Awlgrip Gloss Finish Primer Targets Faster Superyacht Coating Work

AkzoNobel’s Awlgrip yacht-coatings brand has introduced a Gloss Finish Primer intended to simplify professional new-build and refit finishing. The product combines the functions of a finish primer and a show coat, allowing applicators to inspect a glossy surface for imperfections before the final topcoat while reducing the number of application stages.

Two coating stages become one

Traditional high-end yacht finishing can involve multiple primer, guide or show-coat stages followed by repeated sanding and inspection before the final topcoat is applied. Awlgrip says its new product combines two of those functions, reducing the number of separate layers needed during surface preparation.

The gloss produced by the primer is intended to make surface defects easier to identify before topcoating, when corrections are less disruptive. For yards working against launch or redelivery dates, finding imperfections earlier can help avoid expensive rework late in a tightly sequenced finishing programme.

Time savings matter on large surfaces

Awlgrip has also documented use of the product on a 27-metre new-build project in the Netherlands, where the applicator estimated a potential programme saving of two to three weeks. The company says the benefit could increase on larger yachts because the affected preparation and sanding areas become substantially greater.

Those estimates depend on project conditions, coating specification and application workflow, so they should not be treated as a fixed saving for every yacht. They nevertheless illustrate why coating suppliers focus heavily on process efficiency as well as the appearance and durability of the finished surface.

Material and VOC reductions accompany the workflow change

The manufacturer says fewer layers and higher volume solids can reduce volatile organic compound emissions by up to 50 percent per square metre compared with traditional two-layer preparation systems. Lower material use can also reduce mixing, application and sanding work across a large hull or superstructure.

Environmental gains in yacht painting depend on the entire coating system, preparation method, waste handling and application controls rather than one product alone. A lower-layer process can still be useful because it addresses both material consumption and the labour-intensive sequence required to achieve premium fairing and finish standards.

Coatings remain a specialist part of yacht construction

Premium yacht paint is visually prominent, but the final gloss depends on extensive preparation beneath the topcoat and close control of temperature, humidity, film thickness and surface condition. That makes professional applicators and technical support central to achieving a consistent result across complex curved structures.

Awlgrip says Gloss Finish Primer is available in Europe for both new-build and refit applications. Its introduction adds another process-focused tool for yards trying to shorten finishing schedules while retaining the surface quality expected on large custom yachts.

Official sources: www.awlgrip.com.