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Inflatable Boat Care and Maintenance

Topcoat
General Information

  1. MDR has elected to change all of its paint products to WATERBASE from the old solvent base to be much more environmentally friendly. Also, waterbased paints are much safer to use, since they are non-flammable with no toxic solvents, are odorless, and clean up easily with water.
  2. All MDR paints and coatings are waterbased vinyl of differing formulations, and all use water in place of solvents for their application.
  3. Each MDR paint and coating has been specifically formulated and does its job as well, if not better than typical solvent based paints.
  4. Once the water evaporates, the remaining vinyl coating is basically the same as any other solvent-based paint and requires a solvent to remove it.
  5. Waterbased paints take a little longer to dry or cure than solvent-based paints as a result of differing evaporation rates.
  6. Humidity levels affect evaporation; very high humidity (>75%) slows down the drying process since water evaporates slower in these conditions.
  7. Waterbased paints and coatings can be applied to virtually any clean, dry surface with no possibility of a solvent attacking the surface, as could be a problem with inflatable boats or transducers. MDR paints are compatible with Hypalon, PVC, and rubber.
  8. As with any paint, surface preparation is most important. Good adhesion requires the surface to be totally clean and dry. It is best to try a TEST AREA to determine the best results, especially on inflatable boats. Do not use MEK for cleaning, as it can attack the plasticizers in the vinyl or Hypalon, causing a reaction, which will affect the new paints’ drying ability. Light sanding or roughing the surface with extra fine grit .000 sandpaper is also helpful.
  9. Use clean brushes and rags for cleaning, so as not to contaminate the surface.
  10. MDR’s waterbased paints and coatings such as MDR-740 LIQUID ‘LECTRIC TAPE, MDR-783/784/787/789 TOP & BOTTOM COATINGS, and MDR-180 WHIP-END DIP can be used in any application where a liquid or flexible waterproof coating is required, even uses outside the marine area.