variety of application needs.
Gloss Finish Primer is built for the final stretch of a project, streamlining one of the yard’s last items close to completion and ensuring the first impression of the yacht hits the mark.
Reducing steps in the process provides a valuable advantage for yards working to keep vessels on schedule for launch or redelivery, a crucial benefit when considering the three-to-five year process of building a superyacht, or in meeting tight refit schedules to protect charter bookings, crew rotations and owner itineraries.
Available now across Europe, North America and Asia Pacific, Gloss Finish Primer is the latest solution from Awlgrip to make customers’ jobs easier and deliver the premium finish they expect.
For further information, visit the Awlgrip website.