TOTALBOAT TOPSIDE PRIMER

Description:

• Undercoat for 1 and 2 part topside finishes
• High-solids formula covers in a single coat
• Dries quickly, easy to sand 

• Flexible coating won’t lift or crack 

Premium one-part, high-solids, flexible undercoating for wood, fiberglass, and previously painted surfaces. Its high-solids formula fills small surface imperfections and covers completely in just one coat—even on bare wood.  Dries fast and cures to a hard, sandable finish in just 60-90 minutes at 65°F. Use above the waterline  under one and two part polyurethane and enamel topside finishes. Lead-free and chromate-free. 

CLEANER/SURFACE PREPARATION SOLVENTS: 

• TotalBoat Dewaxer & Surface Prep 

• TotalBoat Special Brushing Thinner 100

• TotalBoat Spray Thinner 101 

• Denatured alcohol (bare substrates only)

• Acetone (bare substrates only, specifically recommended for use on oily hardwoods or bare white oak) 

CLEANUP SOLVENTS:  

• TotalBoat Dewaxer & Surface Prep 

• TotalBoat Special Brushing Thinner 100

• TotalBoat Spray Thinner 101 

THINNER/REDUCER SOLVENTS:  

• TotalBoat Special Brushing Thinner 100, for  brushing and rolling applications 

• TotalBoat Spray Thinner 101, for spraying and cool weather brushing/rolling applications

STRAINER:

Medium paint strainer (fine is also  acceptable, but not be necessary) 

ACCEPTABLE SUBSTRATES:

Fiberglass, wood, previously painted surfaces, epoxy 

AVAILABLE COLORS:

White, Gray 

 

SURFACE PREPARATION

FIBERGLASS: 

• All bare fiberglass substrates need to be fully cured for at least 5-7 days prior to any surface  preparation.  

• The surface must be properly dewaxed, or amine blush must be removed prior to any  further surface preparation. 

• Wash the surface with warm water and a mild  soap. Dry the surface completely. 

• Dewax the surface very thoroughly, using Totalboat Dewaxer with cotton rags. Change out rags, as needed, to  ensure that all possible wax has been removed  from the substrate. This must be done  thoroughly before sanding the surface, or it will  grind the contaminant into the surface,  spreading it, leading to fisheyes and potential  delamination. 

• Allow the surface to dry completely. 

• Sand the surface with 220-grit sandpaper. A DA(dual action) sander can help to reduce a sense  of grain, or sanding marks that show a sense of  sanding direction. 

• Remove any sanding residue by wiping the  surface clean with a clean, lint-free cotton rag  wetted with one of the specified cleaner/surface  preparation solvents. 

• Allow the surface to dry completely before  applying Topside Primer.  

BARE WOOD:  

• Wood should be in good condition, dry, and free  of any grease, oils, tar, dust, wax, or other  potential contaminants, prior to sanding. 

• The ideal wood moisture content to apply paint  is 6-8%, but being less than 10% usually yields  good results. Painting wood with a higher  moisture content is not recommended, as it can  delaminate more easily.  

• Sand the wood smooth, in the direction of the  grain, with 180-grit sandpaper, until it is even  and smooth.

• Vacuum away any sanding dust.  

• If desired, a tack cloth can be used to help remove any residual dust, then follow with a  clean, lint-free cotton rag wetted with one of the  specified cleaner/surface preparation solvents. 

• Apply Topside Primer, as directed below.  

PREVIOUSLY PAINTED SURFACES: 

• Only apply to previously painted  substrates that are compatible with a solvent based paint. 

• Previously painted surfaces in poor condition should be stripped back to the bare substrates.  Only apply to previously painted substrates in good, sound condition that do not show signs of delamination, cracking, or peeling. 

• Wash the surface with a mild soap and water, and rinse thoroughly.  

• Once dry, wipe the surface with one of the  specified cleaner/surface preparation solvents  using a clean, lint-free cotton rag. 

• Allow any solvents to evaporate. 

• Sand the surface with 220-grit sandpaper, until  it is smooth. 

• Remove any sanding residue by wiping the  surface clean with a clean, lint-free cotton rag  wetted with one of the specified cleaner/surface  preparation solvents. 

• Allow the surface to dry completely before applying Topside Primer.  

EPOXY SURFACES: 

• Epoxy substrates need to be fully cured for at  least 5-7 days prior to any surface preparation.  

• Once cured, the epoxy must be washed with a  mild soap and warm water, then rinsed well to  remove any possible amine blush, whether noticeable or not. This must be performed, even if the epoxy is considered non-blushing, or does not appear to have an amine blush on the  surface. 

• Dry the surface completely. 

• Sand the surface with 220-grit sandpaper. A DA(dual action) sander can help to reduce a sense of grain, or sanding marks that show a sense of sanding direction. 

• Remove any sanding residue by wiping the  surface clean with a clean, lint-free cotton rag  wetted with one of the specified cleaner/surface preparation solvents. 

• Allow the surface to dry completely before  applying Topside Primer.  

 

APPLICATION:

VERY IMPORTANT – READ BEFORE PRIMING! 

• Only apply when  environmental conditions allow (see below).

• Stir or shake very thoroughly before use. This is extremely important to promote the most consistent finish, and the most  predictable dry times.  

• Applying thicker than 3 mils wet film thickness will extend dry times dramatically, and could trap solvents, making the paint squishy  and soft, even if the surface has become tack-free.  

• DO NOT apply thicker than recommended.  

• Full color hide is not required for the primer to be  effective, do not use the amount of hide to gauge  the application thickness of Topside Primer. 

• It is generally rubbery to sand if it is  applied too thick. 

