Awlgrip Application Guide | Mix Ratios, Primers & System Steps

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Awlgrip Yacht Paint Application & Technical Guides

Every stage of a professional Awlgrip job — from substrate prep through final cure — documented for Florida marine conditions.

What Is the Awlgrip Paint System?

Awlgrip is a multi-component polyurethane and acrylic urethane marine coating system designed for professional yacht finishing, refit work, and OEM new builds. A complete Awlgrip job is not a single product — it is a layered system of substrate-specific cleaners, fairing compounds, epoxy primers, surfacer primers, topcoats, converters, and reducers, each engineered to work together. Skipping a layer or substituting an incompatible converter is the single most common cause of finish failure.

At Fiberglass Florida, we stock the full Awlgrip line and ship statewide from Brevard County. This guide walks through how the system fits together, which products to choose for fiberglass, gelcoat, aluminum, and previously painted substrates, and the mix ratios, recoat windows, and environmental conditions that determine whether your finish lasts twelve months or twelve years.

The Six Stages of an Awlgrip Job

Surface preparation — Degrease, sand to substrate-correct grit (typically 80–180 for fiberglass before primer), and finish with the two-cloth solvent wipe method using Awlprep Plus T0115.
Fairing — Apply Awlfair LW (D8200/D7200) or comparable epoxy fairing compound to correct surface irregularities. Block-sand to 180 grit before priming.
Priming — 545 Epoxy Primer for adhesion and corrosion protection, followed by High Build or Ultra Build surfacer primers for film thickness on faired surfaces.
Topcoat — Awlgrip Topcoat (linear polyurethane), Awlcraft 2000 (acrylic urethane, repairable), Awlcraft 3000 (high-gloss acrylic urethane), or Awlcraft SE (single-stage premium).
Cure — Allow proper through-cure based on temperature, humidity, and dew point. Recoat windows are not optional.
Finish — Optional buff, polish, or non-skid (Griptex) application for deck areas.

Bottom line: Awlgrip's durability comes from system compatibility, not any single product. The right primer + the right converter + the right reducer + the right environmental window is what produces a yacht-grade finish.

Awlgrip Topcoat Comparison: Which One Do You Need?

This is the single most asked question we get. The four common topcoats — Awlgrip Topcoat, Awlcraft 2000, Awlcraft 3000, and Awlcraft SE — look similar on a spec sheet but behave very differently in real refit and repair work. Here is the quick-reference table.

Property	Awlgrip Topcoat	Awlcraft 2000	Awlcraft 3000	Awlcraft SE
Chemistry	Linear polyurethane	Acrylic urethane	Acrylic urethane (premium)	Single-stage acrylic urethane
Best for	Maximum durability, commercial	Yacht refit, repairable finishes	Premium yacht topsides, custom color	High-end production, deep gloss
Repairable / buffable	No (must recoat)	Yes	Yes	Yes
Gloss / DOI	Excellent	Very good	Highest in line	Very high, deep wet look
Spray converter	Awlcat #2 (G3010)	Awlcat #2 (G3010)	Awlcat #2 (G3010)	Awlcat #2 (G3010)/T0003
Brush converter	Awlcat #3 (H3002)	Spray only	Spray only	Spray only

How to Choose

Choose Awlgrip Topcoat if you want maximum film hardness and chemical resistance and you are willing to fully recoat to repair damage.
Choose Awlcraft 2000 if you want a yacht-grade finish that can be locally repaired, sanded, and buffed without recoating the entire panel — the standard choice for most refits.
Choose Awlcraft 3000 if you want the highest gloss and best color depth Awlgrip offers, especially for darker colors and custom matches.
Choose Awlcraft SE for premium single-stage production work where deep wet gloss and color hold are the priority.

System-At-A-Glance: Mix Ratios & Recoat Windows

Quick reference for the most common mix ratios and recoat windows in the Awlgrip system. Always verify against the current TDS for the specific product and lot you are using — these are the values our customers ask about most often.

545 Primer Mix

1 part base : 1 part converter, by volume

Awlgrip Spray Mix

1 base : 1 Awlcat #2 (G3010), reduced to 11–14 sec DIN4 / 16–18 sec Zahn

Awlgrip Brush/Roll Mix

2 base : 1 Awlcat #3 (H3002) : ⅓–1 T0031 reducer

Sanding Before 545

180 grit on fiberglass, blocked uniform tooth

Sanding After 545

320–400 grit before topcoat; light scuff between topcoats

Griptex Spray Add

8–10 oz per gallon of mixed Awlgrip / Awlcraft 2000

Solvent Wipe Method

Two-cloth method: Awlprep Plus T0115, wet wipe + dry wipe

Environmental Window

Surface temp ≥5°F above dew point; 50–90°F application range

Working on a specific job? Call us at the shop or email orders@fiberglassflorida.com with your substrate and finish goal — we'll spec the full system and ship from Florida the same day for in-stock items.

Substrate-Specific Awlgrip Systems

The correct Awlgrip system depends on what you are painting over. Each substrate has its own prep, primer, and adhesion requirements:

Fiberglass

Remove mold release, wax, and oxidation. Sanding profile for 545 adhesion.

Gelcoat

Degrease, abrade, and prevent fisheye and adhesion failures over gelcoat.

Previously Painted

Compatibility testing, adhesion checks, and removing loose coatings.

Aluminum

Degrease, sand, and corrosion-protective epoxy priming for aluminum.

Common Awlgrip Questions

What is the mix ratio for Awlgrip Topcoat when spraying?

