I've been noticing that my Cowl vents on the cabin top have been looking a little dingy and worn. I have tried to clean them but nothing seems to brighten them up. I looked through previous articles on freshening up the look of the cowl vents and found that someone had recommended Krylon Dover White spray paint for plastic.
http://c34.org/bbs/index.php/topic,3439.0.html
I just came back from Home Depot and they no longer carry Krylon. Instead I purchased an equivalent paint made by Rust-Oleum specifically for plastic. (211339 White and 211367 Sunrise Red) Has anybody else tried this alternative? I'm looking forward to painting my cowl vents this weekend and even picked up a can of red to freshen up the inside of the vent. Any comments on previously used products or results, and cautions are welcome, as always.
I cleaned mine up with a magic eraser... if you haven't already tried that.
Ditto on the Magic Eraser. They didn't end up looking brand new but sure made them look much, much better!
I've used the Krylon paint after cleaning with lacquer thinner. Worked well, they look good and this is the third year after painting.
I'm sure the paint from Rustoleum should work as well if it is for plastic.
We lost one over the side when the jib sheet caught it so I had to replace it, I bought two so they'd look alike. sailing is always such an adventure. And inexpensive too.
Ralph
Ciao Bella
Kevin,
We'll be in port this Saturday if you want to check out the engine wire harness upgrade. We're moving to an upwind slip, 119, for now till one comes open on our side again. That sun blazing in all summer we're not big on.
I would try Prism Polish and then some Starbrite cleaner/wax before painting them.
We've been using compounding and then boat wax (Collinite Fleetwax). Lasts for about a year.
Cleaned mine with Prism Polish as well.
Guys : In the 24 seasons that I've had my C34 I've tried "all of the above".
Finally treated myself to two stainless cowl vent from Vetus. Look on the internet and you'll find them cheaper than from Vetus.
A thought :D :D
One of my cowl vents is kinda crushed, that is, not round like the other one, has anyone had this problem and able to fix it? Thanks Bob
Sure, I have. There are three reasons we get new ones: they get knocked overboard by the mainsheet, they get dull and ugly, or they really, really, really lose their "round" and look horrible. :D
Fantastic suggestions so far. I think I will try to find the Prism Polish and take a crack at the cowl vents with that before breaking out my paint. I am curious though. Looking at the Prism website it states that it's good for painted surfaces, gel coat, Plexiglas etc. By the look at the label and the fact it says "Metal Polish and Fiberglass deoxidizer" I would have never looked twice at it on a store shelf. It's for that reason exactly. that I come here to seek solutions.
Ron... I really love the Stainless Steel vents and would love to dress 'Pau Hana' with them. I'm still a "New To Me" owner and my pocket change is allocated towards other resources for the boat. But Oh My!!! do those Stainless Steel vents look great. Definitely on my wish list.
Jeez Ralph...You really moved to the high rent district over there in slip#119. Perhaps instead of walking over to see you I'll have my Coxswain transport me over in my barge. :razz:
Kev, and every body else,
The Catalina 36, Maui Lani, is on the market and we're hoping it sells and we can get that slip, just up from where we are now, but on the upwind side. They are asking 109,000 and it's it is an 2003.
Ralph
:clap :clap
I just wanted to update on my cowl vents and dorade box bases. I thoroughly cleaned the vents and the bases and scrubbed as best I could. Both still looked dingy and worn. I meticulously masked off the exterior white and applied the Rust-Oleum Sunrise red plastic spray paint to the interior. I did this for three coats. After drying, I then masked off the interior red and applied the white Rust-Oleum spray paint for plastic. Again, three coats. For the bases I did the same by masking off the areas I did not want to paint and then applied three coats of the Rust-Oleum white spray paint for plastic. Fantastic results and all for the cost of $12.00 from Home Depot.
They looked so good that it became apparent that other areas of the boat needed attention. I guess thats why I waxed the entire port side of the hull down to the waterline yesterday :thumb:
$12.00 bucks. BZ Kevin, my new ones only improved the economy by $144.
I'm telling you, untie that thing, it'll be FAR more fun.
We'll have to have you and Nicole over to the new digs in the 60 slip. If you ever want I'll let you slide in and do your waxing, we could change slips for the day so you could do it.
Ralph
Ciao Bella
Quote from: Kevin Henderson on April 26, 2011, 05:13:52 PM
I've been noticing that my Cowl vents on the cabin top have been looking a little dingy and worn. I have tried to clean them but nothing seems to brighten them up. I looked through previous articles on freshening up the look of the cowl vents and found that someone had recommended Krylon Dover White spray paint for plastic.
http://c34.org/bbs/index.php/topic,3439.0.html
I just came back from Home Depot and they no longer carry Krylon. Instead I purchased an equivalent paint made by Rust-Oleum specifically for plastic. (211339 White and 211367 Sunrise Red) Has anybody else tried this alternative? I'm looking forward to painting my cowl vents this weekend and even picked up a can of red to freshen up the inside of the vent. Any comments on previously used products or results, and cautions are welcome, as always.
Wanted to thank Kevin for suggesting the Home Depot Rustoleum solution. Repainted mine over the last two days and they turned out great. They actually look as good as new.
Hardest part was taping off the two colors. We'll see how they hold up but right now I'm very happy.
It has been since May of last year when I did this project of re-painting and giving my cowl vents and Dorade boxes a face lift. These past two weekends I went through and did my waxing of the hull and topsides. I put a coat of wax on my painted cowl vents and polished them up. I couldn't be happier with the results after more than a year since painting... they look brand new!! :clap
Anyone looking for a GREAT improvement to spruce up the vents, Do what I did and be amazed at the results. :abd:
I need to do some work on my cowl vents also. I have been hesitant to start the project because I am unsure of how to remove them. Would someone please enlighten me on how they come off.
Mike Dervin
Incredible, '93
Mike, if you're a C34IA Member: August 2005 Mainsheet Tech Notes Online
http://www.c34.org/mainsheet/pdf/Aug_2005.pdf
If you use the "Knowledgebase" and do a Ctrl-F search on "dorade" there are many other references and links. Here's how to "get to" the "Knowledgebase": http://c34.org/bbs/index.php/topic,5260.0.html (from the "Quick Start Guide" sticky topic)
For plastic cowls, I've found that the same material I use to clean fenders works great: Paintbrush & Roller Cleaner from a hardware store.
Mike,
I'm not certain on your specific vent but if they are anything like mine the vent itself has a ring at the base that is unscrewed and loosened. You should be able to lift the vent straight off. The base itself then has some small screws. Just unloosen those and you should be set. I took mine home and did all my preservation work in the garage. Have Fun! :abd:
Guys : The C34 has two different vent manufactures -- Vetus with the 4 " and Nicro with 3".
After 23 years I finally got feed up with crummy looking vent and sprung for the stainless.
Pricey, yes . Good looking and Maintenance free, Yes Yes Yes.
I also did what Kevin Henderson suggested with the Rustoleum paint from his May 2011 post. I did mine in Aug. of 2011, just waxed them again last month, and they still look great. If interested, type in 'dorade & traveller upgrade' in the [Search Box] and click on my post of Aug. 2011 to see a picture of the results.
Ron, would this be the one?
http://c34.org/bbs/index.php/topic,6495.0.html
Nice job.
That's it Stu. They still look like I just painted them.
Thanks,
Mine were pretty nasty when we bought DarBay. I would clean them, then wax, but that would only last for a couple of months. Then they went right back to their nasty state, Did not think about painting them so I did this. They look good and do not get in the way