Awlgrip Topside Paint

Awlgrip topside paint is the finish many professional painters and boat owners think of first when they want a mirror-like surface above the waterline. The brand traces its roots to 1973, when Alumigrip, a coating originally developed for aircraft, was adapted for boats. Today, as part of AkzoNobel, Awlgrip is known for topcoats that combine deep gloss, strong color retention and a comprehensive system of primers and application products.

The Awlgrip Topside Paint Lineup

Awlgrip's topside range is built around several distinct two-component finishes, each suited to a different job:

• Awlgrip HDT (High Definition Technology): a sprayable polyurethane topcoat designed to balance hardness, micro-scratch resistance and repairability. It was introduced as a single-stage finish that sits between the hard traditional Awlgrip topcoat and the slightly softer, more repairable Awlcraft 2000, and it carries lower VOCs than traditional topcoats.
• Awlcraft 2000: a two-component premium finish that is buffable, fast-drying and available in a very wide range of colors. Its repairability makes it a popular choice when you expect to polish the whole boat or blend in local touch-ups.
• Awlcraft 3000: a newer acrylic urethane topcoat that uses the advanced AkzoNobel color platform shared with Awlgrip HDT for truer, deeper and more vibrant colors, while keeping the characteristics of Awlcraft 2000.
• Awlcraft SE: a basecoat and clearcoat system for custom colors and effects, which can be finished with Awlgrip HDT clearcoat.

Hard Finish vs. Repairable Finish

The most important decision when choosing among Awlgrip topside paints is how hard you want the surface and how you plan to maintain it. Traditional Awlgrip linear polyurethane cures to a dense, resin-rich surface with excellent chemical resistance and color retention. That surface is not meant to be compounded or buffed, because cutting into it can expose pigment to UV. Awlcraft products trade a little hardness for the ability to be buffed, polished and repaired locally. Awlgrip HDT aims to offer a middle path, though it can be harder to polish, so it is generally recommended for spot repairs and removing localized defects rather than full-hull polishing.

Custom Color and the Complete System

Awlgrip supports its topcoats with the Awlmix color mixing system, introduced in 2004, which lets distributors mix custom colors from quarts to multiple gallons. The brand also offers Awlmatch, a digital tool that scans an existing coating to find the closest color match. Because topcoats are sold as multi-part products, you will typically combine a color base with the correct converter or activator and reducer for your conditions. For best results, follow the full Awlgrip system, including a recommended epoxy primer such as 545, and observe the application temperature limits in the technical data sheets.

Shopping Tips

• Match the finish to your maintenance plan: a hard topcoat for chemical resistance, or an Awlcraft product if you want to buff and repair.
• Check the application method. Some Awlcraft finishes are spray-only, while traditional Awlgrip can also be brushed or rolled.
• Order the right converter, activator and reducer along with your color.
• Confirm VOC regulations in your area, since compliant versions are available.

Browse the full Awlgrip brand page for primers, additives and other coatings, or explore the wider Topside Paint category to compare finishes from other manufacturers.