And The Painting Continues

Work on our hull repaint is coming along nicely and we just have the final color coat on the port side and the waterline stripe to finish. The transom and starboard side are all done including the cove stripe and the name.

I found some 1" metallic gold striping tape online and applied it using masking tape for a guide, and soapy water to help position it. We had the graphics for the transom made at our old sign shop back in California. I painted the raised Alden logo with a metallic gold paint pen from the crafts store. I hope it holds up outside.

The painting process is long and labor intensive. First all the cracks must be ground out and filled. Then lots of sanding with 150 grit and a random orbital sander.

Then one coat of epoxy primer and more sanding with 150, 230, and 320 grit, touching up the filler as necessary.

Then a first coat of Epifanes, applied with a small foam roller, and NOT tipped off. After that, more sanding, by hand this time with 400 grit on the diagonal. Then a second coat of color.

The last step is to "color sand" the Epifanes with 1500 grit sandpaper using a soft pad on the orbital sander, then 2000 grit. And finally, using Farecla's products, polish the paint.

Folks have actually walked by and said, "Did you spray that? Here?" and we have to admit that we didn't, but that's quite a compliment, isn't it?