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The Ever-Settling Waterline (Page 5)
This page was last updated on 20 October 2002.

Sanding Preparation and Painting the New Boottop

With my top edge of the new boottop now taped off, faired by eye, and looking good, I taped over the bottom paint (the new line), which is also the bottom edge of the new boottop.  I left the barest amount of the bottom paint showing above the tape line so that the new boottop paint wouldn't have any unsightly gaps or tape lines.

With the new boot all taped off with 3M silver #225 tape, I sanded the old Awlgrip between the lines to prepare for the new stripe.  I started sanding by hand with 220 grit paper, but soon tired of it, so I switched to a palm sander with 220 grit for the bulk sanding, taking care to feather the edge of the old boottop where visible to prevent any unsightly lines later.  The beauty of the silver tape is that it is tough enough to stand up to being sanded over with a palm sander.  When I had the whole area sanded, I switched to hand sanding and 320 grit paper to take care of the edges near the tape, where the sander didn't quite reach, and to further smooth out the surface and the minor swirl marks left by the sander.  I wore a 3M respirator and goggles while I sanded.

When the sanding was done (it didn't really take long, but I sure do hate sanding!), I wiped off the dust, repaired a few small areas where the tape had been damaged by the sander, and wiped the boottop down with Awl-Prep plus solvent, to remove any surface contaminants, dirt, dust, and whatever else might have been on there.  Then, I tacked the area lightly with a tackcloth.  The weather was mostly overcast with some sun breaking through here and there, and around 60 degrees, with a light breeze.   The forecast called for possible showers, but it looked OK for now, and I checked a local weather radar picture to see what the story was--it looked OK, so I decided to go ahead and apply the first coat of snow white Awlgrip to the new boottop.

sandedtapedport1.JPG (193417 bytes)     sandedtapedstern1.JPG (175845 bytes)     sandedtapedstb2.JPG (191233 bytes)     sandedtapedbow1.JPG (150770 bytes)

I had plenty of Awlgrip left over from the initial painting project, so I gathered the various components and prepared to mix a small batch.  I put on my trusty respirator before opening any of the cans.  Into three separate small waxed paper measuring cups, I poured 2 oz. of the base color component,  1 oz. of brushing converter, and a couple ounces of brushing reducer.  I pored some extra reducer (T0031) into another container and submerged the bristles of my 2" badger brush to clean them while I mixed the paint.  Then, I combined the base and converter into a small  plastic container and mixed them well, then thinned the mixture with a bit of the reducer.  (.5 oz or so).   After spinning the reducer out of the now-clean brush, I tested the consistency of the paint on a piece of glass, and added a bit more reducer because the first attempt was a bit too thick.  Now it was just about right.  Bringing the cup of reducer and a mixing stick with me, I went out to the boat to begin painting.

I started on the port side at the centerline beneath the counter (stern), since the inevitable lap mark would be least visible here.  I could tell as soon as I started brushing that I had to add more reducer, so I added a bit to my container before continuing.  I painted in a clockwise direction around the boat, stopping once or twice along the length of the side to add a touch more reducer--it really does evaporate out of the pot, and you must add more when the brush starts dragging, or when it just seems the wrong consistency.  I brushed around the stem and continued down the starboard side towards the stern.  I was very pleased with how the paint was coming out.  There were a few little pieces of debris that found their way in here and there, but since this is the first coat it doesn't matter.  The paint leveled beautifully behind me, though I did get one run right aft of the stem on the starboard side, where I applied the paint too thickly.

closeupport.JPG (181306 bytes)The key to brushing this paint is to remember that when you've just finished brushing an area, brush marks will remain behind you.  But they level out within a minute or two if you've done everything right.  Attempts to end up without any  brush strokes the second you've finished the area will fail, and will ultimately lead to overbrushing the paint, which will lead to just what you're trying to avoid:  brush marks and insufficient leveling, and you will curse the paint.  Keep the consistency right, add more reducer frequently as you go, and don't fuss with trying to eliminate brush marks immediately as you brush.  Just apply a consistent, smooth coat, not too thick, and it will level out beautifully.  Really.  But if you brush it too much, or try to "fix" errors, or brush an area after it has begun to set up, you will have a mess.

The amount of paint I mixed was just the right amount for the boottop; I had a small amount left over, but couldn't have mixed any less without running out along the way.

1coatport.JPG (187663 bytes)     1coatstern.JPG (179150 bytes)     1coatstb.JPG (226721 bytes)     1coatbow.JPG (189924 bytes)

I really like this paint.  It works well for me.  What can I say?

Final Coat of Awlgrip

I couldn't do the final coat for a few days, since the weather was not good for painting.  I did go out and sand the first coat the next day, using 320 grit and just deglossing the surface and sanding out the few flaws--a bug here or there, and one or two small runs.

Following the rain, we had a nice, clear, dry day--a bit windy, but it seemed OK in the spot between the trees where the boat is, so I decided to go ahead and get the final coat on.  I was pleased with the outcome--a few bugs got in the paint (where do they come from, anyway!), and in one spot some water from the toerail ran down the hull and across the boot.  (I had dried the whole boat off before beginning, but apparently I missed this drop.)  In any event, these are minor problems, and don't affect the quality of the boottop.  Some paint did run across the masking tape and onto the bottom paint--not a big deal at all, but in case you see the white marks on the bottom that's the deal.  Of course this will get covered up in the spring when I paint the bottom.

When the paint had dried sufficiently, I removed the masking tape. The new stripe looks great!  

2ndcoatport.JPG (201414 bytes)     2ndcoatstern.JPG (177303 bytes)     2ndcoatstb.JPG (218225 bytes)     2ndcoatbow.JPG (178560 bytes)

Project complete.  I'll post some pictures of how this looks in the water next spring.  Sorry for the long wait!

CLICK HERE TO SEE A SERIES OF BEFORE AND AFTER PHOTOS OF THE WATERLINE SIDE BY SIDE  (Large Page)

 


Glissando, Pearson  Triton #381
www.triton381.com 

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