Short answer: 1 part Awlgrip base to 1 part Awlcat #2 (G3010) spray converter, then reduce to 11–14 seconds DIN4 (16–18 seconds Zahn) viscosity with the appropriate reducer.

Mix one part Awlgrip Topcoat base component with one part Awlcat #2 (G3010) spray converter to a smooth, homogenous mixture. Reducer addition varies based on temperature, humidity, and gun setup — target 11–14 seconds DIN4 or 16–18 seconds Zahn cup. Choose the reducer (T0001, T0003, T0006, T0031) based on ambient temperature: faster reducers in cold conditions, slower reducers in hot conditions. In Florida summers, always default to the slowest reducer available.

What is the mix ratio for Awlgrip when rolling and tipping?

Short answer: 2 parts Awlgrip base : 1 part Awlcat #3 (H3002) brushing converter, reduced 10–33% with T0031.

Mix by volume two parts Awlgrip Topcoat base with one part Awlcat #3 (H3002) brushing converter until homogenous. Reduce 10–33% with T0031. Overall mix is 2:1:⅓–1 by volume — for example, 8 oz base, 4 oz H3002, 1.3–4 oz T0031. The brushing converter (H3002) is what gives you the open time needed for the roll-and-tip technique. Using the spray converter (G3010) for brush/roll work will set up too fast and leave heavy lap marks.

What grit do I sand to before applying Awlgrip 545 Primer?

Short answer: Block and finish-sand to 180 grit before applying 545.

On fiberglass and faired surfaces, block-sand to a uniform 180-grit profile before applying 545 Epoxy Primer. After 545 has cured per the TDS, sand the primed surface to 320–400 grit before topcoat. Between topcoats, lightly scuff to 320–400 grit for best inter-coat adhesion. Skipping grits or sanding too fine before primer reduces the mechanical tooth the primer needs for long-term adhesion.

What is the difference between Awlcraft 2000 and Awlcraft 3000?

Short answer: Awlcraft 2000 is the standard repairable acrylic urethane yacht topcoat. Awlcraft 3000 is Awlgrip's newer premium acrylic urethane with higher gloss, better color retention, and improved sprayability.

Both are acrylic urethanes, both are repairable and buffable, and both are suitable for yacht topsides. Awlcraft 3000 is the newer-generation product offering superior gloss, deeper color depth, better DOI (distinctness of image), and improved sprayability — particularly for darker colors and custom matches where Awlcraft 2000 can struggle to achieve full opacity. Awlcraft 2000 remains widely used and supported, especially for color-matching to existing finishes. Awlcraft 3000 uses its own dedicated converter — Awlcat #2 cannot be used with it.

Can Awlgrip Topcoat be repaired and buffed?

Short answer: No. Awlgrip Topcoat (linear polyurethane) is not designed to be locally repaired or buffed. Damage typically requires recoating the full panel. For repairable finishes, use Awlcraft 2000 or 3000.

Awlgrip Topcoat's linear polyurethane chemistry produces an exceptionally hard, chemical-resistant film, but that hardness makes it difficult to blend a repair into existing material. For boats that will see dings, dock rash, and routine cosmetic damage, most yards specify Awlcraft 2000 or 3000 specifically because localized damage can be sanded, recoated, and buffed back into the surrounding finish without redoing the whole panel.

What is the two-cloth solvent wipe method?

Short answer: Wipe the surface with a clean cloth wetted with Awlprep Plus T0115, then immediately wipe dry with a separate clean cloth before the solvent flashes off.

The two-cloth method is the Awlgrip-specified procedure for removing contamination before primer or topcoat. Wet one clean, lint-free cloth with Awlprep Plus T0115 and wipe a small section in one direction. Immediately follow with a second clean, dry cloth to lift dissolved contamination off the surface before the solvent evaporates. If you let the wet solvent flash off on its own, contamination gets re-deposited as the solvent evaporates — one of the most common causes of fisheyes and adhesion failures.

How do I apply Griptex non-skid with Awlgrip?

Short answer: For spray, add 8–10 oz of Griptex per gallon of mixed Awlgrip or Awlcraft 2000. For broadcast, apply a tacky topcoat layer and sift Griptex onto the surface during the open time.

Two methods. Spray-in: add 8–10 oz (227–284 g) of Griptex by weight per gallon of mixed color base + converter, then spray normally. Broadcast: apply a smooth topcoat, allow 10–20 minutes flash-off until the surface is sticky but not wet, then sift Griptex evenly over the area using a flour sifter or shaker. After cure, brush off loose particles and apply a sealing topcoat over the non-skid. Always test compatibility on previously painted surfaces and clean/abrade gelcoat non-skid areas thoroughly before recoating.

Where can I buy Awlgrip in Florida?

Short answer: Fiberglass Florida stocks the full Awlgrip product line — primers, topcoats, converters, reducers, Griptex, fairing compounds, and brightwork systems — and ships statewide from Brevard County.

We carry Awlgrip Topcoat, Awlcraft 2000, Awlcraft 3000, Awlcraft SE, 545 Epoxy Primer, Hullgard Extra, High Build and Ultra Build surfacer primers, all standard converters and reducers, Griptex non-skid, Awlfair LW fairing compound, and the Awlbrite/Awlspar/Awlwood brightwork systems — in factory colors and custom-matched options. Browse the Awlgrip catalog or contact orders@fiberglassflorida.com for system specs and same-day shipping on in-stock items.

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Surface Preparation

Primers & Sealers

Spray Equipment Setup

Topcoat Application

Environmental & Cure Cycles

Troubleshooting