haakebecks":2o0lfqz0 said:
Alexseal and Internatioanl are both popular alternatives to Awlgrip and Imron. Alexseal in particular has really taken off over the past several years.
I completely agree. I considered using the more generic "substance type" instead of brand names, but figured that for just a basic/quick discussion brand names would be easier.
I'm no expert, but from what I understand there are two typical flavors of two-part used on boats. They are both polyurethanes. One is polyester based, such as Awlgrip (the standby). Other companies make them too though, such as Alexseal, Sterling, and more.
The other "flavor" is acrylic based. Maybe the best known is Imron, but Awlgrip company also makes one called Awlcraft 2000, as do other companies.
Again, not a coatings pro, but here are the differences as I understand them:
Awlgrip type: Super hard, shiny, and long lasting shine. Virtually nothing to do but enjoy the shine until you eventually repaint (which can be 20 years or more in good conditions). On the other hand, harder to repair/blend, which is the flipside of the benefits. (You can maintain and clean and use "product" on Awlgrip, but it's still essentially "fit and forget" as compared to other coatings.)
Awlcraft type: Hard and shiny, but a slightly less hard "shell" type of coating. But then on the flipside it is a bit easier to repair, and you can "buff it out" like you can gelcoat. But then too, you may need to buff it when you wouldn't need to do Awlgrip. No perfect choice, of course - it's a boat
A friend had a large, high-end yacht painted: The yard recommended Awlgrip for the hull (topsides) and Awlcraft for the deck, so that's what they went with. They reasoned that things *would* get dropped on the deck and need repair. But then other good yards would probably recommend Awlgrip for the deck because it's harder... I can see it both ways.
I had a boat that was Awlgripped (by the previous owner) 20 years past. It still shined like a new boat, and that was with just simple washing/caring. It was in a lower UV climate, and covered in winter, but still..... amazing finish.
I'm sure someone really knowledgeable could probably improve on my explanation, but I wanted to respond because I had used the brand names and not the "real info" in my previous post.