January, 2014

Priming The Foils

Last month I applied 3 coats of West System epoxy resin over the foils. In January, I applied one coat of Interlux two part PrimeKote 404 primer on the foils. I'm working on the foils at this point just to fill in the time between the coats of paint I'm applying to the outside of the hull. 

Applying The Outside Final  Coats Of Paint

A couple of days later, and after sanding over the previous coat, I applied the fourth coat of Interlux Perfection two part paint. Full opacity was achieved and now I could almost see the final hue of Jade Myst Green on the hull. 

Forward port side view of the hull.

Aft port side view of the hull.

Transom view after the fourth coat.

Bottom view from the transom

Forward starboard view of the hull.

Aft starboard view of the hull after the fourth coat.

After I applied the fourth coat of Interlux Perfection, I left the paint to dry for 10 days in order to cure fully. Then, I proceeded to prepare the outside of the hull for the fifth and final coat by matting it down with 300 grit sand paper and then by wet sanding it with 600 and 1200 grit paper until no gloss areas were left.

For the wet sanding process, I placed the sand paper sheets in a bucket with warm water for a few minutes before starting. I have to say that, to me, this is the most physically demanding task so far.

Interlux's Perfection is designed to leave that high gloss "wet" look and, to achieve the best result, the final coat surface must be smooth and the application environment very clean.

Here is the port garboard after the wet sanding process was completed. 

The garboards and the keel after the wet sanding process.

Difference after matting with 300 grit sand paper (bottom plank) and 600 grit wet sanding (top plank, left) and 1200 grit wet sanding (top plank, right)

For the fifth and final coat, I thinned Interlux Perfection's two part paint using Brushing Reducer Y2333N (10% by volume). I applied the paint using a small closed cell foam roller and then tipped off with a clean, natural bristle brush for a high gloss topside finish. 

Forward port side view of the hull.

Aft port side view of the hull.

Transom view after the final coat.

Forward starboard view of the hull after the final coat.

Aft starboard view of the hull after the final coat.

A poor attempt at a full view of the hull from the bow.

A rear view of her upside down bottom.

A view from the bow after the final coat.

Finally, I removed the protective blue tape from the stem. I had to use a utility knife to cut the layers of paint and primer so I wouldn't damage the paint job when removing the tape. If I had to do it again, I would remove the protective blue tape after every coat and before it dried. Then, I'd apply new tape before starting a new coat. 

Cheers for now!