• Dry time to touch is roughly 10  minutes @ 90°F, 30 minutes @ 70°F, and 1 hour @ 50°F (when applied under the specified  temperature, relative humidity, and at the  specified wet mil thickness). 

• Topside Primer must be lightly scuff-sanded  between coats with 220-320 grit sandpaper. Do not sand until it has cured to a hard enough film to sand easily to a very fine  powder. If it is gripping or rolling the paint, it may  not be ready to sand yet. 

• Remove any sanding residue; solvent wipes should not be used within 12 hours of applying the  previous coat — be sparing, do not saturate the  surface with solvents used to wipe the surface, if  they are used.  

• The absolute minimum recoat window is 1 hour @ 90°F, 2 hours @ 70°F, and 4  hours @ 50°F.  

• Do not tint or change the color of Topside Primer.  Gray and White colors provide excellent base  colors for any range of topside colors. The White  base should be used when the desired finish color  is white, or any light colors, while the Gray base  should be used for darker, or more bold colors. 

 

APPLICATION CONDITIONS: 

• Best results are achieved when the substrate, air,  and primer temperatures are between 50-90°F,  and the relative humidity is less than 90%.  

• Do not attempt to apply when the  air, substrate, or paint are outside of this range, if  at all possible. Cure rates and wet-edge times may  be extremely long, or extremely short, making it  difficult to achieve satisfactory results. 

• If possible, avoid applying or curing the material in  direct sunlight. 

• Do not apply during times of high humidity, as it  can dramatically extend the dry times.  

 

APPLICATION METHODS 

BRUSHING/ROLLING INSTRUCTIONS: 

• TotalBoat Special Brushing Thinner 100 promotes  the best flow, self-leveling, and working time for  TotalBoat Topside Primer, under most application  conditions. 

• Below 60°F, TotalBoat Spray Thinner 101 can also  be used as a thinner for brushing applications to  help promote a quicker tack-free time, without  compromising proper flow or working time. 

• 5-10% of the appropriate TotalBoat Thinner can be  added, as required, based upon the environ mental conditions.  

• Do not over-thin Topside Primer, as it will extend  dry times, with an increased risk of dripping and  sags.  

• Only use high-quality solvent-safe paint brushes and roller covers with Topside Primer. For best results, use a high-quality natural bristle brush that is designed for oil-based/solvent-based  paints, and is an appropriate width and shape for  the application. 

• Foam brushes can be used, but lack the control  and even paint film left from a high-quality,  natural bristle brush. 

• 1/8" foam or mohair roller covers can be used, but  nap or other hair rollers may leave hair or fine  particles behind. Some of these roller covers may  also specify that they are for glossy finishes — these are recommended for priming because they promote the smoothest surface, requiring less  sanding before the topcoat. 

• The roll and tip method (applying paint vertically  with a roller, and immediately following with a  brush, using light pressure in a horizontal direction), is also a very successful application method. 

SPRAYING INSTRUCTIONS:  

• For most spray applications, reduce TotalBoat Topside Primer 10-20% with TotalBoat Spray Thinner 101.  

• Always use the minimum amount of spray thinner possible to achieve the highest gloss finish and  promote the fastest dry times. 

• The actual percentage of spray thinner will depend on the spray equipment being used, and the environmental conditions.  

• Airless Spray: The pressure should be roughly 170 bar/2500 psi, with a .33-.41 mm(11-16  thousandths) tip size. 

• Pressure Pot: The pressure should be 3.44-4.47  bar/50-65 psi (gun pressure), and 8-10 psi (pot pressure), while the tip size should be .89-1.4  mm (35-50 thousandths).

• Siphon Cup: The pressure should be roughly  3.44-4.47 bar/50-65 psi (gun pressure), with a  1.5-1.8 mm (60-70 thousandths) tip size. 

 

APPLICATION OF TOPCOATS:  

• Topside Primer is compatible with single part and two-part topside finishes. 

• Topside Primer is not designed as a stand alone product and should be overcoated  with an appropriate topcoat. 

• After Topside Primer has dried sufficiently to  sand, the surface should be sanded and  cleaned according to the desired topcoat.

 

WARNING! 

RAGS, STEEL WOOL, OR WASTE SOAKED WITH THIS  PRODUCT MAY SPONTANEOUSLY CATCH FIRE IF  DISCARDED IMPROPERLY. IMMEDIATELY AFTER  USE, PLACE RAGS, STEEL WOOL, OR WASTE IN A  

SEALED, WATER-FILLED METAL CONTAINER. 

PERSONAL SAFETY:  

Always use proper Personal Protective Equipment  when handling this product. Refer to the TotalBoat  Topside Primer Safety Data Sheet for more info. Each color has a different composition and a  different SDS, so make certain to reference the  appropriate one. Only apply Topside Primer with  good ventilation.

 

APPLICATION DATA:

Application Method: Brush, Roll, Spray

Number of Coats: 1-2  

Film Thickness (per Coat): 1-2 mils dry (3 mils wet)

Application Temp.: 50-90ºF 

Application Humidity: 0-90% 

Dry Time to Touch: 10 minutes @ 90ºF, 30 minutes @ 70ºF, 1 hour @ 50ºF 

Dry Time to Overcoat: 1 hour @ 90ºF, 2 hours @ 70ºF, 4 hours @ 50º

 

PHYSICAL DATA:

Vehicle Type: Phenolic Modified Short Oil Alkyd 

Finish: Flat 5-10º 

Components: One 

Coverage (sq ft/gal): 350-400 

Solids (by Weight): 61-64% 

Solids (by Volume): 42-45% 

VOC (g/L): < 358 

Flash Point: 1ºF 

Units of Measure: Quart, Gallon 

Colors Available: White, Gray